Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc ‘Cellar Selection’ 2023

Introduction

Capturing the essence of Marlborough, this Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc is a blend of selective parcels from both the Wairau and Awatere Valleys. Pungent aromas of fresh herbs and spring blossoms lead into a juicy palate bursting with grapefruit, lemons, and limes. The wine finishes with fresh balanced sherbet like acidity and mineral flinty tones.

The Sauvignon Blanc grapes destined for this Cellar Selection wine were harvested in cool night temperatures to protect the aromatics. Clear juice is slowly fermented in stainless steel tanks using selected aromatic yeast strains. The wine is left to mature on yeast lees for a period of time to build palate weight and texture into the wine, without compromising freshness. Vineyard blocks from the warmer Wairau Valley are chosen to express concentrated riper tropical Sauvignon Blanc notes, whereas the cooler windier Awatere Valley takes longer to ripen producing dominant herbal and bell pepper characters.