• Lightly oaked
• Bright acidity
• Zesty
• Fruit-forward

"The 2017 Sauvignon Blanc was fermented entirely with wild yeasts, with about 30% going into barrel (almost all previously used). The wine is a bit funky on the nose, with hints of wet stone and struck flint, then it adds grapefruit and spice on the medium-bodied palate. It’s streamlined and elegant, with ample concentration and length, but it should be drunk up over the near term. This is the inaugural wine for this young winery, which focuses on organically grown fruit, largely from Marlborough" Wine Advocate, Apr 2020

"Another top scorer for Kelly Washington wines and another great wine, this BioGro certified organic Sauvignon Blanc from Awatere (which see a little oak) shows some real interest on the nose with an intense, fruit-forward profile and a touch of fresh asparagus. On the palate, it's a really fresh, complex, textural, zippy wine. Some tasters noted a little phenolic grip - aim to pair with Summery food" Metro Top 50 Wines 2020

Vibrant flavours, bright acidities, elegance and an overall fine precision– this is what the vintage gave to the winemakers, and what can be seen translated into the wines.

Kelly Washington's inaugural vintage, 2017, will be one that they will always remember for a variety of reasons. It was challenging, due to a cool summer and late ripening, but careful management from their growers ensured crops levels were kept in balance and the resulting fruit quality was sound.

Close plantings and low yields have aided in making a style atypical of the region. The fruit was handpicked and whole bunch pressed, naturally fermented, and then aged on its lees for 10 months of which a portion rested in old French oak barrels. A portion fermented in a small stainless steel tank ( 70%) and the balance ( 30%) fermented in, largely, old neutral barrels. One new French oak barrel was also filled – medium toast, Allier forest (represented 3 % of the total blend). 10 months on full lees, in tank and barrel. The barrels were stirred monthly.

At Kelly Washington they seek unique and diverse parcels of high quality fruit, which they translate into their elegant and honest wines. Working with such exceptional fruit, our aim is to is to showcase and explore sub regionality of New Zealand's wine growing regions, but moreover making wines of provenance. In many cases, these special sites are farmed organically and bio-dynamically. Therefore it is important for us to take these philosophies into the winery and beyond.