Wijnhuis: Koru Wines

Land: Nieuw-Zeeland
Regio: Marlborough
Jasper Raats : It naturally starts in the vineyard. We give the vines the same attention usually reserved for Pinot Noir only. We shoot thin, we leaf pluck, we bunch thin and hand harvest.  It makes it hard work and more expensive to grow, but for both vineyards and wines we have a 'no compromise' attitude. This is not just lip service, we are so small that we can do it all by hand, which makes us quite different to most.  We also believe that the fresh herbaceous, capsicum, grassy flavours in Sauvignon Blanc, that many people love, is not the only flavour spectrum possible in NZ Sauvignon Blanc. It actually has a very complex flavour profile that develops with more time out on the vine and ripening in the sun. The flavours we are after also includes flavours of lime, lemon, grapefruit, ripe gooseberry, passion fruit, very ripe kiwifruit and, if we are lucky, some gunflint and mineral tones. In New Zealand the climate is so cool, and the ripening so slow and long, that we believe, you can achieve this and still have great natural acidity. Be brave though, because the weather can get a bit marginal towards the end of the season, which leads to all sorts of dangers.  We ferment and age a part of the blend in barrels, but we use it only to enhance mouth feel and not infuse oak flavours into the wine.  Lastly, we try to make white wine that can go the distance and develop into something more complex and unique with time and patience. Yes, with Sauvignon Blanc! Koru Sauvignon Blanc is a single 1 hectare vineyard wine and therefore a true expression of its terroir. The vineyard is situated on the cool lower terrace, of the upper Wairau valley, in Marlborough and planted on stony loam and silt soil with low fertility. It also means that there are only about 500 cases available every year.  

Website van Koru Wines: http://www.koruwines.co.nz/