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Drink it now or cellar for up to 5 years. No need to decant. Located in the Marlborough wine region of New Zealand's South Island, Te Whare Ra is a small family-run business, owned by winemakers Anna and Jason Flowerday, since 2003. The company vineyard covers 11 hectares and is home to some of the oldest vines in the region, planted in 1979. The Sauvignon Blanc grapes come from certified organic vineyards with vines planted in 1979 at Renwick in the Wairau Valley and a blend of the vineyards from the cooler Awatere Valley area. Yields are low and the wine is aged for 9 months in old oak barrels to ensure neutrality from the wood but add texture. The result is a style of Sauvignon Blanc that is more reminiscent of the French wines of the Loire Valley, rather than the tropical and exuberant New Zealand Sauvignons. On the nose, the wine reveals a broad and complex aromatic profile with citrus notes of lemon and lime, hints of basil and floral, elderflower, and gooseberry. On the palate, it is fresh and subtle, sophisticated and smooth, juicy, and very well-balanced. It reveals a marked acidity and excellent minerality. It is a wine of good complexity with a long and crunchy finish and the potential to evolve in the cellar for a few years. Perfect with fish, shellfish, and all asparagus-based preparations.