VINEYARDS
Predominantly from Mount Barker vineyards - Rosetta and Hayview with 15% from International Hill vineyard in the Frankland region. All vineyards grow on similar gravel loam soils, are irrigated, spur pruned for lower yield, vertically grown and canopy managed to create dappled sunlight to filter through the verdant canopy for ideal flavour development.
VINTAGE COMMENTS
A very dry spring affected early growth, a cold September caused staggered flowering, followed by some very warm December days and most unusually, many BBQ friendly-warm nights, particularly during the harvest months which brought ripening on quicker than expected and probably offset the issues of a late start to the season. Rains in January and February increased vine disease and blood pressure along with some uneven ripening. However we enjoyed beautiful sunny, dry ripening weather right throughout March which made all the difference between success and failure, ensuring in the end, we harvested some high quality, fully ripened fruit with higher than average acidities and generous flavours. Harvest started very early with the low yielding Franklin vineyard harvested at 21.8 brix and 10.2 g/L acid on the 18th February, followed by the Rosetta and Hayview vineyards on the 6th and 8th March with respective sugar levels of 22.8 and 22.2 brix and acid levels around 7 g/L. Yields ranged from 2.5 to 7.5 tonne/hectare.
WINEMAKING
Handling Sauvignon Blanc is the same as for all other aromatic white varieties – cold, quick, gentle, processing. The clean juice is racked off lees after 4 days settling and inoculated with a couple of different strains of yeast that cope with cool fermentation temperatures and enhance the Sauvignon flavours. A 20% portion of the wine is also barrel fermented in new American oak and left on lees for six weeks before blending back to the main batch to enhance mouth feel and complexity, but without sacrificing fruit integrity and intensity. To enhance the complexity of the wine, the wine spends further time on lees to provide a slate-like minerally character till we filter and bottle the wine early in September.
TASTING NOTES
Punchy citrus and gooseberry aromas with just a suggestion of rain washed stones.
A supple yet lithe palate with a fine core of crunchy acidity running the length of the palate with loads of mouth watering, juicy fruit flavours. A very, savvy Sav! Enjoy now.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Alcohol: 13.4%v/v
Total Acidity: 6.9 g/L
pH: 3.36