Description

Saint Clair Family Estate was founded by Neal and Judy Ibbotson who are the directors of the winery with more than 30 years viticulture knowledge of the Marlborough region. The company is a family business with the next generation also involved. With quality as a company value it is essential that the very best fruit is sourced and utilised to make the best wine possible, and hence adhere to a core company value. From 1994 when wines from the first vintage all won medals including gold, the name Saint Clair has been synonymous with quality and its award-winning record continues today.

A wide choice in Marlborough Vineyard sites, including the Wairau, Awatere and Ure Valleys as well as a vineyard in the Gimblett Gravels wine growing district in Hawke’s Bay, allows Saint Clair to specialise its plantings by grape variety in the sub-regions that provide the most suitable terroir for each. In 2001 Saint Clair introduced a ‘grading system’ for all its vineyards different wine batches and marks them out of 10 for quality each year. This provides valuable information with records now over a period of time showing which vineyards provide the best fruit and which varieties produce the best quality in each of the vineyards.

The Saint Clair Family Estate Reserve wines, produced only in small quantities, are our finest, harvested at optimum ripeness and handcrafted by the winemakers to produce wines of exceptional character. The Saint Clair winemakers pride themselves in these wines that will satisfy any wine enthusiast or simply provide someone new to wine something to get excited by and remember.

Proximity to the ocean sees stronger maritime influences on the vineyards in the lower Wairau Valley where fruit for the Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc was grown. The daytime temperatures are warm, facilitating ripening, while the night temperatures are typically cooler than the central and upper parts of the Wairau Valley. This promotes increased hang time and flavour development.

Opulent and expressive with concentrated aromas of white currant and passionfruit with an interlaced green thread. Pure and focused with complex layers of bright citrus and tropical fruit. The palate is textural and rich with salty mineral notes and a long lingering finish. An exceptional food friendly wine which will match beautifully with freshly shucked oysters or steamed mussels.