Pungent aromas of waxy grapefruit, lemon and lime leaf overlay jalapeño and a floral character. The acidity is mouthpuckering but the bright fruit is there, too, and there's a suggestion of flavor and textural depth. In its infancy, it's tough to drink now but should develop into an appealing drop between the end of 2022 and 2027.\n Producer Information\n Rapaura Springs is a trophy-winning New Zealand wine brand based in the lower Wairau Valley area of Marlborough. The first vintage was produced in 2007. The current portfolio is led by Sauvignon Blanc, but also includes Pinot Noir (from Marlborough and Central Otago), Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. The range has several tiers: Classic, Reserve, Rohe (for subregional bottlings), and Single Vineyard. The Neylon family, originally moved to Marlborough in the late 1970s to farm mussels. Developing a business partnership with the Wiffen Family (which is still going strong today) they bought the Rapaura Springs property in 1985, and what is now the Bull Paddock Vineyard a year later, initially planting orchards and a grapevine nursery. In 1990, they started an engineering workshop, which branched out to manufacture tanks and winemaking equipment. The winery started life as a packing facililty for apples and pears before a winery was added in 2005. From 2005 the orchards were converted to vineyards. The first vineyard, however, was established at the Riverside property in the Lower Wairau, purchased in 2003. This originally supplied other brands. The wine label shows the rocky aquifer located at the home Springs Vineyard. Springs supply pure water throughout this property, which is planted with Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Soils are heavier than most in the region and do not require irrigation. Bull Paddock Vineyard lies in the premium Sauvignon Blanc subregion of Dillons Point. Shallow but nutrient-rich topsoils lie over a clay pan that restricts vine growth, resulting in concentrated tropical flavors. Cool easterlies extend the ripening period, adding complexity. Spring Creek Vineyard is the smallest property, planted in 2008 next to the winery. It provides Pinot Noir for the Reserve Pinot Noir Rosé. In 2018 the Blind River vineyard, south of Awatere, was purchased. Planted mainly to Sauvignon Blanc it offered prime undeveloped spaces ideal for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards. The station where the vines are located was once known as Atacama because of its windy, dry conditions. Rapaura Springs also works with a number of partner growers. The Summerhouse brand is under the same ownership.
