Country: New Zealand Region: Marlborough
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Colour: White Style: Dry
Producer: Kevin Judd
Description:
Greywacke was created in 2009 by Kevin Judd, chief winemaker at Cloudy Bay. From its inception for 25 years and instrumental in the international recognition which Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc enjoys now. The name 'Greywacke' was adopted by Kevin for his first Marlborough vineyard located in Rapaura in recognition of the high prevalence of rounded greywacke river stones in the soils of the vineyard, a sedimentary rock which is widely found in Marlborough. Kevin Judd is also New Zealand's finest wine photographer and has recently published a book 'The Landscape of New Zealand Wine'.
Vineyards:
Fruit was sourced from various vineyard sites in and around the Brancott Valley and the central Wairau Plains, specifically in Woodbourne, Renwick and Rapaura. Soil types vary from the young alluvial soils of Rapaura and Renwick, which contain high proportions of greywacke river stones, to the older and denser clay-loam gravels of the Southern Valleys. The majority of the vineyards were trained using the divided Scott Henry canopy management system, with the balance being on two or three cane vertical shoot positioning.
Vintage informations:
Some vineyards were harvested by machine and others by hand, all into half-tonne bins, which were tipped directly into tank presses. The grapes were pressed relatively lightly and the resulting juice was cold-settled prior to racking into mostly old French oak barriques. The juice was allowed to undergo spontaneous indigenous yeast fermentation, the tail end of which continued for well over six months. The wine had occasional lees stirring and approximately two thirds of the barrels underwent malolactic fermentation. It was transferred out of oak prior to the following harvest and left on yeast lees for a further five months. The wine was bottled in November 2014.
Vinification:
Some vineyards were harvested by m
*** DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS SILVER MEDAL ****** Best Value White Wine in the Wine Merchant Top 100 Wine Awards 2022***
Country: South Africa Region: Elgin
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc 96%, Semillon 4%
Vintage: 2024/25 Colour: White Style: Dry
Producer: Iona Winery
Description:
Iona is the coolest vineyard in the Cape, 420m above sea-level, high above the picturesque Elgin Valley. An extremely long growing season, harvesting up to 2 months after Stellenbosch, results in diverse, complex flavours and uniquely fresh and elegant wines. Long renowned for their Sauvignon blanc, their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; recently awarded 5 stars in Platter, are also very fine.
Each soil type and aspect of the Sauvignon blanc vineyards are matched with different clone to ensure we capture the endless flavours of the variety in the vineyards. These are retained in the cellar, with each block being vinified separately. The harvest of the Sauvignon blanc stretched from middle March to early April which provides a perfect long ripening period to develop the intense concentrated flavours. An important component is the addition of 4% Semillon which enhances the mid- palate weight and complexity of the wine. Stirring of the lees brings that unmistakable Iona texture.
Treatment in Oak: 4 Months; Type: French; % oaked: 5; % new oak: None;
Tasting Note:Fragrance of pure white grapefruit, intense tropical fruit, ripe gooseberry and fleshy kiwi fruit over-lay Iona’s distinctive herbal and floral undertone. The palate is keenly balanced showing cut green apples and lime marmalade followed by great minerality and length..
Food Matches: Fresh asparagus, chicken and seafood dishes but is also enjoyable by itself.