*** 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.
Country: New Zealand Region: Marlborough
Varietal: Pinot Noir Vintage: 2023
Colour: Red Style: Dry
Description: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".Vintage:The grapes were hand harvested and chilled overnight prior to hand sorting. Most of the fruit was then de-stemmed into open-top fermenters, the majority of fermentations with partial whole bunch inclusion. The fruit was allowed to soak on skins prior to the onset of indigenous yeast fermentation, then plunged daily by hand. After fermentation the wine was pressed, racked and filled to French oak barriques (40% new). All individual clones were aged in barrel separately for 16 months prior to blending..
Ageing Potential: 8 years
Tasting Note:Imagine a black forest gateaux made with marinated black cherries and very ripe blackberries, served with a little creamy vanilla custard. A highly perfumed style of Marlborough Pinot featuring exotic fruit sweetness, a cedar-like spiciness and a delicate smoky scent reminiscent of lapsang souchong. The palate is dense and generous with ripe cherry-plum richness, some soft liquorice and clove and a fine but voluptuous tannin structure.
Food Matches: Pork / Ham / Game Birds