2018 Whitehaven Samantha Cuvée Méthode Traditionnelle
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Meticulously crafted in exceptionally limited quantities, this inaugural release 2018 vintage 'Samantha' Cuvée celebrates Greg and Sue’s daughter Samantha, as she continues the legacy that her parents created together.
This elegant Méthode Traditionnelle is sustainably produced, from 100% Marlborough Chardonnay and Pinot Noir fruit (Chardonnay dominant) and is produced in accordance with Méthode Traditionnelle practices. Enjoy crisp, dry, delicate flavours balanced with lees age derived complexity, finishing fine, clean and long.
Produced in very limited quantities, this is the perfect bubbles to share with friends or to celebrate a special occasion.
TASTING NOTE
Colour / Appearance: Pale straw in colour with a fine bead.
Aroma / Bouquet: Elegant notes of citrus blossom, oyster shell and crunchy apple with appealing yeast derived savoury biscuit and bread character.
Palate: This Méthode Traditionnelle is a fine and elegant dry style of wine with freshness, gentle creaminess and impeccable balance. The aromas are reflected in the flavour profile and carry on to a long, precise, cleansing finish.
Cellaring: Delicious upon release in December 2020 but will also develop more toasty savouriness with time in bottle.
Food Match: Try with panfried fish or fresh oysters.
WINE ANALYSIS
Alcohol: 12%
Residual Sugar: 4.5 g/L
Titratable Acidity: 6.7 g/L
pH: 3.23
Winemaking and Vineyards:
Our ‘Samantha’ cuvée is the inaugural Méthode Traditionnelle release for Whitehaven and is a blend of Chardonnay (70%) and Pinot Noir (30%) fruit exclusively from Marlborough. Separate parcels of fruit were handpicked at low Brix (18-19°) to capture delicate flavours with bright acidity, and then gently whole bunch pressed to extract clean, pure juice for fermentation into base wines. Once primary ferment was complete, the wines then underwent malolactic fermentation to soften acidity before being carefully blended (assemblage) by the Whitehaven winemaking team. The wine was then bottled with a small addition of sugar and yeast (tirage) and underwent a second ferment in bottle which produced additional alcohol and trapped dissolved CO2. The wine was then aged on lees in bottle for 22 months, developing complexing, savoury notes before removing the yeast lees (disgorging) and corking the finished wine.
Bottling date: December 2018
Disgorgement date: October 2020
Release date: December 2020
ACCOLADES
- "From a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir this wine showcases finesse, charm and a youthful vibrant bouquet of pear and lemon, white peach and fine leesy autolysis. It is also floral and with a fine wet river-stone minerality - there’s a complexity to be discovered as the wine warms in glass. Dry, crisp and youthful on the palate with flavours that reflect the nose plus a white strawberry and crisp apple note. Acidity and autolysis along with a crunchy explosive mousse carry all the flavours through to a lengthy finish. Balanced, youthful and well made. Best drinking from today and through 2025+." 94/100 Points, Excellent, Cameron Douglas, MS
- "A blend of chardonnay (70%) and pinot noir aged on the yeast lees in bottle for 22 months. Light, fresh and creamy méthode with lemon, grapefruit, and deliciously bready yeast lees flavours. Good sugar-and-acid balance with a crisp and pleasantly dry finish." 92/100 Points, Bob Campbell, MW
