Origin: Sauvignon
Blanc is the wine of the LoireValley in France and
wines characteristic of this area are Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé Blanc.Both styles are dry and the final
flavour profile reflects the growing season, the soil type and
structure.It is also found in the Graves and Sauterne area of the Bordeaux.Here it is combined with Semillon to produce sauternes that are sweet in
finish.
In New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc made up 60% of the national vineyard crop in
2008.Of this 169,000 tonnes, 91% is
from the renowned soils of Marlborough, where recent years have seen a
significant increase in annual new plantings to attempt to satisfy world demand
for the much vaunted product.
Vicarage Lane Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Harvest: Machine
harvested in late April 2009.
Viticulture Notes:
Produced by acclaimed New Zealand winemaker Alan
McCorkindale using carefully selected parcels of fruit from Vicarage Lane’s own
vineyard and from those managed by the company to produce wine most redolent of
the Marlborough tradition.
Winemaking: Fermented in stainless steel tanks at a temperature of 10°C
to maximise primary fruit aroma and flavour.Different yeast strains were used for the
different batches.
Bottled: From September 09 Released: October 09
Wine Analysis:
Total
Alcohol 12.1%v/v
Titratable Acid7.1 g/L
Total
Sugar3.3 g/L
Tasting Notes: The colour is an almost clear pale straw.The bouquet has passionfruit and ripe pear notes overlaying a
tropical fruit palate laced with hints of new mown grass and fresh tarragon followed by a lingering dry finish.
Food Matches: The slightly acid finish suits fish and other seafood
dishes, creamy pasta sauces and poultry.
Vicarage Lane Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Harvest: Machine
harvested in April 2008.
Bottled: From June 08
Released: July 08
Wine Analysis:
Total
Alcohol 12.6%v/v
Titratable Acid6.5 g/L
Total
Sugar4.3 g/L
Tasting Notes: The colour is pale straw.The bouquet has classic Marlborough
characters of intense gooseberry, red currant, citrus
and nettly aromas.The palate is well balanced and vibrant, with persistent flavours and crisp acidity.
Origin: Chardonnay is the white grape of
France's Burgundy region.Considered
easy to grow and vinify, finishing is usually by aging in oak to reproduce the
flavours of burgundy, though many markets have more recently seen a move to reduced concentrations of oak or to non-oaked chardonnays.
Harvest: Machine harvested from vineyards managed by Vicarage Lane Wines in the heart of Marlborough's Wairau Valley in March 2007. Winemaking: The grapes were de-stemmed, pressed and resulting juice cold settled.
Fermentation was 100% in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks.
Malolactic bacteria were added to the fermentation.
Prior to bottling the wine underwent a brief exposure to oak beads. This minimal oak treatment adds complexity to the finished wine without the oak characteristics becoming dominant.
Released: October 08
Bottled: From September 08
Wine Analysis:
Total
Alcohol 12.9%v/v
Titratable
Acid 7.1 g/L
Total
Sugar 0.5 g/L
Tasting Notes:Complex
aromas of nectarine and citrus fruits, spice oak and cream.The wine has a soft, appealing texture with
lingering flavours of stone fruits, cream and savoury oak.The palate is soft and creamy, well balanced, elegant and fruit
driven.A classic New Zealand
Chardonnay.
Food Matches: An excellent accompaniment to chicken, seafood or pork
dishes, or as an appealing aperitif.
Origin: Riesling is a grape of German origin from the Rhine Valley.
It grows readily in New Zealand and is becoming increasingly popular.
It is often made in an 'off dry' style where the primary fruit characteristics are retained.
When Riesling is enjoyed young it provides fresh, lively wines which are great as an aperitif,
then as time goes on the wine has a wonderful ability open up and develop, offering a wider spectrum of delightful and interesting flavours.
Harvest: The grapes for this Riesling were grown on the limestone based hillsides at Waipara, in the north of the Canterbury province in New Zealand’s South Island.
The crop was machine harvested and then transported to Christchurch for winemaking by renowned New Zealand
winemaker Alan McCorkindale. After gentle pressing the resulting juice underwent fermentation in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. Released: October 08
Bottled: From October 08
Wine Analysis:
Total
Alcohol 11.6%v/v
Titratable
Acid 6.4 g/L
Total
Sugar 15.1 g/L
Tasting Notes:This wine displays
intense aromas of fresh Valencia oranges, marmalade, lemon zest and summer flowers, typical of
fruit from Canterbury’s Waipara vineyards.A delicious, balanced, off dry wine with a little sugar and concentrated citrus fruit flavours with a touch of honey.
Food Matches: An excellent accompaniment to chicken,
seafood or pork dishes, or as an appealing aperitif.
White wines 
Released: October 08