Astrolabe Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2023

This fantastic wine has intense nettle, lime and basil flavours with the Pouilly Fumé-like pungency typical of the Awatere Valley. Highly regarded winemaker Simon Waghorn loves the distinctive tomato leaf and smoky flavour that the clay soils of this cooler region produce. Perfect with pesto chicken or moules marinière.

Climate: After a wet winter, spring was drier and warmer than normal, but regular rain events kept vines growing and in good health. Budburst was very good, and bunch numbers per vine were ahead of the long-term average. Through late spring and summer wet and humid conditions prevailed, and the outlook was for a difficult harvest period with high fungal disease potential. Late summer and autumn were very good, with sunny and dry weather that helped the harvest come through in very good condition and about a week later than recent seasons. Soils: Gently undulating, well-drained, deep silt loams and moderately deep sandy loams of greywacke alluvium.

Harvest Date: Between the 7th and 11th of April, 2023.

Vine Management: Standard trellis, with pruning to two to four canes, and vertical shoot positioning. Vines are trimmed closely, well tucked and lightly leaf plucked.

The fruit was machine harvested in cool evening conditions, de-stemmed and lightly pressed with minimal skin contact. Clear, cold-settled juice was fermented in stainless steel vats at low temperatures, using neutral wine yeast strains to allow the powerful fruit flavours to dominate.

Bottled 19th June, 2023.