2022 Clark Estate “River Terrace” Sauvignon Blanc

Silver – 2023 National Wine Awards Aotearoa NZ

Silver – 2023 Australian & New Zealand Boutique Wine Show

Bronze – 2023 New Zealand International Wine Show

94 points / 5 stars            Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

It’s beautifully aromatic on the nose with kiwifruit, kaffir lime, basil and white floral aromas, followed by a wonderfully flavoursome palate that’s filled with bright fruit flavours backed by juicy acidity, offering excellent drinking. At its best: now to 2025. Feb 2023.

92 points Premium            Cameron Douglas MS

Pungent and classically styled bouquet with aromas of cape gooseberries and passion fruit, then fresh red apple and basil leaves. On the palate there’s an equal amount of energy with a bold acid line then fruit flavours that mirror the bouquet along with fresh herbs and a whisp of jalapeno. Well made and ready to drink from day of purchase through end of summer 2025.

Viticulture

Our main terrace is home for our Sauvignon Blanc vines, which are made up of different blocks depending on the soils beneath. The vines for these wines come from block 6. The soils in this block are very stoney with little loam. As a result, the vines crop much lower yields and therefore ripen flavours much earlier than the sugars can accumulate. Naturally these wines will have lower alcohol but with the full spectrum of intense flavours only the Upper Awatere can give.

Winemaking

Harvested in the cool of the evening, the grapes were gently pressed and the juice was fermented under very cool conditions to retain the intensity of the flavours. Once dry, the wine was left on yeast lees to develop even more complex flavours.

Wine Analysis

pH        3.28

TA        7.0 g/L

Alc       11.5%

RS       1.96 g/L

The Upper Awatere is known for its rugged soils, unforgiving climate and stunning Sauvignon Blanc flavours.

Strong winds, scorching daytime temperatures, and cool clear nights contribute to the development of the amazing flavours found in Sauvignon Blanc grapes.

Our single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc is crafted by this terroir, creating wines that are pristine, refined and well balanced, with a strong sense of place.