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Beechworth attracts the most artisanal winemakers, the region's rich mineral soils and parched, undulating terrains, breed wines of vigorous flavour, crystalline textures and boney savoury tannins. The first parcel of Crown Land in the region was acquired by Isaac Phillips in 1857, he christened his estate Golden Ball and built a hotel named Honeymooners Inn, servicing miners on their way up the steep trails to the Beechworth goldfields. The old pub remains but the surrounding land has been turned over to viticulture, planted to vine in the nineteen naughties, it produces a quality of wine that's reserved for the nation's most exclusive winelists. Served by savvy sommeliers and savoured by the most discerning patrons, the limited releases of Golden Ball are an essential experience for aspirants of grand Victorian growths... Small batches of beechworth's best»
Discovered by Dr Bertel Sundstrup in 1987, after a long search for the perfect site, the amphitheatre known as Dalrymple is a mere twelve hectares of sun drenched bucolic idyll, at the very heart of superior viticulture on the beauteous Apple Isle. This is Piper's Brook central, a place of auspicious winegrowing climes, long hours of sunlight and extended ripening seasons, which yield fruit of remarkable succulence, gracious acids and satin tannins. Dalrymple are a small, unincorporated winegrowing concern, whose accord with the elements and devotion to the land, are best articulated by the leisured pursuits of their chief vigneron, whose favourite pastimes are sheep herding, river fishing and making smoked goose sausages. The wines of Dalrymple Estate have established a quiet repute amongst devotees of the more elegant Tasmanian styling, enduring exemplars of delicacy, effortless refinement and the most exquisite balance, eloquent of a magnificent terroir... The verdant nook on pipers brook»

Lawsons Dry Hills Sauvignon Blanc CONFIRM VINTAGE

Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand
Fruit from an array of Marlborough vineyards representing a broad cross section of soil types and microclimes, contribute a diverse range of aromas, flavours and textures to Lawson's Dry Hills. The time of picking is crucial to Sauvignon Blanc and the closer a winemaker scrutinizes his fruit, the more optimal will be the decision to harvest. Each site is harvested at optimal ripeness and some are picked in several passes. Rich oak ferments contribute subtle mealy characters and added palate weight.
Available by the dozen
Case of 12
$251.00
Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from several different Marlborough vineyards within a wide geographical spread, the Waihopai Valley to Chaytors Road in the coastal lower Wairau Valley and over to Awatere Valley. Each vineyard is separately managed to achieve the finest quality of fruit possible. Yields are carefully managed and great care is taken in deciding the time of harvest. Grapes are gently pressed into a mix of fermenters and seasoned French oak barriques. Parcels are inoculated to a combination of cultured aromatic and wild indigenous yeasts. Batches vinified at cooler temperatures retain the naturally vibrant fruit character, barrel ferments contribute wonderful textures to the finished wine.
Light lemon hue. A beautifully lifted nose of lemongrass, passionfruit, lemon sherbet and green herb aromas. Intensity and complexity are the hallmarks, the palate offers great concentration, with crisp acidity providing freshness, whilst emphasising the mineral/ chalky character and length of the wine. Juicy citrus, zingy lime, passionfruit and fresh cut grass flavours all feature.
Lawsons Dry Hills
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Lawsons Dry Hills
Lying east/west and enjoying a cool maritime climate, the Wairau River Valley maximises the wonderfully long clear sunny days, which are especially evident during the autumn ripening period

These long hot days are balanced by cooler nights, lengthening the ripening process and in turn, intensifying the flavours in the fruit and subsequently the wine. It is the large difference in diurnal temperatures that is believed to make Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc unlike any other in the world.

Lawsons Dry Hills

Lawson's Dry Hills Sauvignon Blanc grapes are harvested from over a dozen vineyard sites right across the spectrum of soil types, ranging from light stony soils to heavy loams, including quite a large proportion of clay-based soils. This diversity of sites helps to produce a wine of exceptional complexity. Other varieties are grown on sites selected specifically to produce the desired characters.

Lawson's viticulture and vineyard management focus is on producing the flavours, concentration and balance desired in the final wine. The cool climate means crop levels are limited and vineyard canopy is controlled to allow good fruit exposure to the sun (to enable ripening). Pruning is done by hand using the Vertical Shoot Positioning system. Then later in the season shoot and fruit thinning are used to optimize crop levels. Leaf removal (also known as leaf plucking) is an important technique that allows Lawsons to increase the amount of light reaching the actual bunches of grapes and ensures flavour development.

Their first vintage, which included Gewurztraminer off their own vineyard on Alabama Road, was just 15 tonnes and was managed by Ross from an old tin shed at the back of the property. Their Gewurztraminer has gone on to be recognised as one of the country's finest and soon established Lawson's Dry Hills on the national and international stage.

Lawsons Dry Hills

Later plantings have seen the production of Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. Their philosophy is to produce wines of great character at a good price. The winery claims one other distinction. Ross believes it was the first in the world to seal all its bottles with screwcaps as a means of avoiding cork taint.

Lawsons have over the years optimized the viticulture for each vineyard block and in the winery they seek to bring forward the best qualities each parcel of fruit provides. This means close attention to detail at each stage of the wine making process from crushing and fermentation through to bottling.

Lawsons vineyards are generally machine picked and quickly pressed with minimal skin contacted. After cool settling the juice is racked clear and fermented. Fermentation generally takes place at 10-12C depending on the yeast variety. A range of other techniques are also used including wild fermentation with indigenous yeast and barrel ferment. Chardonnay is 100% barrel fermented while the Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer are all partial barrel fermented.

The process for Pinot Noir is slightly different as the grapes are fermented together with skins to extract flavour and colour. During fermentation carbon dioxide lifts the skin to the top and the open vats are gently hand plunged to keep the skins in contact with the juice. It is after ferment that the wine is pressed into French barrels.

Lawsons Dry Hills