Katnook Estate 2009 Sauvignon Blanc released
16th March 2010
Senior Winemaker Wayne Stehbens talk about this wine on You Tube.
After decades of continuous Sauvignon Blanc vintages, Wayne Stehbens is confident that Katnook Estate 2009 Sauvignon Blanc ranks amongst the best he has made. Put simply, 2009 was an extraordinary year for the variety.
Katnook Estate has 18 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc planted and average vine age is 32 years. All plantings are on the same terra rossa soil as Katnook’s best Cabernet Sauvignon plots. The vines are sprawled, (rather than the traditional Vertical Shoot Positioning), optimising flavour development.
The 2009 growing season experienced slightly below average temperatures and dry conditions, producing fruit in excellent condition with powerful flavours. The hallmark of the fruit was a subtle herbaceous character with mineral notes.
Harvest took place between 26th February and 10th March 2009, just before a heatwave set in. A cool fermentation captured the lively, fruit flavours and the wine is unoaked.
Katnook bucks the general view that Australian Sauvignon Blanc does not age. Katnook Estate’s first vintage of Sauvignon Blanc, 1981, was tasted recently and it was extraordinarily youthful – orange blossom with a touch of minerality and barely a hint of oxidation. With this in mind, Wayne suggests the 2009 vintage be cellared for up to 10 years.
Analysis
pH :: 3.16 Acid :: 6.7 g/L Alc/vol. :: 13.5%
RRP $28.
