Let's talk little, let's talk wine
Description of Domaine Clos Henri Vineyard
Domaine Clos Henri Vineyard, located in the prestigious Marlborough region of New Zealand, embodies the union of traditional French winemaking know-how and the unique terroirs of the southern hemisphere. Led by the Bourgeois family, renowned for their vineyards in the Loire Valley, the estate practices biodynamic agriculture to produce wines that faithfully reflect their terroir, with particular attention paid to Sauvignon Blanc.
Description of the Cuvée Clos Henri Vineyard Otira Sauvignon Blanc
Cuvée Clos Henri Vineyard Otira Sauvignon Blanc is a high-end and sophisticated expression of Sauvignon Blanc. Born from a rigorous selection of grapes from the estate's best plots, this cuvée represents the pinnacle of the estate's effort to capture the essence of the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety. It is testimony to a rich terroir and expert winemaking, aiming to produce an exceptional wine.
Aromas of the Cuvée
Boasting remarkable aromatic complexity, this cuvée reveals nuances of ripe citrus, tropical fruits and white flowers, with a distinctive mineral touch. Specific winemaking and aging practices provide depth and structure that enrich the tasting experience, offering a rich and diverse aromatic palette.
Characteristics of the Cuvée
- Grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc
- Profile: This Sauvignon Blanc is distinguished by its richness, complexity and balance, supported by lively acidity and good length on the palate. It is a wine that reflects the exceptional aging potential of Sauvignon Blanc when produced with care.
- Aging Potential: While this cuvée offers immediate richness, it is also designed to age gracefully, developing subtle nuances and increased complexity over time.
Pairings with this Cuvée
Clos Henri Vineyard Otira Sauvignon Blanc is ideal with refined dishes such as seafood, elaborate fish dishes or goat cheeses. Its complex flavor profile and elegant structure make it an excellent choice for special occasions and gourmet meals.
Where are we traveling?
Marlborough
It lies at the northern tip of New Zealand's South Island, bordered by the sparkling waters of the Marlborough Sounds to the north and by the foothills of the Richmond Ranges to the south. The vineyards stretch mainly across the alluvial plains of the Wairau Valley and the higher slopes of the Southern Valleys and the Awatere Valley, in a luminous landscape of stony terraces framed by snow-capped mountains. Its winemaking history is surprisingly recent: it all began in 1973, when Montana (now Brancott Estate) planted the first Sauvignon Blanc and Müller-Thurgau vines on land then thought too cold for viticulture. Success came swiftly, and the first vintage of Cloudy Bay, in 1985, sealed Marlborough's status as a global phenomenon that single-handedly redefined the style of Sauvignon Blanc. The climate is cool and sunny, with the highest sunshine hours in New Zealand, tempered by cool nights and dry winds coming down from the mountains, preserving razor-sharp acidity and strikingly intense aromas. Marlborough has established itself as the world capital of Sauvignon Blanc, producing explosive wines with notes of passion fruit, gooseberry and lime zest, complemented by increasingly respected elegant, fruity Pinot Noir, fresh, precise Chardonnay and traditional-method sparkling wines – proof of a region whose ambition now reaches far beyond its founding grape.
The little history of the country
New Zealand
Introduced in 1819, vine growing was greatly developed by Jean-Baptiste Pompallier, a French Marist missionary. Sent to Oceania in 1837, he settled there from January 1838 onwards to develop New Zealand's vineyards. The first quality vineyards were established in the Hawke's Bay region in the 19th and early 20th centuries. After setbacks caused first by phylloxera and then by the First World War, the vineyards began to expand again during the Second World War, when their area doubled. Today, New Zealand has 10 main wine regions spread across the North and South Islands, the largest of which is Marlborough. Most of New Zealand's wine regions have a maritime climate. The country's long, narrow shape means that vineyards are never more than 120 km from the coast, and most are much closer than that (with the exception of the semi-continental Central Otago region). A spine of mountains running down the centre of the country shields most of the main wine regions from the strong westerly winds off the Tasman Sea known as the "Roaring Forties". Because of these winds, there are few wine regions on New Zealand's west coast. The quality and reputation of New Zealand wines are well established. Indeed, the country produces some of the best and most renowned Sauvignon Blanc in the world. And it is no coincidence that New Zealand has made Sauvignon Blanc its emblem, just like its sheep, its kiwis and its legendary haka!