Description
Located within Marlborough’s Appellation Wine Region, Kekerengu is untouched and unique. The soil here is different —stony and rough, with a vein of limestone carried by forgotten glaciers. The morning mist is a ghost that tends the vines, and the wind is a prevailing southerly that makes the grapes develop slower than other places — perfect for cool-climate winemaking.
It is a lonely place, Kekerengu. You’ll find more company within the silent parts of the nearby Pacific Ocean than on any track—and you’ll receive more chatter from a Fantail than from a cellphone. And that’s what makes this place special. It’s remote and rugged.
It is here that Josh Scott first had a hand in planting a block of Sauvignon Blanc more than twenty years back. Since then this little valley has called him to return. Traditional opinion said it wouldn’t work; planting vines here was too audacious and would require too much effort. Fortunately, audacity and hard work are two things that Josh is known for—and so he set about creating something special to share with the world.
This Sauvignon Blanc is a true cool-climate wine. Unlike traditional Sauvignon Blanc, this wine gets better with age. As it matures a gentle mist gathers within—forsaking clarity for flavour. Fresh sea breezes from the nearby beach adds a gentle saltiness to the grapes, which can be tasted from the glass.
Vintage 2022 / Wine Spectator – 93 Points
“Delivers a terrific, lip-smacking mix of crunchy sea salt, toasted herbs and tropical flavors that show terrific purity to the Key lime, dried pineapple and passionfruit flavors at the core. Reveals intense acidity on the long finish.” MaryAnn Worobiec
Vintage 2022 / Winestate Magazine – 4 1/2 Stars / Best Value Buys
“From a coastal site 70 km south of Blenheim, this is a high-impact Marlborough sauvignon blanc. Bright, light lemon/green, it has a strong personality, with a slightly salty streak and penetrating passionfruit/lime flavours, crisp and dry.”
Vintage 2021 / Winestate Magazine – 4 1/2 Stars
Vintage 2021 / The Real Review – 93 Points
“Concentrated sauvignon blanc with chalky and oyster-shell flavours that are typical of wines from the Kekerengu subregion. A crisp, fine-grained wine with a backbone of fine, peppery tannins and tangy acidity.” Bob Campbell
Vintage 2020 / Winestate Magazine – Best Value
Vintage 2020 / Cam Douglas – 93 Points
“Intense aromatics with an immediate mix of fruit and lees autolysis – texture on nose and palate. White fleshed fruits and citrus then fresh sage and angelica herb aromas. Crisp, refreshing and dry, layers of textures and fruits of the orchard finishing with citrus. High acidity, balanced, fresh and immediately enjoyable.” Cam Douglas
