Lawson's Dry Hills "Ten Rocks" Sauvignon Blanc 2022 - Marlborough, New Zealand

4 Star - Silver Medal Raymond Chan 

Silver - Mundus Vini (2019 vintage)
Silver - New Zealand Wine of the Year (2016 vintage)

Selected by Air New Zealand for the inflight international business class pouring program.

Raymond Chan "Fruit from three sites, in the Lower Wairau, Awatere and Omaka, stainless-steel fermented to 12.8% alc. and 4.4 g/L rs. A small amount of Semillon is included in the blend. Pale straw colour with slight green hues. The nose is full, voluminous and even with fresh, mouthwatering aromas of passionfruit, gooseberries, capsicums and fresh garden herbs. Dry to taste and medium bodied, bright, lively and acid-tinged flavours of passionfruit and gooseberries form a good, deep core. Brisk and crisp acidity lifts the fruit, revealing floral and lime notes. This flows softly and smoothly through the palate, with a near slipperiness, the flavours leading to a soft, nuanced finish. This is a smooth flowing, lively Sauvignon Blanc with a voluminous bouquet of passionfruit and gooseberries. Serve with antipasto, seafood, salads and vegetables over the next "

Winemaker "This wine displays lifted grass and green capsicum aromatics along with lime and passion fruit. The palate is crisp and fresh with strong citrus flavours and a lovely chalky mouthfeel. Good weight, lovely texture and a long finish reflect the great vintage."

100% Sauvignon Blanc

Founded by Ross and Barbara Lawson in 1982, this estate is firmly part of the Marlborough establishment, home to New Zealand’s most famous Sauvignon Blancs.

Ten Rocks is part of the Lawson’s Dry Hills state, with the fruit sourced from three different areas within Marlborough’s Parallel valleys – Lower Wairau and Awatere, as well as Omaka Valley, right in the heart of Marlborough. The grapes were harvested, gently pressed and cool fermented in stainless steel and then blended with a touch of Semillon, with each parcel adding something different to the finished product.

The Sauvignon Blanc taste is one of the most identifiable in the world of white wines for a few reasons. First, it always has crisp, high acidity. Second, it has a chemical compound called pyrazine which gives grassy, herbal or bell pepper flavors. When grown in cooler climates or picked early, the herbaceous green character is most prominent. In warmer climates or allowed to hang longer on the vine, the pyrazine character diminishes in favor of riper fruit flavors ranging from grapefruit, to passion fruit and guava.