The Ned Noble Sauvignon 2017

O R I G I N

Waihopai River Vineyard and Leefield Station, Waihopai Valley, Marlborough, NEW ZEALAND.

VA R I E T Y

 100% Sauvignon Blanc.

V I T I C U LT U R E

 Situated in the Waihopai Valley, the vineyard is comprised of a complex range of soils, running across three ancient river bed terraces with less fertility and uniformity than those of the Wairau Valley. The Waihopai Valley has a unique climate with a larger diurnal range, warmer days and cooler nights, than the main Wairau Valley. This combination of soils and climate allows us to produce classic styles of Sauvignon Blanc showing elegance and fruit purity.

V I N T A G E

With the strongest El Nino pattern since the late 1990s being the dominant weather prediction for vintage 2016, the relative cool start to spring and the subsequent growing season was somewhat surprising. By mid-October, however, things began to look more typical as temperatures increased and the relative dryness so typical of El Nino began to manifest.

The weather during flowering was warm and settled, leading to one of the most rapid and complete fruit sets seen in recent years. The early part of 2016 bought much needed rain to Marlborough, refreshing canopies and replenishing dams. The key ripening months of February and March were warm with above average sunshine hours setting the trend for a warm and largely dry harvest.  Heavy rain at the end of April and into May brought the initiation of Noble Rot infection that progressively dehydrated the fruit, until it was harvested in the second week of June.

W I N E M A K I N G

Flavoured packed fruit was harvested during the first week of June and gently pressed to yield a thick golden juice, laden with richness. Cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks with specific German yeast strains chosen for its ability to survive the chokingly high natural sugar levels, has ensured the wine with freshness and the most vibrant of personalities.

A N A LY S I S

Alcohol               11.0%

pH                      3.68

Titratable Acid     7.0g/L

Residual Sugar   152g/L

 COLO U R

Deep yellow – gold.

A R O M A

 A warm, lifted bouquet of candied orange peel, golden peach and apricot kernel.

P A L AT E

A light and lively mouthful of golden stone fruits and ripe citrus zest that defies the weight and influence of some significant sugar numbers that have resulted from the natural concentration processes of Noble Rot.

FO O D M ATC H I N G

Perfectly matched with most classic fruit based desserts.

C E L L A R I N G   P O T EN T I A L

Up to 5 years.

Named after founder Brent Marris’s forebears who bore the original De Marisco surname, Marisco Vineyards combines a family history steeped in the very beginnings of grapegrowing in Marlborough with a bold entrepreneurial spirit.

Brent Marris grew up on some of the very first vineyards in Marlborough, planted by his father. As a young winemaker, he was responsible for the development of two major New Zealand wine brands – Oyster Bay and Wither Hills.  Tapping into this deep well of knowledge, Brent selected a number of outstanding local sites as base for a venture to create his own family legacy – Marisco Vineyards. These vineyards now produce world renowned brands such as The Ned and The Kings Series, as well as targeted niche brands such as The Craft Series. 

Marlborough’s first qualified winemaker

Driven by a love of viticulture and winemaking instilled in his teens, Brent was the first local Marlborough lad to become a qualified winemaker.  In 1994, after helping Delegats establish the Oyster Bay brand, he founded Wither Hills with his father, pioneering Marlborough viticulturist John Marris. Eight years later, the brand had grown dramatically and was sold to to multi-national beverage company Lion Nathan. Brent continued as managing director and chief winemaker until 2007. Marisco Vineyards was conceived in 2003, when Brent began his search for a special vineyard property to provide a base for his next venture. This time, the aim was to establish a family legacy that last for generations.

Home vineyard and The Ned

With the vast knowledge he built up as a youngster exploring the local area and what he had learned later as a Marlborough viticulturist and winemaker, Brent found an exceptional 268 hectare property on the banks of the Waihopai River. Here he planted the varieties that has won Marlborough fame the world over: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir.  Using fruit from these vineyards, The Ned brand was launched in 2006.  Named after one of the tallest peaks to the southeast of the vineyard that he used to climb as a kid, The Ned is a deeply personal project for Brent.

Elegant, functional winery

In 2009, work started on a winery that was both aesthetically elegant and extremely functional, designed using innovations and technologies adapted from other industries where necessary. In the same year, The Kings Series range was launched. With this launch, it was decided to give the business a name that could be used across different wine brands. Brent researched his family tree and found that his name derived from William de Marisco, a descendant of King Henry I. He promptly resurrected the original family name for the business – Marisco Vineyards.

Find our wine here

In New Zealand, Marisco Vineyards wines are distributed by Lion Nathan. However, more than 80% of our wine is exported. Our first offshore sales were made in Australia in 2010. Marisco Vineyards moved into the USA, Canada and China in 2011, and we have since built relationships in Norway and Sweden.  Only five years after releasing its first wine, Marisco Vineyards was crowned New Zealand Winery of the Year at the 2011 International Wine & Spirits Challenge.  Since winning that prestigious accolade, Marisco Vineyards has continued to grow our vineyard resource, our winemaking expertise, our wine brands and our distribution.