Kim Crawford Small Parcel Sauvignon Spitfire

Kim Crawford Wines was established in late 1996, when Kim
launched a range made from fruit grown in the South Island. Kim
sold the company to Constellation in 2005 and has since handed
the winemaking reins over to the Constellation winemaking team.
Despite Kim no longer being involved with these wines, the current
winemakers continue the classic Kim Crawford philosophy and
style. Control over grape supply has always been essential for Kim
Crawford Wines and they now have the largest vineyard resource
in Marlborough of any wine company, across the greatest
breadth of sub-regions, ensuring consistent quality and style. For
that consistency, and success over the past 20 years, Wine
Enthusiast magazine USA recognised Kim Crawford as their “New
World Winery of the Year 2016”.
VINEYARDS
The Small Parcels ‘Spitfire’ Sauvignon Blanc takes its name from a
famous site in Marlborough that was used as an air force base
during WWII, before being planted with vines that were destined
for early vintages of this wine. In 2023, fruit was sourced from the
Kiritata Vineyard. The soils are heavy silts that provide a large,
healthy vine canopy, and the six-year-old vines are trained to
Vertical Shoot Position (VSP).
VINTAGE
The weather of the 2023 vintage allowed the vines to ripen with no
pressure of disease, maintaining optimal flavours and quality. A
perfect vintage for the small parcels style.
VINIFICATION
Upon arrival at the winery, the fruit was crushed, and the juice was
drained and pressed straight away. Fermentation was slow and
cool, with a selected yeast to accentuate the fruit profile. Only the
best grapes from the vineyard were selected for the Small Parcels
bottling.
TASTING NOTES
This is an intense Sauvignon Blanc with lifted aromatics of tropical
fruit that lead into a range of complex flavours, including distinct
mineral and flinty notes. The palate launches a concentrated
burst of ripe tropical fruits and grapefruit which are backed by
crisp acidity leading to a long, lingering finish.