"The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc Wairau Reserve leads with blackcurrant/cassis and green apple, lemon zest and passion fruit in abundance. This is silky and flavorful, and it delivers exactly what Marlborough is famous for. Flavor without bounds and crunchy acidity to boot, this is very good." 92pts Erin Larkin The Wine Advocate
Proximity to the ocean sees stronger maritime influences on the vineyards in the lower
Wairau Valley where fruit for the Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc is grown. The
daytime temperatures are warm, facilitating ripening, while the night temperatures are
typically cooler than the central and upper parts of the Wairau Valley. This promotes an
increased hang time and flavour concentration. Nutrient rich soils deposited over time due
to non-erosive flooding (prior to stop bank flood protection being introduced) have
formed even and fertile sites. The alluvial silt soils are also free-draining. The nutrient-hungry
Sauvignon Blanc vines utilise this fertility to produce extremely concentrated flavours and
aromas.
Winemaking
The fruit was pressed immediately to minimise skin contact and to preserve the quality of
the juice. After settling, the juice was fermented in stainless steel using a selected yeast
strain. Fermentation was carried out at cool temperatures to retain varietal characters
and freshness. This parcel was identified by the winemaking team during comprehensive
blind tastings as the very best batch of wine produced for the 2024 vintage and therefore
bottled as the Saint Clair Wairau Reserve.
