2012 Sauvignons out now
We have just released out 2012 Sauvignon Blanc’s and are delighted with the wines. Noted wine scribe Raymond Chan had this to say about the wines:
Pencarrow and Palliser Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2012
The most high profile and successful producer of Sauvignon Blanc in Martinborough is Palliser Estate. The Palliser Estate wine has headed off examples from the Marlborough region many times in judgings to take top awards both nationally and overseas. To me, the Palliser style has all the fruit exuberance of the Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs without being excessively so, and it possesses a greater texture and palate presence than wines from further south. It’s a similar situation to the Pinot Noir wines of the region too. As the company’s Sauvignon Blanc vines mature, as well as those of Palliser’s regular contracted growers, there has been an abundance of quality fruit which has made its way into the second tier ‘Pencarrow’. There’s not much between the Pencarrow and Palliser Estate Sauvignon Blancs in quality now from my recent tastings. Differentiation must be made in stylistic terms only. Here are my reviews of the 2012 wines. www.palliser.co.nz
Palliser Estate Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012 ***** 100% Martinborough fruit from the company vineyards with contract fruit included, cool-fermented in stainless-steel to 12.5% alc. and 4.5 g/L rs, the wine undergoing batonnage just over 8 weeks. Bright, even straw-yellow colour with slight green hues, pale on rim. This has an elegant but firmly concentrated nose of fresh, fragrant passionfruit, lime and floral aromas along with a delicate flinty, mineral lees-contact note. The bouquet is one of finesse and clarity. Dry to taste, elegantly proportion and very fine-featured, aromatic passionfruit, lime and gooseberry fruit flavours are enhanced by bright, lacy acidity, highlighting the detail and providing tension and energy. There is an underlying richness and concentration that is driven to a very long, delicately nuanced finish with complexing minerally elements. This is a refined, lively Sauvignon Blanc with aromatic tropical and gooseberry fruit flavours that is too easy to drink. It is the most elegant Palliser Estate Sauvignon Blanc to date. Serve with fine Asian and Pacific Rim influenced cuisine over the next 2-3 years. 18.5/20
Pencarrow Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012 **** Brilliant, pale straw-yellow colour with slight green hues. The nose is very full with deep, rich, pungent aromas of passionfruit and savoury tropical fruits unfolding to reveal gooseberry and dark herbal detail. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate is packed with soft, rich flavours of passionfruit, limes and sweet grass and herbal elements. The flavours open to become voluminous and mouthfilling, and are enlivened by fresh acidity. The palate flows seamlessly to a long, lingering and full finish brimming with gooseberry and grassy nuances. This is a gently voluminous and smooth Sauvignon Blanc packed with lush passionfruit flavours. Match with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare over the next 2+ years. Fruit from company vineyards and contract growers in Martinborough, cool-fermented in stainless-steel to 12.5% alc. and 3.9 g/L rs, the wine undergoing batonnage approx. 8 weeks. 18.0+/20
