Chosen Rows epitomise ageability of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Chosen Rows epitomise ageability of Marlborough Sauvignon BlancBrancott Estate was the winner of this year’s esteemed NZ Wine Centre Legacy Award at the 2024 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.
NZ Group Winemaker Jamie Marfell said it was the first time they’d entered the winning wines into any competition, deciding the time, and the category, was right.
They entered the 2010, 2013 and 2016 vintages of their Chosen Rows Sauvignon Blanc into the running, saying it provided the perfect opportunity to showcase the ageability of the variety.
The trophy, sponsored by Marlborough Research Centre, is designed to celebrate wines with the highest scores from three vintages within a 10-year period and a minimum gap of two years between each wine; the ultimate recognition of excellence and consistency.
Jamie shared some insight into what makes this wine a standout, and why it was the perfect one to enter for this award…
Congratulations on picking up the much sought-after Legacy Award this year - amazing achievement! Can you tell us a bit about the winning wines - were you always intending to enter these for this award? If so, what made them stand out for you?
No, this is the first time we have ever entered our Brancott Chosen Rows Sauvignon Blanc into any wine competition. However, we thought it a perfect opportunity to showcase the ageing potential of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc in a wine show category that showcases quality and consistency over time.
Tell us a bit about Chosen Rows.
The wine style focuses on quality and age ability. These are Single Vineyard wines from our Brancott Vineyard, low cropping two cane Sauvignon Blanc, that are shoot and crop thinned, something you would expect in Pinot Noir. The fruit is fully ripened, hand picked, whole bunched picked and wild fermented in aged oak Cuvées. The wine is left to mature in twelve months in Cuvée and another 12 months in stainless, allowing the wine to evolve to its full potential with time. At blending we are after a tight structured wine that has finesse, subtlety, and elegance. The wines are usually aged in the bottle for 4-5 years before release.
What does receiving this award tell us about the ageability of Sauvignon Blanc? Is Marlborough capable of producing fine wines that age well?
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc can age beautifully if made in a way that respects the ageing process. In making these wines we are steering away from thiols, esters, methylpyrazines etc, all the flavour and aroma compounds that make our Marlborough wines world famous. We are very focused on weight, acidity, structure, and texture. For Brancott Chosen Rows, aromas are a function of age, so less is more, and time is our friend. Yes, Marlborough can make fine wine!
Do you make the Chosen Rows Sauvignon Blanc every year, or is it an ‘only when the vintage is optimal’ range? What makes the ideal vintage for this wine?
Only in exceptional years. So far we have made wines from 2010 2013 2015 and 2016.. we have had a rest, and now sitting on the 2023 blend in Stainless still assessing its quality cues.
Sauvignon Blanc is Marlborough’s flagship wine. How did it feel to nab the Legacy Award with this variety?
Our team is over the moon to pick up this award for a style of wine that is not widely made and appreciated in New Zealand. The wines are not mainstream, however are incredibly beautiful complex wines that are best appreciated with some gorgeous Marlborough cuisine!
About the sponsor.
Marlborough Research Centre is a charitable trust that works with primary sector groups, research organisations, innovators and educators to improve Marlborough’s regional economy. Established in 1984, its role is to facilitate, connect and seed fund local industry-initiated and supported research. Their objective is to bring together research, business and education under their purpose-designed facility, the NZ Wine Centre.