
2021 Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc, Awatere Valley
Our 2021 Sauvignon Blanc offers aromas of passionfruit, snow pea and black currants evolving to reveal layers of green tropicals, crushed oyster shell minerality and elderflower notes. Vibrant flavours of tropical
fruits, ripe citrus and white peach. A concentrated and textural palate. The finish is pure and salivating, showing saline minerality typical of the Awatere Valley. Energetic and complex.
Winemaker Notes
It’s not just the grinding winds from the west or the imposing presence of Tapuae-O-Uenuku, the towering peak that looms over Marlborough’s Awatere Valley. It’s not just the deep, rocky soils formed millions of years ago by relentless glaciers that molded the landscape. It’s not just the arid climate marked by sundrenched days and cold nights. It’s the combination of all those things together that shape the inimitable character, flavours and textures of Vavasour wines.
Food Pairing Notes
This wine pairs well with soft cheeses, salads, and fish dishes. Drink now through 2028.
Composition
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Wine Specs
Vintage
2021
Varietal
Sauvignon Blanc
Appellation
Awatere Valley
Acid
7.4 g/L
pH
3.13
Aging
100% Stainless Steel
Fermentation
100% Stainless steel
Residual Sugar
3.5 g/L
Alcohol %
13
Production Notes
We harvested the fruit in the cool of the night to preserve the flavor and freshness that epitomize Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Careful canopy and yield management including leaf plucking and shoot thinning, ensured great concentration and character. After pressing, the juice was cool-fermented in stainless steel tanks to retain the essence of the fruit.
Vineyard Notes
Vavasour’s 85-hectare (196-acre) estate vineyard is located at one of the marquee sites for grapes in the Awatere Valley. The climate here is noteworthy for its wide diurnal temperature swings—an attribute that
contributes to strong personality and incredible balance in the wines. The vineyard’s soils are low in fertility and are comprised of stones and pebbles mixed with clay and loam. The rainfall ranges from 279-406 millimeters (11-16 inches) a year, very arid by any measurement. The Awatere Valley is a sub-region within Marlborough. It has deep Greywacke soils compacted over millions of years by ancient glaciers. Huge boulders, carried down the Awatere River, are strewn across the valley floor. River shingles, gravels and silts help bind these large rocks. The vineyards are partially protected from the prevailing northwesterly winds by a broad range of mountain peaks. Awatere Valley wines are particularly prized for their intense aromatics, ripe flavours, dynamic textures and concentration.