Rapaura Springs has released these three single vineyard, site expressive wines this month and each wine highlights the diversity of Marlborough as a wine region. It may be heavily dependent on Sauvignon Blanc but the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir here are clear examples of two other strong instruments in its vinous orchestra.
19/20
2024 Rapaura Springs Bull Paddock Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
Bull Paddock began its productive life as a farm, as the name implies, but today it is one of the best sites for Sauvignon Blanc in Marlborough, as this full bodied, flavoursome, dry and flinty expression shows. The Bull Paddock vineyard also happens to be a few minutes’ drive from Rapaura Springs winery, which reduces skin contact time after picking. This results in freshness and purity of flavour, both of which shine through consistently every year in this exceptional wine. The 2024 vintage is an excellent vintage, revealing layers of flavour of freshly picked herbs, tropical fruit notes, a hint of tomato stalk, zingy gooseberry aromas and more. This wine tastes like diving into a herb garden and finding a fresh bottle of Sauvignon. It drinks deliciously well now and will evolve favourably for at least two to three years, but why wait? This is a wine for now.
17.5/20
2023 Rapaura Springs Bouldevines Vineyard Chardonnay
Marlborough has a white wine in the wings and it is Chardonnay from the Southern Valleys sub region, including the Omaka Valley, which was home to the grapes in this wine. Creamy in texture, rich in flavour and balanced by a tingle of acidity on the mid palate and finish. This wine is drinking well now with ripe aromas of pineapple notes, stone fruit and sun warmed nectarines and peach. Very smooth, very good drinking now and can hold for the next three to four years.
17.5/20
2023 Rapaura Springs South Brook Vineyard Pinot Noir
This light bright cherry fruited style of Pinot Noir comes from the Southern Valleys in Marlborough where it gains savoury flavours and bright red cherry fruit notes from the cool nights, which temper warm days, adding balance. This is a lighter vintage with red fruit at the fore and a medium body, supported by firm savoury tannins and spicy oak integration. Drink now or over the next two to three years.
