2009 White (Sauvignon Blanc)

EAT WITH ... White loves pre-dinner canapés and salads. Matthew, our viticulturalist, suggests serving with fresh asparagus, rocket and shaved parmesan cheese.

CELLARING ... 1 to 2 years, although is ideal for drinking now.

PRONUNCIATION ... Sauvignon Blanc [SO-vin-yon Blahnk]

Vintage conditions
Rutherglen had another dry year with the on-going drought. The growing season was mild to start, but the heat became extreme which culminated on ‘Black Saturday’. Rutherglen Estates availability to water was critical, and resulted in our vines maintaining freshness with careful monitoring and application of irrigation in the vineyard. The decision to plant varieties which originated in warmer viticultural regions paid dividends this year, with most varieties coping remarkably well. Yields were once again down, resulting in great intensity of flavour.

Tasting notes
An exciting new release, our White Sauvignon Blanc is very fresh, flavoursome, well balanced and sugar dry ... and not nearly as simple as it’s name suggests.

This wine doesn’t take itself too seriously, and as such, has been priced to be drunk and enjoyed. Sauvignon Blanc is a variety that makes crisp fresh wines that are perfect for most occasions, especially as the weather warms up. Our Sauvignon Blanc shows distinctive varietal cut grass and gooseberry aromas with a hint of musk. The palate shows the typical Sauvignon Blanc fruit profile with fantastic freshness, a crisp zestiness and a lovely dry finish. The result is an incredibly flavoursome, mouthfilling yet refreshing dry white wine.

White is clean, White is fresh, White is fruity ... White is the perfect wine for any occasion.

Winemaking
The Sauvignon Blanc was picked before the heat wave in early February, thus maintaining the variety’s fresh herbaceous flavours. The grapes were picked in the cool of the night and handled gently with non-oxidative winemaking techniques and cool temperatures at every stage. The wine was 100% fermented in stainless steel to ensure the wine maintained all of its varietal freshness, crispness and great acidity.

Wine detail & analysis
Varieties  100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region  Rutherglen, North East Victoria
Harvest date  31 January 2009
Release date  November 2009
Alcohol  11.5%
Oak treatment  nil
Total acid  6.7g/L
pH  3.34
Residual sugar  Dry less than 1.0g/L

SILVER  Victorian Wine Show 2009