Clos Henri Waimaunga Sauvignon Blanc ‘Windblown Clays’
WHY WE LOVE IT
- This Waimaunga “Windblown Clay” Sauvignon Blanc is a single-vineyard wine from the Southern Valleys of Marlborough, New Zealand.
- Named for the windblown loess soils deposited over glacial moraine fans, these rich, layered soils, formed 250,000 years ago and contribute to the wine’s density and richness.
- The vines are 15–20 years old.
- The estate utilizes high-density planting to encourage vine competition and organic, dry-farming practices to ensure natural vine balance.
Varietal Composition: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Elaboration: Fermentation occurs 85% in stainless steel and 15% via wild fermentation in neutral French oak barrels and Austrian demi-muids. The wine is aged on fine yeast lees for up to 9 months with lees stirring, resulting in a round body.
Tasting Notes: Bright and inviting, the Estate Sauvignon Blanc has notes of ripe citrus, orange blossom, and white peach. Juicy, with rich, ripe stone fruits, the palate offers refreshing acidity, satisfying weight, and length. A wine showing excellent purity of place, there is a lingering mineral finish.
PRESS
2022 – 96 Vinous | 96 Decanter | 95 James Suckling
2023 – 96 James Suckling | 94 Wine Advocate | 91 Vinous
2024 – 94 James Suckling | 96 Wine Enthusiast
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Nestled under the southern foothills of Marlborough’s Wairau Valley, Clos Henri is the wine estate meticulously established and organically run by the famous Sancerre wine growing family of Henri Bourgeois. From the three different soil types of the estate, the family uses the best of French and New World winegrowing techniques to capture the essence of Marlborough’s intense character and reveal the identity and depth of the Clos Henri terroir. Textural and elegant, these wines are quite a bit different from the New Zealand “norm.”