Astrolabe Awatere Sauvignon Blanc 2021
$29.50
SPECIAL BUY 6 or more. Leading NZ Sav Blanc producer.
Description
“Astrolabe has been my go-to sauvignon maker for many years”... BOB CAMPBELL, MW, The Real Review
Astrolabe Wines is a premium wine producer from Marlborough, New Zealand known for its benchmark style of Sauvignon Blanc.
First generation winemaker Simon Waghorn has been honing his craft over thirty six years and has established a benchmark style of sauvignon blanc that reflects an unparalleled diversity of vineyard sources. Careful site selection, expert picking decisions, delicate fruit handling and astute blending are the hallmarks of his Marlborough wines. Simon chose the name Astrolabe because of historic ties with Marlborough and connotations of exploration and discovery. Together with his wife, Jane, they founded Astrolabe in Marlborough in 1996. Astrolabe is family owned and operated. All grapes are sourced from ten families who live on their land and farm sustainably. Each site was chosen for the distinctive flavour it produces. We work with dedicated growers who understand the rhythms of the land and know how to grow grapes that express the terroir. Simon is fascinated by the distinctive qualities of the Wairau Valley, Awatere Valley and Kekerengu Coast sub-regions.
The dry Awatere Valley has a more extreme climate than most of Marlborough, with strong winds, variable soils, greater temperature fluctuations and a later ripening season. Vines are planted from sea level to quite high altitude, and the scarceness of irrigation water is often limiting to vine growth. As a result the grape berry size is reduced and flavours can be more intense.
Winemaker notes about this wine: “I have been fascinated by the qualities of the Marlborough sub-regions ever since I arrived as a young winemaker in 1994. I first released my Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc in 2005. As my winemaking style has evolved, I have also moved towards an Awatere-dominant blend for my Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.
“Most of Marlborough’s sauvignon blanc is planted in the northerly Wairau Valley, and the distinct sub-regional character of the southerly Awatere valley sauvignon blanc may surprise those who are more familiar with the Wairau fruit profile. The smaller Awatere valley was planted later and is distinguished by its clay soils, cooler, windier and drier climate and later harvest. We generally think of the Wairau as having more thiol-driven tropical passionfruit and ripe citrus flavours, while the Awatere is more focused around herbal, leafy methoxypyrazine flavours.
“When I put this wine together, I really try to showcase parcels of fruit that I think are uber-Awatere, expressing the essence of the Awatere region. I always blend from Awatere valley vineyards on the north and south of the river to reflect the different soil fertility and flavour these sites contribute. Even though this wine is all about the Awatere, I am trying to show the Awatere as a whole, rather than just a single vineyard site.
“The clay in the soils provides a nice mouth-coating texture. It has all those cedar and tobacco notes we get in the Awatere as well as all those green spectrum flavours we get across the board. This wine is a little more mineral than my Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and a little more singular, because it’s blended from only two or three sites every year. It doesn’t have the vineyard complexity of our Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, but it has a lovely sense of place localised to the Awatere sub-region.
“My Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc is dry and has an emphasis on aromatic herbs and fresh, green fruits, with a full and lingering mouthfeel, balanced acidity and a savoury, almost saline finish. The winemaking techniques are identical to my Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, and the differences entirely come from site selection and blending.” Simon Waghorn — Winemaker
5 STARS, Michael Cooper, New Zealand Wines: Michael Coopers Buyer’s Guide ”Showing clearcut Awatere Valley sub-regional characters, the 2022 vintage (5*) is mouthfilling and pungently varietal. Bright, light lemon/green, it is vigorous and youthful, with pure, penetrating, tropical fruit and green capsicum flavours, lees-aging complexity, a minerally streak and a crisp, dry, lingering finish. Best drinking mid-2023+.”
94 points, Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, The Real Review “Creamy-textured sauvignon blanc with gooseberry, lime, lemongrass and fresh asparagus flavours. Quite Sancerre-like with refreshing acidity, good weight and varietal definition with spicy red capsicum characters. Drink 2022 to 2026.”
94 Points, Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier ”Pungent and savoury, distinctive aromas of the seaside and sand, a mix of apples and grapefruit, fresh herbs and aromatic white spices. Complex, youthful and enticing. Delicious on the palate, dry and savoury, flavours of citrus and apple skin, dried herbs and spice moments. Plenty of acidity and finely textured mouthfeel with a light saline quality. Best drinking from mid to late 2023 through 2027.”
RRP $40 **Our Special Price $29.50 when you buy 6 or more of this wine**
Additional information
Producer | Astrolabe |
---|---|
Region or Country | Awatere Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand |
Variety | Sauvignon Blanc |
Vintage | 2021 |
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