Old Coach Road Nelson Lighter Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Wine Analysis

The Vineyard

The majority of the fruit selected for our Old Coach Road Nelson Lighter* Sauvignon Blanc is from our new and very promising Lord Rutherford Vineyard. Our Lord Rutherford Vineyard shares a boundary with the Wai-iti River and young vines are grown in sandy-silty free draining soils. The vines are producing exciting fruit characters.

Winemakers Note

In the vineyard, leaves were removed from around the fruiting zone to allow light penetration and air movement around the ripening bunches. Parcels of fruit were picked when flavours and grape acids were nicely in balance giving fruit with intensely varietal flavours and a fresh, lasting acidity but at a lower initial natural grape sweetness.  Our team closely monitor fruit flavours and ripeness early in the season to move quickly and select sub-blocks of fruit at lower sugar levels, but with a ripe spectrum of flavours. This requires careful thought and monitoring to ensure the Lighter* Sauvignon Blanc is beautifully balanced, with fruit sweetness and acidity working in harmony.

Tasting Note

The Old Coach Road Nelson Lighter* Sauvignon Blanc 2017 is bright and varietal, at lower alcohol. Crisp flavours together with tropical passionfruit notes shine through in the wine. The wine is off dry and delivers well balanced acidity and concentrated fruit characters on the palate.

*This Sauvignon Blanc is lighter in alcohol compared to Old Coach Road Sauvignon Blanc 2017.