Astrolabe2021/22 Kekerengu Coast Sauvignon Blanc, Astrolabe
Marlborough, New ZealandVintage: 2021
The story of the Kēkerengū Coast Sauvignon Blanc is really defined by where it is: outside of the typical bounds of Marlborough. It is grown on limestone soils, which are not seen in the Wairau or Awatere Valleys. Kēkerengū is a narrow stretch between sea and mountain, and its extreme maritime climate has a profound influence on the wine, with an early budburst and late harvest. This combination of different soil and climate from the rest of Marlborough gives a very unique expression of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
This 2021 vintage is dry, bone dry. Wafting from the glass are aromas of citrus pith, lime and grapefruit zest and hints of jasmine tea, fennel and basil. The palate is intense with flinty, almost salty notes and passionfruit flavours. It has a lovely briny, salty, savoury finish which speaks a bit about the sea nearby. It’s a great wine with oysters on the half shell, and it’s a wine that really appeals to a lot of people around the world that would normally profess not to be huge Marlborough Sauvignon drinkers and may have more European drinking sensibilities. Will develop in the bottle – drink now to 2028
Why we love it
A unique expression of NZ Sauvignon Blanc – wild barrel ferment, bone dry, briny, flavoursome, very intense, it’s a beautiful wine.
Notable Awards
2020 vintage – 93 points – Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier
”Tropical fruits of mango and pineapple, fresh herbs of basil and sage, citrus aromas of grapefruit then lemongrass and apple. Equally flavourful, youthful, fresh, fruity, tropical and herbaceous on the palate. Dry with plenty of acidity and spice, freshness and a light salty finish. Best drinking from 2021 through 2025+.”
Whats in the bottle
100% Sauvignon Blanc
12 Mixed Bottles *
£22.46
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* As part of a mixed case of any 12 bottles
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Tel : 02922 337454
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Description
Astrolabe Wines is a small, family-owned New Zealand winery, established in 1996 by Simon and Jane Waghorn. Winemaker Simon Waghorn is fascinated by the distinctive qualities of the Marlborough sub-regions, and his wines have a wonderful purity and intensity of fruit drawn exclusively from Marlborough sites, which are chosen to add complexity and completeness in the wines.
Simon and Jane have developed a range of distinctive wines that express the purity and intensity of fruit flavours naturally afforded by the climate and soils of the Marlborough wine region. Astrolabe owns 10 hectares and work with a number of growers scattered all over Marlborough, from Awatere Valley to the Kekerengu Coast and the Wairau Valley. Each site is chosen for the distinctive flavour it produces and the growers who work with Simon and Jane understand the rhythms of the land and know-how to grow grapes that express the terroir.
The estate is named after a ship that in 1827 charted and explored the Marlborough Coast, back in 1827.
Grapes were machine harvested in cool conditions, de-stemmed and lightly pressed with minimal skin contact. Clear juice was tank-fermented at low temperature using neutral yeast strains to allow the powerful fruit flavours to dominate. I blended in a sixteen percent portion of whole bunch pressed, high solids, and wild yeast barrel ferment to add subtle texture and complexity. Bottled 8th December 2020.
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