As you would expect from a producer of Mike Paterson’s calibre, Meltwater’s hand-crafted Marlborough Sauvignon hits all the right notes with considerably more texture and interest than this category typically delivers. For a start, it’s low-cropped from a single, certified-organic vineyard in the southern foothills of the Wairau Valley. It’s a sheltered site, protected from the Pacific Ocean’s influence by mountains that lie to the north and south.
La Niña once again resulted in low crops, but the fruit came in at full flavour ripeness with great acidity, thanks to the region’s significant diurnal shifts. The fruit was picked by hand and pressed to small tanks for spontaneous fermentation―with the exception of stainless-steel fermentation, these practices are considered outside the norm for the category. The wine then rested on fine lees for nine months. Stylistically, Paterson is driving towards texture and substance while keeping a tight rein on palate weight. The time on lees in tank builds texture and longevity. He’s struck a fine balance from the excellent 2023 vintage; you’ll find crisp freshness and potent purity in abundance.