2024 Astrolabe Kekerengu Coast Sauvignon Blanc

The story of the Kekerengu Coast Sauvignon Blanc is really defined by where it is: outside of the typical bounds of Marlborough. It is grown on limestone soils, which are not seen in the Wairau or Awatare Valleys. Kekerengu is a narrow stretch between sea and mountain, and its extreme maritime climate has a profound influence on the wine, with an early budburst and late harvest. This combination of different soil and climate from the rest of Marlborough gives a very unique expression of sauvignon blanc.

The Astrolabe Valleys Kekerengu Coast Sauvignon Blanc is made from grapes grown at two vineyards in the Kekerengu Coast sub-region, on Marlborough's Southern Coast. Neutral wine yeast strains allow the powerful fruit flavors to dominate. A portion of hand-picked, high grape solids and wild barrel ferment wine was blended in to add subtle texture and complexity. 

All my wines tend to be on the dry end, but this one is absolutely crystalline, bone dry – nothing left. It has a lovely briny, salty, savory finish as a result, which speaks a bit about the sea nearby. It's a great wine with oysters on the half shell, and it's a wine that really appeals to a lot of people around the world that would normally profess not to be huge Marlborough sauvignon drinkers and may have more European drinking sensibilites. We love it because it's so unique. It's a briny, flavorsome, very intense, beautiful wine.

Simon Waghorn – Winemaker