2021 was a unique vintage, one of the earliest and shortest on record. The growing season was the third in a series of drought vintages, the stress on the vines was compounded by a huge wind run. The combination of some early frost events and a poor flowering left lower yields and smaller bunches than usual. This, combined with the dry conditions, has meant that disease levels are incredibly low this year, resulting in better flavours and pristine fruit with good concentration, good tannin and good colour.
PRODUCER
Owned by the Neylon family, Rapaura Springs has an astonishing track record of Trophies and top points for its wines. The family started their farming career with mussels and apples but found vines much more rewarding and since making this move haven’t looked back. Their goal is to enhance the environment around them through sustainable vineyard and winemaking practices that will leave a natural legacy for future generations. Rapaura Springs have a philosophy of minimum intervention, and all vineyards are carefully managed under strict Sustainable Wine Growing New Zealand standards. They let Marlborough’s land, climate and water do the hard work, then handcraft superb wines at the state of the art winery, leaving the vineyards to tell their own story, with just a little nudge in the right direction from experienced viticulture and winemaking teams. The result is a selection of focused, terroir-driven Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noirs with outstanding varietal expression.
Within Marlborough there are many diverse microclimates and soil types. Rapaura is home to generous ripe fruity flavours: Wairau the pungent exotic fruits and passionfruit, Waihopai Valley and Ward add a flinty minerality to the mix with some citrus and the Awatere Valley giving generous herbaceous notes. They have taken each area’s qualities and blended them to achieve a full harmonious wine with pungent aromas and lovely acidity.
