2022 Seresin Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Michael Seresin is best known as a cinematographer with work spanning five decades (Midnight Express (1978), Angel Heart (1987), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)). The native Kiwi developed an appreciation for food and wine when he settled in Italy, then returned to start his own wine project in Marlborough in the 90's. He may be fairly considered a pioneer of organic and biodynamic viticulture in New Zealand, as the Seresin estate was among the first to adopt these more natural approaches to viticulture. Pinot noir, chardonnay, syrah, and (least surprisingly) sauvignon blanc are the key players here. Admittedly, it takes a lot to make NZ sauvignon stand out from the crowd. Seresin aims to produce a version with more depth and richness, so they borrow a page from the Bordeaux playbook and add 10% semillon to the blend. Roughly a quarter of the wine spends time in neutral oak barrels, further broadening and softening the palate.