Rippon Sauvignon Blanc '23

The Sauvignon Blanc for this bottle was manually harvested and gently crushed, then left on the skins for 36 hours. It was then whole cluster pressed for four hours and run by gravity into a settling tank. After racking, the juice was run into seasoned/neutral French oak barrels (52% of total) and a fermentation tank (stainless-steel foudre). Fermentation was carried out with native yeasts, and the wine spent 47 weeks on the primary lees, with bâtonnage carried out three times per week. After blending, the wine was filtered. Bottled in November 2023.

"The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc is chalky and grassy, with beeswax, pressed flower, juniper, wind anemone and white pepper. I love the dried hay character here; it makes for a clothy, textural wine of presence and detail. The vines were planted from 1987 to 1993 on own roots and were unirrigated, biodynamically farmed and low-yielding. The wine spent three months on the primary lees, with 50% in barrel (neutral oak) and the balance in tank. It is unsulfured, with no additions or adjustments to the must. 13% alcohol, sealed under Diam. 95 Points, Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate."