Capturing Catalina’s most interesting parcels of fruit, this wine shows New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc in a new light. Fermented and aged in oak, these sweet oak flavours blend with stone-fruit, grapefruit and lemon notes that build to a gently mineral-infused finish. Ideal with fresh seafood; it also has enough weight to complement creamy or buttery sauced dishes.
Tasting Note
AromaBlackcurrant leaf and herbs intertwine with stonefruit, citrus, gentle tropical notes and flinty undertones.
ClosureScrewcap
GrapeSauvignon Blanc
Grape Variety100% Sauvignon Blanc
Maturation100% matured in large French oak foudres for 9 months.
Oaked2
PalateModerately rich yet possessing a precise acid backbone, the palate is nuanced with blackcurrant leaf, herbs and stonefruits giving way to focused citrus flavours with hints of guava, passionfruit and pineapple. Fermentation in oak lends a textural, mouth coating element, while never dominating the fruit flavours.
VarietalV_SAUVIGNONBLANC
VinificationHand-picked fruit was whole bunch pressed and the juice minimally settled prior to transfer to large oak vessels (ranging in size from 4000L to 5700L) for warm fermentation. 40% of the wine was un-inoculated while the balance was fermented with cultured yeast. The wine remained unsulphured on lees in oak until Christmas 2014, when it was blended and prepared for bottling in March 2015.
RegionMarlborough - New Zealand
Region CodeINZAMARLBO
Region Notes
State
Subregion
WinemakerPeter Jackson
Wine StyleWhite (Crisp Fresh)
Huon Hooke
0
90
2016/07/25
The Real Review, 23 January 2017
(Waihopai Valley) Pungent passionfruit and tropical aromas, with a trace of 'cat's pee' and a little honey starting up. There is a touch of austerity in the acidity balanced by a smidgin of sweetness. The finish is clean and dry thanks to lively acidity. There is a slight greenness in this wine, which is morphing into honey with bottle-age. An interesting barrel-fermented style.
Michael Cooper
0
0
2015/12/31
Michael Cooper's Best of 2015 Releases
Stylish, single-vineyard
wine from the
Waihopai Valley, handpicked
and matured
for nine months in
large French oak
foudres. Mouthfilling,
fresh and dry, with
ripely herbaceous
flavours, showing
good concentration,
subtle oak and leesaging
notes adding
complexity, balanced
acidity and a finely
textured, lingering
finish. Drink now or
cellar.
BJ Foley
0
0
2017/03/03
Weekend Post, 04 March 2017
The 2014 vintage has taken a few
awards over its time, as have all the
Catalina wines. This is a restrained wine with a great zippy acid
backbone through it; citrus flavours
dominate with dried herbs and stone
fruits playing minor roles in there,
traces of flint too. The time in oak
has given it a great polished feel in
the mouth but the oak never
overwhelms the fruit. Great match
to seafood but it’s got enough going
on to also work with heavier poultry
meals.
BJ Foley
0
0
2017/03/03
Weekend Post, 04 March 2017
The 2014 vintage has taken a few
awards over its time, as have all the
Catalina wines. This is a restrained wine with a great zippy acid
backbone through it; citrus flavours
dominate with dried herbs and stone
fruits playing minor roles in there,
traces of flint too. The time in oak
has given it a great polished feel in
the mouth but the oak never
overwhelms the fruit. Great match
to seafood but it’s got enough going
on to also work with heavier poultry
meals.
