2024 Clos Henri - Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Otira Glacial Stones (750ml)

Clos Henri was established in 2000 by the Bourgeois family, whose roots in Sancerre stretch back ten generations, after they spent years searching the world for a terroir that could rival their home vineyards. They settled on the foothills of Marlborough's Wairau Valley, where the estate spans three distinct soil types and has been farmed organically since 2010, gaining biodynamic certification in 2013. The family continues to draw on generations of French winemaking knowledge while adapting it to New Zealand conditions, treating each parcel of the estate as its own expression of terroir.

Otira takes its name from the ancient glaciation that deposited the free-draining river stones found on this particular set of terraces, formed roughly 75,000 years ago. The vines here, thirteen to eighteen years old, are planted at high density in the French style, a technique that restrains vigor and pushes the roots to dig deeper in search of water and nutrients, concentrating flavor in the berries. Farmed organically and dry, the fruit is pressed gently straight to tank to protect its aromatic freshness, then fermented mostly in stainless steel with a small portion in older French oak, before resting on its lees for eight months with regular stirring to build texture.

The wine shows a pale gold color with aromas of grapefruit, lime, and white peach, layered with elderflower and a briny note of crushed shell. The palate is crisp and precise, with racy acidity and a chalky mineral core that carries through a long finish. It pairs beautifully with fresh oysters, pan-fried snapper, or asparagus.