The Delta team are delighted to announce our recent gold medal success at one of the world’s largest and most influential wine competitions.
Newly released wine, the Delta Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2022 has been awarded a stellar gold medal in the 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards. Rating a noteworthy 95 Points. Here is what the judges had to say about our Marlborough grown Sauvignon Blanc.
“Turbo charged peach and grapefruit power with an undercurrent of plush nutmeg oak which spirals around the creamy texture and is counteracted by the crunchy green apple acidity”
View the award here
About the Show:
Acclaimed for its rigorous judging process with wines evaluated by top wine experts from across the globe, Decanter World Wine Awards results are trusted internationally by both trade and consumers, with promotion of the awards benefiting from the competition’s unrivalled global reach. Made up of a panel of expert judges from all over the world, receiving a gold medal in such a large-scale competition is a testament to Delta Winemaker Heather Stewarts passion and skill when crafting expressive Marlborough Wines.
View the full panel of Judges here
About the Wine:
Grown in the lower Wairau Valley in Marlborough, near to the coast. The grapes for this unique Sauvignon Blanc were harvested around mid-March of 2022. The lower Wairau Valley terroir has deep, fertile, free draining soils that are full of nutrients. Creating the perfect formula for growing delicious, concentrated flavours and aromas for our Sauvignon Blanc grapes.
During a cool evening, the vineyard was harvested, and the grapes quickly transported to the winery where they were immediately de-stemmed and pressed. After settling, the juice was racked into seasoned oak barriques and fermented both naturally and through inoculation with selected yeast strains.
This Sauvignon Blanc was aged for eight months with regular barrel stirring before undergoing a second partial malolactic fermentation. Only the finest barrels were selected for final blending before the wine was prepared for bottle.
Why Barrel Fermented?
There is no question that a classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is superb when it is youthful, with its aromatic vibrancy, but with age it can adopt vegetal notes. When Winemaker Heather crafts the wine in an oxidative way, in barrel, it allows control over the agreeability of the wine, achieving a beautiful creamy, papaya palate.
Click here to find out what Delta Winemaker has to say about the Delta Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc
*This Sauvignon Blanc is available for international distribution by enquiries only, please contact Linda.king@deltawines.co.nz for more information.