Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc Cellar Selection 2007

Winemaker's Notes:

WINEMAKER’S COMMENTS Gooseberry and passionfruit characters dominate the nose with hints of lime and nettles. The wine is mouth filling with vibrant fruit and mid palate richness, finishing rich and racy with excellent length and crispness (August 2007). VINTAGE The 2007 vintage was characterised by moderate yields and ideal growing conditions. Marlborough experienced poor flowering in December, resulting in a ‘tempering’ of yields. From the end of January to harvest rainfall was low and the days were sun-drenched allowing for fruit to be harvested in prime condition and at the ideal point in its flavour development and balance. VINEYARDS The vineyards that provide the fruit for this wine are situated in both the Awatere and Wairau Valleys of Marlborough. The vineyards are managed to ensure ripe and clean fruit. Timely canopy management activities such as shoot thinning and leaf plucking along with an attention to vine health optimises the opportunity for the ideal vineyard flavours at harvest. The fruit was harvested in the cool of the night to ensure it arrived at the winery in pristine condition. WINEMAKING Each vineyard was harvested at optimum ripeness and processed separately to provide the greatest blending options. The fruit was gently pressed, cold settled and racked for fermentation. Cool fermentation techniques were employed to retain flavour and aromatics. After fermentation the wines remained on yeast lees for a few weeks to build mouth feel. The wines were then racked to be blended, gently fined, filtered and immediately bottled, capturing flavour freshness and richness. Bottle Size: 750ml Variety: Sauvignon Blanc Vintage: 2007 Region: Marlborough Vineyard: Various Country: New Zealand Alcohol: 14% pH: 3.38 Total Acidity: 6.83g/L Residual Sugar: Nil Sweetness Indicator: Cellaring Potential: 2010 Serving Temperature: Lightly Chilled