Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Hawke’s Bay — 2023
-
Introduction
-
WINERY Established in 1896, Te Mata Estate remains family owned, producing internationally recognized wines exclusively from its Hawke’s Bay vineyards, located on New Zealand’s North Island. Te Mata Estate is home to New Zealand’s oldest vineyards and wine cellars with over 125 years of continuous wine production.
WINE Sourced exclusively from Te Mata’s estate vineyards. The estate wines represent the best qualities of their variety, vintage, and Hawke’s Bay origin.
-
-
Vineyard Profile
-
The grapes for the 2023 Estate Sauvignon Blanc were harvested between March 20th and April 3rd, 2023 from Te Mata Estate’s own vineyards in the Bridge Pā Triangle, Dartmoor and Havelock Hills sub-region of Hawke’s Bay. Hawke’s Bay’s warm climate and free draining soils produce sauvignon blanc with ripe fruit characters, balanced by fresh acidity.
- Appellation: Hawke's Bay
- Location: New Zealand
- Viticulture: Sustainable
- Soil: Silty loam soils with gravel deposits
-
-
Vintage Report
-
The year 2023 was unprecedented for Te Mata Estate, marked by record-breaking extremes: the longest growing season, the smallest berry size, the second hottest and wettest year, and the most expensive vintage. Despite these challenges, including a historic cyclone in mid-February, the estate achieved remarkable results. Sauvignon Blanc performed strongly. The vintage’s success was attributed to meticulous vineyard management and favorable late harvest weather, transforming a challenging season into a triumph of exceptional wine quality.
-
-
Vinification
-
With sauvignon blanc grapes of such quality, minimal winemaking means the finer aromatics and flavors are preserved. At the winery, the grapes were chilled, gently pressed, and the juice cold-settled before fermentation in stainless steel tanks.
-
-
Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
- Alcohol: 12.5%
- TA: 7.5 g/L
- p H: 3.53
-
Tasting Notes
-
The finest, lightest, gold in the glass – with dancing, lime highlights – The 2023 Estate Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc jumps with the aromas of bright gooseberry and lemon zest, yellow guava and luscious grapefruit. The palate that follows is mouthwatering in its concentration of ripe, tropical fruit. Notes of white-fleshed nectarine, and salinity build into a texture defined by freshness and balance that drives the wine powerfully towards its fine, fresh, finish.
-