2019 Rapaura Springs Marlborough Bouldevines Vineyard Chardonnay

Family-owned Rapaura Springs was founded in 2005 and ranks among the top 10 largest wineries in Marlborough. Purity and purity is what Rapaura Springs stands for. For example, the water used for the vines comes from the Rapaura Spring water source, far away from the vineyards. This crystal clear and pure water from the Wairau River flows through the rocks and takes 6 months to reach the vineyards. The word 'Rapaura' therefore means: flowing water. There is great attention to detail within the New Zealand winery and the makers strive to make the most exceptional, clean and pure wines. All wines are sustainably produced.

The Rapaura Springs Single Vineyard range of wines are sourced from the finest vineyards and represent the best of the Marlborough region. Made in very limited quantities. The Bull Paddock Vineyard is located in the Dillons Point sub-region of the lower Wairau Valley in Marlborough, where the best Sauvignon Blanc grows in Marlborough. The land was originally used for bull breeding, before the Neylon family realized the potential of the terroir and planted Sauvignon Blanc. The young, well-drained, mineral-rich alluvial soils now produce grapes with heightened aromas and ripe flavors. It has a distinctive minerality to the wines grown in this vineyard.

The Bouldevines Vineyard is located at the entrance to the Omaka Valley in the Southern Valleys sub-region. The soil is stony, alluvial and permeable to water. This sub-region is inland and temperatures are cooler than in the coastal sub-regions, allowing the grapes to reach optimal ripeness and expressive fruit flavor, while maintaining vibrant acidity. The Rapaura Springs Marlborough Bouldevines Vineyard Chardonnay has complex and seductive characters of grapefruit, citrus and white peach which are complemented by mineral flavors of wet pebble flint, vanilla and spicy oak. This wine has a creamy texture with good balance and length and is one of the best chardonnay from Marlborough

2019
The 2019 Marlborough growing season got off to a slow start with below average temperatures and increased rainfall resulting in cooler ground temperatures. Prolonged warm and dry weather resulted in advanced ripening and an earlier than average start to the harvest. The fruit was picked by hand in the cool of the morning, then taken straight to the winery and pressed into the whole bunch. After pressing, the juice was sent to the barrel, including a selection of older and new oak barrels (47% new). Here the wine finished on the basis of spontaneous fermentation and matured for 10 months after which the wine was bottled for another 6-8 months.