AROMA AND TASTE
Pure, delicately fragrant aromas of citrus, lemongrass and ripe apple. Light to mediumbodied, the palate is lively with lime, lemon and orange citrus flavours and zest. Tropical notes
contribute depth and juicy succulence. Elegantly nuanced rather than loud and pungent in
style, there is no lack of crunchy, mouthwatering intensity and drive from beginning to end.
VINEYARDS
Grown in the Home and Morison Vineyards sited on an elevated fringe of the Waimea Plains
beneath the foothills of the Richmond Range. This ancient alluvial terrace consists of clayrich loam and river stones over deep gravels. Free-draining and warm it is classic sauvignon
‘terroir’. Our vineyards have been certified organic since 2011.
The excellent 2023 growing season provided regular rainfall and a long summer which
extended throughout the harvest month of March. It was a season without temperature or
rainfall extremes.
WINEMAKING
Harvested in several passes between 15-27 March 2023 to capture a range of flavour
profiles. Fruit was predominantly de-stemmed and pressed with minimal skin contact, coldsettled to clarity and tank-fermented with ‘wild’ and selected aromatic yeast strains. Around
5% of fruit was fermented at warmer temperatures in seasoned French oak barrels. River
Garden is a blend of these portions. Bottled in early November 2023.
