Brightwater Gravels Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Reviews and Accolades

New Zealand International Wine Show 2022: Gold.

Tasting note

Star bright with a lifted nose of lemon, pear, green banana, green apple and pineapple. Medium bodied, lively, and flavoursome with juicy fruit intensity, fine texture, and a cooling crisp acidity. Fruit forward and immediately appealing.

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc

Aromas and flavours:

Additional information

Food match: Sauvignon Blanc's 'zing' is a delightful complement to dishes with fresh herbs, green vegetables, seafood or fresh goats cheese. Enhance the effect with a citrus or garlic garnish. Or simply enjoy as a refreshing aperitif.

Alcohol: 12.5% vol

Vineyard: Nelson, New Zealand

Soil type: Flat alluvial soils overlaying free draining gravels and clay base material.

Vintage Season 2022: A rare two years continual la Nina climatic conditions provided a somewhat predictable environment of spring rains and warm sunny days. Good growing conditions that required continual devigorating solutions for the vines. Summer was also warm and sunny with local ocean temperatures up to two degrees warmer than ‘normal’. The increased risk this creates for large rain events never eventuated and grapes ripened and were picked in fine condition in what was an early vintage.

Regional climate: Nelson is regularly New Zealand’s sunniest region. With young alluvial soils, abundant clean fresh water and a sheltered topography, Nelson grows a wide range of crops to exceptional standards. The proximity of Nelson to the temperate Tasman Sea ensures minimal frost risk and moderation of extreme daytime temperatures. Grapes ripen evenly and slowly allowing full and bright flavour development.

Winemaking: A single vineyard wine – off the stony alluvial Waimea Plains. Mass selection Sauvignon was hung out to ripen as we anxiously watched weather forecasts! Our last block of Sauvignon to come in, picked on the 4th of April in the cool of early morning. The clarified juice was fermented with a traditional Sauvignon Blanc yeast – to hone typical varietal characters. Minimal winemaker ‘interference’ ensured this wine has stayed true to the Brightwater Gravel theme of bright fruit driven, light-footed wines. Bottled just three months post-harvest.

Residual sugar: 5.2 g/l

Bottle size: 0.75l

Notice: contains sulphites

Cellaring potential: 2023

Closure: Screwcap

Produced and bottled by: Drinks Cabinet Limited, Atawhai, Nelson 7010, New Zealand