Clairault Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc 100%
Tasting Notes:
This wine opens with a hint of herb, aromas such as rocket and tomato leaf, following this are the deeper fruit aromas of ripe pear, gooseberry, custard apple. There will also be some confectionary fermentation esters present in the first 6 months. The palate is very impressive with a solid core of complex fruit bound together by a soft but effective acidity. The wine has good length, balance and a very clean finish.
Winemaking Notes: Warm days and warm nights at the end of February and the beginning of March prompted a rapid acceleration of sugar levels in the white varieties. Acid levels remained high as well suggesting a concentration effect from the warm weather rather than typical physiological ripening. There was a net benefit for the wine with no additions of Tartaric acid required in the winemaking and importantly a high level of aromatics and fruit power. The picking window for Sauvignon Blanc was especially small this year with all our Sauvignon Blanc being picked consequently over 4 nights. Harvesting was undertaken in the pre-dawn cool to minimise oxidation and flavour loss, followed by gentle pressing of chilled grapes. The resulting juice was fermented using selected aromatic yeasts. The winemaking thereafter was fairly simple, with no oak used and an emphasis on retaining and highlighting the purity and expression of the vineyard.
Winemaking Analysis
Baume at Picking: 12.1 – 12.5 Titratable Acidity: 6.8
Alcohol: 13.5 pH: 3.22
Residual Sugar: 0.99
Winemaker: Will Shields
