Main Divide Waipara Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2021

Main Divide Waipara Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2021Dry style Feijoa & passionfruit Elderflower & spice Vibrant acidity "An intense, complex, charismatic bouquet with a wild, sauvage, Semillon like seam, hints of passionfruit flower, lemon verbena and a smoky, flinty note. A refreshing palate with peachy fruit, good concentration and crisp, stone sucking acidity. Very drinkable" Steve Bennett, Master of Wine, New Zealand Wine Rater, Dec 2021 "Punchy and instantly appealing, the wine shows feijoa,

• Dry style
• Feijoa & passionfruit
• Elderflower & spice
• Vibrant acidity

"An intense, complex, charismatic bouquet with a wild, sauvage, Semillon-like seam, hints of passionfruit flower, lemon verbena and a smoky, flinty note. A refreshing palate with peachy fruit, good concentration and crisp, stone sucking acidity. Very drinkable" Steve Bennett, Master of Wine, New Zealand Wine Rater, Dec 2021

"Punchy and instantly appealing, the wine shows feijoa, kiwifruit, Gala apple and lemon zest aromas on the nose, leading to a splendidly flavoursome palate offering excellent fruit vibrancy and intensity. Upfront and deliciously appealing" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Dec 2021

"Aromas of juicy fleshy white orchard fruits, red apple then mango-passion, citrus fruits and slightly understated fresh herbs layer with touch of sage and basil. Juicy, fleshy and lively on the palate with electric acidity carrying flavour and crispness, a quiet mineral layer then fresh herbs and core of fruit. Well-made and ready to drink" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Oct 2021

"Bright, even, very pale-yellow. The nose is vibrant, aromas of lime melded with an amalgam of nettle, asparagus and green capsicum, a hint of sharp white spice and sweet floral added interest. Light-bodied, the palate is soft and juicy, lime aroma accompanied by elderflower, asparagus spears, subtle nettle and spice lifted the finish. A hint of sweetness balances the vibrant acidity remains a refreshing, bright finish. This is a juicy Sauvignon Blanc with balance fruit and varietal characters adorned by attractive herbaceous scents" Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Reviews, Dec 2021

"If you have a hankering for Sauvignon Blanc saturated with ripe lemon, punchy peach, frisky florals, feijoa and a kick of kiwifruit, then this is your jam. Actually not really jam, although sauvignon blanc jam or jelly does sound rather glorious. Anyhoo – this wine is gently tropical, edged with a swathe of fresh herbs, citrus and a tonne of tropical tones. It doesn’t possess that lean, green, squinty acidity that dominates some southern sauvignon’s. It’s a superb little sip" Yvonne Lorkin, Jan 2022

"Main Divide Sauvignon Blanc is excellent value with deliciously zesty grapefruit aromas that lead into exotic tropical fruit flavours of passionfruit, ripe peach and nectarines, beautifully balanced by zingy acidity. It has a beautifully vibrant, youthful character and exciting flavours of lemongrass, tropical fruit and apple skins. Love the medium body and long finish, both of which keep the wine in great balance" Joelle Thomson, Drinksbiz, Feb 2022

On release the wine is pale lemon in colour. Its bouquet is a vibrant melange of citrus and tropical fragrances, with grapefruit, lime, guava and passionfruit at the fore. Peppered beneath this are hints of gooseberry, elderflower, green capsicum, and crushed thyme. The palate is well weighted with a pleasing richness, complimented by a juicy, zesty zing in the mouth. Finely tuned and balanced with crisp acidity, this is a classic NZ Sauvignon Blanc with elegance and panache that stands out from the crowd.

Main Divide is the local name for the Southern Alps and is the backbone of the South Island, where grapes for Main Divide are exclusively sourced. Vineyards have been selected for their quality and ability to express unique regional flavours.

Cold weather during bud burst resulted in lower crop levels, hence no further fruit thinning was carried out. The subsequent warm dry summer served up perfectly ripened small berries full of intense flavour and concentration. Favourable conditions continued into autumn, allowing the fruit to be picked at optimum ripeness.

The grapes were picked in separate batches during early April from the wineries our own Te Hau vineyard, the aim being to produce a spectrum of ripe yet zesty aromas and flavours in the finished wine. The fruit was cropped at a low level (approx. 7 tonnes per hectare) to add extra concentration. After gentle pressing of the berries, the free run juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks at cool temperatures and bottled shortly after, to help the wine express its varietal purity.