2022 Mount Vernon Sauvignon Blanc

The Story

The original vineyard was planted in 1982 by Ross and Barbara Lawson, who launched the Lawson’s Dry Hills label some ten years later, in 1992. Today, the company’s wines come from fruit grown in the Wairau, Waihopai, Omaka and Awatere Valleys. These different regions and carefully selected vineyard sites provide varying characteristics derived from the different soils and microclimates, giving many options when it comes to blending to that much-anticipated Lawson’s style.

Lawson’s Dry Hills is currently the only New Zealand wine producer to hold both ISO14001 (Environmental Management) and ISO14064 (carbonzero) accreditations. They are also certified under Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.

Winemaking

Rising 422 metres, Mt Vernon is one of the peaks towering above Marlborough in the Wither Hills, just behind the winery. This wine comes from two distinct parcels - a nearly equal split between the Awatere and Waihopai Valley blocks. Growing on only two or three canes keeps the crop levels low which ensures beautiful selection of weight and flavour concentration. Each block was picked when they reached maximum passionfruit characters and while the acidity was bright and crisp. The grapes were gently pressed before being fermented in stainless steel tanks with selected cultured yeast, while 4% was fermented with wild yeast in old French barriques.

Tasting Notes

This wine is a pure expression of a clean, crisp Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. It is bursting with lemon, passionfruit and ripe tropical fruit, tied together with layers of fresh, green, herbaceous characters. The palate has lovely fruit concentration, balanced acidity and a gentle, dry finish.