Jules Taylor OTQ Single Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021

Jules Taylor OTQ Single Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021Dry style Barrel fermented Grapefruit Baked apples "Complex, enticing, varietal and new. Barrel aged scents of nut and peach, preserved lemon and flowers, theres a lovely synergy between the bouquet of fruit and barrel ageing aromas, vintage and variety. Delicious on the palate with a satin touch then flavours of citrus and apple, pink grapefruit and white peach, dried and fresh herbs then layers of oak and spice. A delicious wine with best drinking

• Dry style
• Barrel-fermented
• Grapefruit
• Baked apples

"Complex, enticing, varietal and new. Barrel aged scents of nut and peach, preserved lemon and flowers, there’s a lovely synergy between the bouquet of fruit and barrel ageing aromas, vintage and variety. Delicious on the palate with a satin touch then flavours of citrus and apple, pink grapefruit and white peach, dried and fresh herbs then layers of oak and spice. A delicious wine with best drinking from 2023 through 2030" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Dec 2022

"Bright, straw yellow with some depth, even colour throughout. This has a lifted bouquet layered with floral, spice, yellow stonefruit and mango, underlined by a biscuity and hay complexity. Full-bodied, expressive aromas of nectarine, yellow peach and mango entwined with dandelion, chamomile, ginger, cardamom, and hay flowing on a creamy mouthfeel extends to a long, savoury finish. MLF softens acid precision and enriches the mouthfeel with creaminess and round-edged. Prickly spice elevates interest. This explicit, multilayer Sauvignon Blanc possesses ripe yellow fruit, delicate floral, spice and charming autolysis elements on a smooth palate with acid precision" Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Reviews, Dec 2022

"Aromas of baked apples, sliced almond, grapefruit and orange peel. Medium-bodied with a textural palate. Some density here with lees complexity. Vanilla and lemon curd at the finish" James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

This wine is pale green-gold in colour. Complex, elegant aromas of grilled peach, mandarin and dried apricots jostle with lemongrass and makrut lime leaves, toasted coconut, and gingernut biscuits. The palate is concentrated and complex, with softer acidity than classic expressions of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Finely integrated flavours of stone fruit and citrus interlace with nutty and smoky elements. These give way to a long, refined, elegantly balanced finish and will leave you reaching for another glass.

The 2021 season got off to a cracking start with a warm spring causing bud burst and flowering to occur earlier than normal. However, a significant frost on 30th September followed by unsettled weather during flowering severely reduced the number of grapes. From Christmas onwards, conditions reverted to a more usual pattern with sunny, dry weather causing the grass to turn from spring green to golden brown. The grapes started to race towards harvest, but the prolonged dry spell limited any berry expansion, so at harvest we had very clean small berries but also some of the lowest harvest bunch weights since 2007. Harvest began on the 4th of March, again more than a week earlier than normal and one of the earliest harvests in Marlborough. The last fruit picked this year was delivered into the winery hilariously on April Fool’s day. Without exception, all vineyards were disease-free and had great fruit concentration. We just wish there were more to go round!

Jules selected the Holdaway vineyard in the Lower Wairau subregion of Marlborough for this single vineyard wine. Sauvignon Blanc from this site shows particular intensity and a beautiful cross-section of the flavours Jules looks for in great Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Grapes were selectively hand-picked, taken to the winery and whole cluster pressed into old barriques, where a fast, furious wild fermentation took place. The wine then went through a full malolactic fermentation to soften the acid profile and add layers of complexity. Occasional lees stirring took place in the barrels over spring and summer before the wine was blended, stabilised and bottled prior to the 2022 vintage.The Jules Taylor OTQ wines were originally made ‘On The Quiet’ by Jules, hence the name.

A curated selection of single vineyard wines from sought-after sites in Marlborough, the OTQ series represents a challenge to conventional interpretations of Marlborough’s signature varieties and a personal indulgence for Jules.

Food Pairing: This wine would be amazing with pan-fried scallops and a peach salad, or with a Thai prawn laksa. For a vegetarian alternative, try it with a dish of halloumi, smashed garlic potatoes and seasonal salsa.