About the wine
This deliciously concentrated and complex drop is not your average Sauvignon
Bill and Claudia describe their Mabel Sauvignon Blanc as ‘making lemonade out of lemons’. They intended to hand-pick the grapes, but the night before they were due to harvest, the weather became extremely humid with tropical storms…
When Bill checked the grapes the next day, he “found juice running down my hand from just the lightest touch - it was quite astonishing. It was literally like each bunch was a dripping sponge.” What they had was a case of ‘slip skin Botrytis’ - where an enzyme breaks down the connection between the grapes pulp and the skin, so the skin can literally slip off.
They got the grapes into the winery as quickly as possible and the juice actually tasted pretty darn good… ‘too unique and tasty not to bottle!’ So they decided to ferment it separately, as a little experiment. The result was a characteristically Marlborough Sauvignon with an extra level of richness and complexity. Think of it as something that you might drink in place of a full-flavoured Viognier.
Best before
Uncharted territory, but if the ageing of botrytis sweet wines is anything to go by it should age well
Serving advice
Serve lightly chilled
Food match
Maybe I'd choose a roast chicken. Or perhaps salmon
Contains sulphites
Always check the label
New Zealand
Marlborough
Sauvignon blanc
Fruity White
12.5% ABV
75cl
Wine profile
Meet the winemaker - Bill and Claudia Small
- Husband and wife team Bill and Claudia went it alone thanks to Angel funding over a decade ago. Since then, they've gone on to become Naked legends.
- Using your Angel funding, the Smalls have built close relationships with grape growers ‘in the bits of Marlborough they love’ to make lovingly crafted gems from some of the best fruit going.
- With you behind them, your King and Queen of Marlborough have gone from strength to strength. You’re the reason they make some of the highest-rated Sauvignons in the whole of New Zealand. Kudos to you.
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