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RIPOSTE BY TIM KNAPPSTEIN The Katana Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills

This Sauvignon Blanc from Paracombe in South Australia's Adelaide Hills is a beautiful wine with long lasting flavours. Aromas of passionfruit and tropicals with fresh pure flavours of gooseberry, and zesty, mineral notes for a clean lingering finish.

"Pristine and crystal-clear Adelaide Hills sauvignon blanc, apple, passionfruit and a hint of capsicum, the palate finely tuned and perfectly balanced." 94 points, James Halliday Wine Companion, October 2016.

Riesling has a strong affinity for the cooler climes of the World, and it is therefore no surprise that it would produce wines of great character in the Adelaide Hills. Whilst we made the hard decision to graft some of our Riesling vines over to Pinot Noir some years back, we have retained only the most promising clones to produce our Riesling as its perhaps the top white pick amongst staff and remains a labour of love. The Riesling crop, whilst minuscule, showed hallmark varietal characters and fine acidity nurtured by the cool nights and warm sunny days. Careful sampling in the vineyard, paying particular attention to flavour development and acid levels, meant the fruit was harvested on the 14th of March when the ideal balance was reached. Lifted floral aromas and the lively citrus fruit intensity are finely balanced by the tight structure and crisp natural acidity.

The Adelaide Hills wine region is known for producing exceptional - quality chardonnay grapes that are intense in flavour and elegant in character. Wicks Estate in Adelaide Hills presented this great Chardonnay which is light straw - yellow in colour. It was created using grapes that were crop - thinned and leaf - plucked extensively by the growers so that superior - quality chardonnay grapes could be obtained from the vineyard. After compression was done and the juice was extracted from the fruit, it was poured into a select range of French barrels so that it could undergo barrel fermentation. The result was this richly flavoured wine that is bound to please most white wine lovers.

Very pale with pristine clarity and flashes of green. Nose of passionfruit, gooseberry and freshly squeezed citrus dominate, followed by more subtle grassy, leafy notes and a touch of kafir lime. Wonderfully fresh and showing precise varietal fruits: tangy passionfruit, grapefruit and lemongrass. Long and punchy with great purity, line and a mouth-watering, lime-juice acidity. VineyardsSourced from Jeff Gowers Lenswood Vineyards, the sauvignon blanc plantings on gravelly clay loam over red clay subsoil date back to 1999. Vinification Handpicked grapes were destemmed, crushed and cooled to five degrees Celsius while being transferred to the airbag press. The juice was then pressed into stainless steel tank, keeping the free run and pressings separate. Juice was cold settled for a week at around two degrees and then racked from gross juice lees. The free-run juice parcel was warmed and inoculated with yeast to begin fermentation. Fermentation temperature was kept low to maintain delicate aromatics. Once fermentation was dry the wine was then chilled and stabilised prior to filtration and bottling Wirra Wirra was originally established in 1894 and though abandoned after several decades of production was revived by the late Greg Trott in 1969. The winery produces exceptional value, fruit driven wine styles that dont shy away from ripeness, intensity and oak usage. Wirra Wirra is located approximately four kilometres outside of the township of McLaren Vale in the McLaren Vale wine growing region of South Australia. Wirra Wirra source fruit from estate and selected grower vineyards. Wirra Wirra is the core range but the wines are delineated by tiers including Flagship wines, RGT collection, Church Block, Mrs Wrigley range and the entry level Scrubby Rise wines. The production of these wines is overseen by Chief Winemaker Paul Smith, with able assistance from Tom Ravech and Kelly Wellington. The winery employs modern technology and new world technique to produce expressive wines of intensity, bold flavour and McLaren Vale profile.

The 2018 Katana Chardonnay reveals a supple core of white stone fruit and citrus blossom overlaid with tempered edges of minerality. On the palate bright varietal fruit is guided to the finish with nuances of French oak and crisp acidity.

Saint-Clar Vineyard Macclesfield Grown by Jon O'Connell Sauvignon Blanc Wild barrel fermented on full solids 6 months in old French oak Lees stirred fortnightly Unfined & Unfiltered Natural sediment may occur Vegan Friendly.

Every region has their own hero varieties, and the Adelaide Hills is justifiably renowned for its intensely flavoured and distinctive Sauvignon Blanc.Pale and bright with a green fleck. Subtle citrus, tropical fruit, flint and white florals. Generous tropical fruit entry with hints of guava and grapefruit with fine acidity and talc-like texture. Juicy yet pure and crunchy.