2023 Kōparepare Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
$21.00
TASTING NOTE
Kōparepare (gift or contribution in Te Reo Māori) is a passion project from Whitehaven Wines. For every bottle sold, we donate to LegaSea, a non-profit organisation dedicated to restoring marine abundance in NZ.
Colour / Appearance: Pale lemon.
Aroma / Bouquet: Classical Marlborough with refined aromas of grapefruit, lemongrass, white peach and crushed herbs.
Palate: Fine and elegant with grapefruit, lime, white peach and varietal herbaceous notes. Clean and dry, this medium bodied wine leaves the palate refreshed and wanting more.
Food Match: Pair with sustainably sourced seafood.
Cellaring: We recommend enjoying our 2023 Kōparepare Sauvignon Blanc while it is young and fresh, but the wine is capable of developing nicely beyond five years if carefully cellared.
Serve: Lightly chilled.
WINE ANALYSIS
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 2.4 g/L
Acidity: 7.2 g/L
pH: 3.21
VITICULTURE
Climate: The 2023 growing season started with soil moisture at capacity following a wet winter. Flowering conditions in November and December were uneven across Marlborough with some sub-regions achieving a good set and crop load and others below average. Vigilance around disease pressure was paramount, with regular rain events, unusual humidity and warm nights through much of December and January. Day temperatures were not warm, delaying vine physiological advancement. Marlborough breathed a sigh of relief as cyclone Gabrielle minimally impacted the region in February. The season turned a corner in early March with a return to cool nights and sunnier conditions, allowing us to delay harvest for as long as possible, resulting in fruit that reached good sugar levels with attractive flavours, while disease levels remained low and manageable.
Grape Growing: We are proud to source the fruit for this wine exclusively from Marlborough, and are certified with Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW). The fruit for this wine was sourced predominantly (84%) from Marlborough’s Southern Valleys, with the balance form the Western Wairau Valley.
WINEMAKING
Harvest Dates: 30th of March and 3rd of April 2023
Winemaking: The fruit was machine harvested and pressed immediately with minimal skin contact. After settling, the clear juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks at 16°C – 12°C with selected yeast strains to preserve pure sub-regional characteristics and varietal flavours. Wines sat on light yeast lees in tank for up to 6 weeks prior to blending in June 23. The wine has been heat and cold stabilised, and sterile filtered, prior to bottling.
ACCOLADES
-
SILVER (92/100 points) - Marlborough Wine Show 2023
- "Upfront and fabulously aromatic, the wine shows passionfruit, crunchy apple, lime peel and jasmine aromas, followed by a wonderfully flavoursome palate that's filled with juicy fruit intensity backed by bright acidity. Super tasty." 93/100 points (5 stars) - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
- "Intense tropical guava, grapefruit, lime zest, and greengage aromas leap from the glass, followed by a zesty, fruity palate featuring vibrant lime and floral notes. The bright, zippy acidity makes it irresistibly refreshing, with a limey finish. A fun and expressive sunny afternoon sipper, perfect for alfresco sharing." 90/100 points (4.5 stars) - The Wine Writer
- "Bright, even, pale yellow. The nose is softly full, with aromas of elderflower, lemon and passionfruit. Medium-light bodied, aromas of lemon sherbet and passionfruit melded with elderflower and a hint of herb. The vibrant acidity married the ripe fruit, providing balance and freshness to a crisp finish. Smooth flowing and fine-textured. Match with sole fish and green-lipped mussels over the next 2-3 years." 4 stars - Candice Chow (Raymond Chan Wine Reviews)
