The Doctors Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Winemaker’s Vintage Report
2009 was very much decided by how much faith you put in research by Dr Mike Trought and his colleagues of the Marlborough Wine Research Centre on predicting the next vintages crop, 10 months before harvest. We had been observing the development of the crop prediction model and had the faith! – The model predicted a 30-40% increase in the number of bunches of grapes. This knowledge allowed us to drastically reduce the number of buds laid down at winter pruning; hence reduce the number of shoots that grew in spring, reducing the numbers flowers and bunches per vine, therefore our crop at harvest was, (a modest 7-8 ton/Ha). For those that did not heed the warning, the season involved endless rounds of crop reduction procedures, a costly exercise mostly down by hand or those who choose to do nothing produced excess yields of below average quality fruit (and who wanted that after the record 2008 vintage)!!
Climatically the growing season was wonderful, just the right amount of rain in spring, summer sunshine, then a dry cooler autumn harvest. In fact the weather during harvest was so good that I was often heard saying that vintage 2009 was boring!! Where had the adrenalin rush of impending doom, gone over harvest? All in all, one of the best vintages in the last 10 years right across our range of grapes.
Late harvest wines depend on exceptional vintages where the riper season can be extended well into May & vintage 2009 was just such a season. We chose a small parcel of low cropping Sauvignon Blanc fruit, grown on 100% stoney Wairau River terroir, which ripened early, showed intense tropical and stonefruit flavours, good acidity & had no botrytis. The grapes were hung out to slowly shrivel right through May, then handpicked, whole bunch pressed, cold settled, slow cool fermented and arrested at 100 g/l natural residual fruit sweetness and a modest 9.5% alcohol.
Tasting Notes
Alluring nose of passionfruit ice cream, honey rock melon, lychee & Christmas day fruit salad. Ripe fruity & sweet yet nicely balanced with a refreshing natural acidity and stoney minerality. Ideal as an aperitif with vintage cheddar and dried fruits or with your favourite flan dessert – great value! |
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