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Ra Nui Marlborough Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2006
 Vineyard
Grapes from two vineyards were sourced for this wine, the Roughan-Lee vineyard situated near the town of Renwick, alongside the banks of the Omaka river.
This vineyard is comprised of stony, free draining soil of low natural fertility. There is a lack of
water in the vineyard concerned resulting in low yields and concentrated flavours.
Also the first crop from our own company vineyard Summer Valley, hand picked, this vineyard has fine loess soils in a warm rain shadow valley in the lee of
the Wither Hills, and cropped at 2 tonnes per acre.
Season
It was a little warmer in late winter/early spring 2005 resulting in an early bud burst.
We then had the odd cold snap (down to -5 Celcius) and this kept all wine growers
on frost alert, with helicopters buzzing around. Sauvignon then went through a
perfect budding/fruit set with very warm weather over this early summer period.
After Xmas the weather cooled off, with average to below average
temperatures right through until harvest. Our hand picking started on 31 March in
Summer Valley and concluded with the Roughan Lee vineyard harvested
on 2 April (3 weeks earlier than the 05 vintage). The Growing Degree Days for the
season were 1,396 compared to the long term average of 1,261 (due to the
very warm early summer). The low temperatures in the second half of the season
ensured no loss of traditional Marlborough Sauvignon flavours.
Vinification
The fruit was immediately transported to the winery and on arrival transferred in
directly into the press. The hand picked grapes were then given a very light and
slow whole bunch press resulting in a low extraction of free run and lightly pressed
juice. This juice was cold settled for 48 hours then racked and an aromatic strain of
yeast was added. The bulk of the fermentation was carried out in stainless steel
tanks and after fermentation remained for approximately four months in contact
with the yeast lees prior to bottling. A very small portion of the juice was barrel fermented and then aged in new French oak barriques prior to back blending with the main blend.
Tasting Notes
Pale straw/green hints. The nose exhibits fresh cut grass characters, lime and mineral overtones, on the palate lemon with lime, kiwi, pineapple and pear. This is all balanced by nice acidity with a crisp lifted finish, a full bodied wine with a creamy rich texture.
An elegant full bodied style of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.
Food
Match with fresh greens, salads, goats cheese, fish, any shellfish (in particular Marlborough green lip mussels or oysters natural), prawns, chicken or other lean white meat.
Try this wine with a hot Indian curry, perfect!! Or just chill and enjoy!!
Reviews
"Like eating sauvignon blanc grapes straight off the vine! This is a softer, fruit sweet style and very grapey. Add to that a grassy herbaceousness and tart gooseberry fruit with an earthy undercurrent and a long bright zesty aftertaste with a hint of pineapple, and you have a very palatable and tasty wine. Highly recommended"
Sue Courtney
Wine of the Week
"An aromatic and stylish Sauvignon Blanc with classic Marlborough passionfruit and red capsicum flavours. I particularly like the wines ethereal texture and lingering finish"
Bob Campbell, Master of Wine
New Zealand
"This (the 2006) is the best yet - intense, concentrated, ripe, soft"
Joelle Thomson
NZ Herald - Viva
"fresh brisk grapefruit peel aromas, very good depth of fruit, zesty on the palate with nice richness, fine structure, dry medium acidity, good balance lively, very focussed perky aftertaste"
Wilfred Wong, Columnist
Cellarmaster - California
"Softly structured the 2006 is a sweet fruited wine with good delicacy and ripe rounded melon/lime flavours, showing excellent weight and texture."
Michael Cooper - Buyers Guide 2007
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