Owned by the Neylon family, Rapaura Springs has an astonishing track record of Trophies and top points for its wines. The family started their farming career with mussels and apples but found vines much more rewarding and since making this move haven’t looked back. Their goal is to enhance the environment around them through sustainable vineyard and winemaking practices that will leave a natural legacy for future generations. Rapaura Springs have a philosophy of minimum intervention, and all vineyards are carefully managed under strict Sustainable Wine Growing New Zealand standards. They let Marlborough’s land, climate and water do the hard work, then handcraft superb wines at the state of the art winery, leaving the vineyards to tell their own story, with just a little nudge in the right direction from experienced viticulture and winemaking teams. The result is a selection of focused, terroir-driven Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noirs with outstanding varietal expression.
The Rapaura Springs Reserve Sauvignon Blanc is a selection of the best parcels from the harvest, resulting in a sub-regional blend of wines. It has been made to showcase the diversity of the flavours produced in Marlborough wine. Rapaura is home to generous ripe fruity flavours, lower and upper Wairau to pungent exotic fruits and passionfruit, the Waihopai adds a flinty minerality to the mix.
The Rapaura Springs Reserve Sauvignon Blanc is made from the best parcels of fruit from the harvest. The vineyards had a nice, balanced, crop at harvest time and the fruit was ripe and showed excellent varietal intensity. Once pressed, the juice was cool fermented in stainless steel to retain the clean, crisp fruit flavours from the vineyard. Our Reserve Sauvignon Blanc beautifully captures the diversity of flavours found within the Marlborough sub-regions. The Rapaura sub-region brings generous ripe fruit flavours, the Wairau Valley the passionfruit, the Waihopai adds a flinty or mineral element and the Awatere Valley provides the luscious herbal and gooseberry notes.
The 2019 Marlborough growing season had a slow start with below average temperatures and higher rainfall resuting in cooler ground temperatures. Strong, even growth followed in the lead up to flowering and adverse weather events saw a mixed fruit set impacting yields. Extended hot and dry weather resulted in advanced ripening and an earlier than average start to harvest.
Succulent passionfruit, guava, pineapple and pink grapefruit aromas which are underscored by a fresh herbal element. Lush layers of sweet melon, tropical and yellow stone fruit flavours are complemented by an attractive minerality. The palate is full and rich with a moreish ripe acidity and lingering finish.
This wine is versatile and would pair well to a wide range of white meat and seafood dishes. Try with your favourite shellfish meal, creamy rock oysters or a Chicken Enchilada.
Best served at 10-12°C
Double Gold, China Wine & Spirits- 2019
94 Points, Bob Campbell, MW- 2019
Marlborough, New Zealand
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Screwcap
13.5%
3.6g/l
6.9g/l
No
No
