Astrolabe Kekerengu Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Description

“Astrolabe has been my go-to sauvignon maker for many years”... BOB CAMPBELL, MW, The Real Review

Astrolabe Wines is a premium wine producer from Marlborough, New Zealand known for its benchmark style of Sauvignon Blanc.

First generation winemaker Simon Waghorn has been honing his craft over thirty six years and has established a benchmark style of sauvignon blanc that reflects an unparalleled diversity of vineyard sources. Careful site selection, expert picking decisions, delicate fruit handling and astute blending are the hallmarks of his Marlborough wines. Simon chose the name Astrolabe because of historic ties with Marlborough and connotations of exploration and discovery. Together with his wife, Jane, they founded Astrolabe in Marlborough in 1996. Astrolabe is family owned and operated. All grapes are sourced from ten families who live on their land and farm sustainably. Each site was chosen for the distinctive flavour it produces. We work with dedicated growers who understand the rhythms of the land and know how to grow grapes that express the terroir. Simon is fascinated by the distinctive qualities of the Wairau Valley, Awatere Valley and Kekerengu Coast sub-regions.

Winemaker notes: “The story of the Kekerengu Coast Sauvignon Blanc is really defined by where it is: outside of the typical bounds of Marlborough. It is grown on limestone soils, which are not seen in the Wairau or Awatere Valleys. Kekerengu is a narrow stretch between sea and mountain, and its extreme maritime climate has a profound influence on the wine, with an early budburst and late harvest. This combination of different soil and climate from the rest of Marlborough gives a very unique expression of sauvignon blanc. 

The Astrolabe Valleys Kekerengu Coast Sauvignon Blanc is made from grapes grown at two vineyards in the Kekerengu Coast sub-region, on Marlborough’s Southern Coast. Neutral wine yeast strains allow the powerful fruit flavours to dominate. A portion of hand-picked, high grape solids and wild barrel ferment wine was blended in to add subtle texture and complexity.

All my wines tend to be on the dry end, but this one is absolutely crystalline, bone dry — nothing left. It has a lovely briny, salty, savoury finish as a result, which speaks a bit about the sea nearby. It’s a great wine with oysters on the half shell, and it’s a wine that really appeals to a lot of people around the world that would normally profess not to be huge Marlborough sauvignon drinkers and may have more European drinking sensibilities. We love it because it’s so unique. It’s a briny, flavoursome, very intense, beautiful wine.” Simon Waghorn — Winemaker

95 Points, Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier “Complex and floral, saline and fruity, distinctive with a sense of place display. A focused, fruity, araietal and enticing wine with flavours and textures of grapefruit flesh and apple, lemon rind and wild seaside flowers. A line of savoury salty air textures layer in on the palate with a seagrass and roasted bell-pepper quality, fresh red apple and plenty of acidity. Fresh and lively, new and lengthy. Best drinking from late 2023 through 2029.”

RRP $40  Special Price $28.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine