Mahi Sauvignon Blanc “Boundary Farm”
WHY WE LOVE IT
- This wine comes from a small hillside parcel on the southeast boundary of the township of Blenheim. The vineyard is run by Perry and Stephanie Gilbert, who also live on the property, ensuring great attention to detail. The north-facing aspect means that the grapes receive as much sunshine hours as possible helping them to ripen well and are often some of the earlier grapes of our vintage.
- The soil structure has a higher percentage of clay, which we hae found gives extra weight and interest to the palate, adding texture and suppleness.
Varietal Composition: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Elaboration: The grapes were hand-picked, whole-cluster pressed and taken straight to French barriques without any chemical additions. It was fermented with indigenous yeast in the barrels, helping to add complexity and texture, without dominating the nose. The wine was left on yeast lees for eleven months, which were stirred regularly. This meant that the yeast added both savoury notes and also served to work as a natural fining agent. After time in barrique it was gently racked then bottled.
Tasting Notes: This wine displays a combination of tropical and herbal notes on the nose. On the palate the influence of the wild yeast and oak component combine to give lifted grapefruit characters and some barrel creaminess. A rich and full style of Sauvignon Blanc.
PRESS
2013 – 92+ Wine Advocate
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Brian Bicknell had been making wine in different parts of the world for fifteen years before deciding to return to New Zealand and settle in Marlborough in 1996. At this time he could see that vineyards in Marlborough’s various valleys produced remarkably unique profiles, yet most wineries were lumping these sites together to make “consistent” regional blends. Brian saw an opportunity to show the world a more interesting side of New Zealand, and with this in mind he and wife Nicola purchased the historic Cellier Le Brun winery and quickly set up shop.
At present Brian and Nicola own and organically farm seven diverse and highly esteemed vineyard sites spread through the valley – Byrne, Cook, Francis, Twin Valleys, Boundary Farm, Wadworth, and Ward Farm. As far as winemaking goes, things at Mahi are very “hands-off” – These are textured wines that give real palate satisfaction, and they showcase Marlborough’s diverse microclimates in a way that we’ve never before experienced.