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Organic. As you would expect from a producer of Mike Paterson’s calibre, Meltwater’s Marlborough Sauvignon hits all the right notes, with considerably more texture and interest than this category typically delivers.
The 2024 growing season was marked by a change in weather patterns from La Niña (sometimes wet/cooler) to a strong El Niño (typically hot/dry). From budburst in September to harvest in March, central Marlborough recorded less than half the long-term average rainfall and roughly 12% more sunshine hours. A very dry winter, early season frosts and a long, less-than-ideal flowering period combined to reduce the potential crop by an estimated 40%. Superb weather ensued from December 2023 through March 2024, and the fruit was harvested nearly three weeks earlier than in 2023.
The 2024 was grown on low-cropping, certified-organic blocks in central Wairau Valley and Omaka Valley. The grapes were gently pressed, and the juice underwent a long, cool fermentation through to dryness in small, stainless-steel tanks. The wine remained on lees through winter before being racked to settle in tank. It was given a light filtration before bottling in December 2024.
Stylistically, Paterson drives towards a clean, dry wine of texture and substance while keeping a tight rein on palate weight. The lees influence nicely offsets the flavours of ripe citrus and stone fruit, and the 2024 shows excellent balance between crisp freshness and potent purity.