Loveblock Marlborough TEE Sauvignon Blanc 2022

At Loveblock, they always make wine with lower levels of added sulphur, and TEE explores the elimination of added sulphur to wine (the traditional wine preservative). Oenological tannins are commonly used in the winemaking process to perform various functions. They found that the tannin extracted from green tea leaves (Camelia sinesis) also provides powerful protection against oxidation and spoilage as a natural antioxidant.

The palate is elegant, with juicy mandarin, earthy cumin, sweet basil and ripe yellow star fruit (carambola). Layered and textured, the wine is clean and fresh with flavours of ripe pineapple and a mild tannin note sitting over a layer of umami. Organic, vegan friendly and from a single vineyard. Grown with love, made with care.

Vineyard Notes

The grapes for this wine came from a small parcel of vines on their certified-organic Woolshed vineyard on the Loveblock Farm, in the Lower Dashwood sub-region of Marborough’s Awatere Valley. The soil type is predominately aged alluvial loams containing some silt loam over stone. Dependent on vigour, the vines are pruned to two or three canes and trained in a normal vertical shoot position. Harvest occurred in the month of March. No sulphur was added in the vineyard. Use of regenerative growth, manure and horn on the vineyard is employed to promote balanced, fertile soil, biodiversity and healthy grape growth in order to produce wine without the use of chemical pesticides, fungicides or additives of any kind.

Vinification

At Loveblock, they always make wine with lower levels of added sulphur, and TEE explores the elimination of added sulphur to wine (the traditional wine preservative). Oenological tannins are commonly used in the winemaking process to perform various functions. They found that the tannin extracted from green tea leaves (Camelia sinesis) also provides powerful protection against oxidation and spoilage as a natural antioxidant.

Every time the juice/wine was exposed to oxygen (i.e. every time it was moved), 5 mg/L of green tea extract (tannin) (Ti Premium® SG produced by Enologica Vason S.p.A.) was added.

The palate is elegant, with juicy mandarin, earthy cumin, sweet basil and ripe yellow star fruit (carambola). Layered and textured, the wine is clean and fresh with flavours of ripe pineapple and a mild tannin note sitting over a layer of umami. Organic, vegan friendly and from a single vineyard. Grown with love, made with care.

This wine will go well with an elegant shitake mushroom, sweet shallot and Gruyere Cheese Galette or rustic open fire barbequed garlic, chives and lemon king prawns served WITH spring vegetables. Ie. cheese, seafood, salad, pasta and spring vegetables (dill, zucchini, fennel, artichoke or asparagus).