THE NED SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022

TASTING NOTE

An expressive bouquet of lime zest, punchy herbs and gooseberry. The fleshy fruit core is focussed by a backbone of lively acidity, carrying classic varietal characters to a lengthy finish.

FOOD MATCHING

The combination of the fresh acidity and delicate palate of this wine will lend itself well to seafoods and salads. Try alongside oysters with a mild vinaigrette, or a crab and artichoke salad.

CELLARING POTENTIAL

Crafted to be enjoyed at the peak of its vibrancy and freshness, we recommend drinking this wine within 2–3 years of vintage date.

ORIGIN

Waihopai Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand

WINEMAKING

The preservation of aromatic and fruit flavours from the vineyard through to the winery is of the utmost importance in our Sauvignon Blanc. This fruit is field destemmed before being gently pressed into stainless steel tanks. The juice is fermented at cool temperatures with selected yeast strains aimed at developing a full flavour spectrum: from green and citrus notes to riper, more tropical flavours.

ANALYSIS

• Alcohol - 13.0%
• pH - 3.23
• Titratable Acidity - 7.3g/L
• Residual Sugar - 3.2g/L
• Vegan Certified

VINTAGE

Record rainfall in July and August and a warm start to September, permitted an energetic start to the growing season. This coincided with the recorded number of frosts nearly double the usual number. However, frost risk abated in early October, replaced by warm temperatures and humid northerly airflows.

Early season varieties flowered rapidly while later season varietals were slightly troubled by a cool, wet start to December. However, increasing temperatures and a warm, dry January ensured an abundance of fruit.

Despite heavy rainfall in February, good vineyard practices and an improvement in the sunshine hours through the tail end of February meant any instances of botrytis quickly dried up leaving the vast majority of the fruit clean and ripe.

Harvesting began in early March due to early season disease pressure with positive fruit flavours indicating physiological ripeness.

The team are excited about the structural diversity and bright complex flavours of the 2022 wines.

GOLD

• Mundus Vini Spring Tasting 2023
• The International Cool Climate Wine Show 2023

93 POINTS

• WineOrbit: Sam Kim 2022

"It’s intensely aromatic on the nose showing Granny Smith apple, kiwifruit and lime peel aromas, followed by a mouth-watering palate that’s juicy and flavoursome. Upfront and splendidly expressed with a lengthy delicious finish. At its best: now to 2025."

• The Real Review: Bob Campbell 2022 - Top Value & Top Rank

"Pungent, aromatic wine with passionfruit, floral/white rose, lemongrass and guava flavours supported by gentle, fruity acidity. Intense wine with good varietal definition and impressive purity. Fresh and mouth watering."

92 POINTS

• Cameron Douglas MS 2022

"Plush, ripe, fruity, varietal and new. Flavours of white peach and apple with a lemon twist and fresh herbs reflect the variety with acidity and a satin mouthfeel making this wine very drinkable. There's a light wet stone mineral quality along with a white flower charm. Lengthy finish leaving a lush mouthfeel. Great drinking from today and through 2024. "

91 POINTS

• James Suckling Annual New Zealand Report 2022

"Lemongrass, gooseberries, green pineapples and salted lime. Tangy and crisp with a medium body and refreshing, subtly saline finish. Vegan. Drink now. Screw cap."