Catalina Sounds Sauvignon Blanc 2025 | Marlborough NZ

Winemaking Notes

Sourced from the estate in the Waihopai Valley and a handful of growers, some of which have been part of Catalina Sounds for the last 15 years. There is increasing emphasis on the Southern Valleys, where over 60% of the fruit comes from and the higher proportion of clay creates wines with mineral focus and mid-palate texture. The remaining 40% is from the central and lower Wairau areas, where the vines thrive in the free-draining alluvial soils and express classic herbaceous, citrus and subtle tropical aromas. All vineyards and sub-blocks are kept as separate as possible. Freshly pressed juice was cold settled and left to clarify for several days before racking and then fermenting at cooler temperatures with selected yeasts in stainless steel. A small portion of juice from the estate is fermented in large, seasoned oak cuves to add texture and mid-palate weight. The wine components are then left to rest on their lees before grading and blending. Bottled in September with no animal products used, this wine is vegan friendly. The result is a Sauvignon Blanc with delicate green and pale straw hue, complex aroma revealing ripe citrus peel, candy apple and wet stone notes, and a palate that is juicy and mouthwatering with a saline thread enhancing flavours of preserved lemon and stone fruits.

Vintage Conditions

A truly remarkable growing season that was marked by dry, warm weather. A significant late season frost and a cooler start to flowering in December created low yields across much of the region. As an average, the estate and grower blocks were 25-30% down on average, with a surprising number of Sauvignon vineyards yielding single digits. Pristinely clean fruit on the vine and smaller than usual bunches had the team quietly brimming with excitement. With no disease pressure, and the driest summer in Marlborough for over 90 years, harvest started on the 13th of March and was more of a sprint than a marathon, with the last block coming in on the 30th of March. The earliest and quickest harvest in many years. The combination of low yields, pristinely clean fruit and the driest summer in over 90 years created ideal conditions for producing Sauvignon Blanc with exceptional concentration and purity. The fruit from the Southern Valleys, where over 60% comes from, benefited from the higher proportion of clay creating wines with mineral focus and mid-palate texture, whilst the remaining 40% from the central and lower Wairau areas thrived in the free-draining alluvial soils. The 2025 vintage showcases a delicate green and pale straw hue, complex aroma revealing ripe citrus peel, candy apple and wet stone notes, and a palate that is juicy and mouthwatering with a saline thread, refined texture, length and persistence, all balanced by naturally vibrant acidity.