2024 Mt Difficulty Bannockburn Sauvignon Blanc, Central Otago

Mt Difficulty Bannockburn Sauvignon Blanc from Central Otago is a distinctive and expressive white wine that captures the region’s alpine clarity and mineral freshness. Unlike the exuberant tropical styles of Marlborough, this wine offers a more restrained, textural expression of Sauvignon Blanc — elegant, savoury and shaped by the schist-laced soils and cool mountain climate of Bannockburn. Crafted by the skilled Mt Difficulty winemaking team, it reflects their commitment to precision, balance and the unique terroir of Central Otago’s rugged landscape.

The fruit is sourced from estate vineyards in Bannockburn, where warm, sunlit days and cool nights produce grapes with intense flavour and bright acidity. The grapes are hand picked and gently pressed, with fermentation carried out in a combination of stainless steel and older French oak barrels. Lees ageing for several months builds texture and weight, while preserving freshness and aromatic lift. The resulting wine is layered, pure and full of Central Otago character.

In the glass it shines pale straw with green tints. The aroma is vibrant and complex, revealing white peach, lime, and passionfruit intertwined with elderflower, crushed herbs and wet stone. The palate is crisp and finely structured, showing citrus and stone fruit balanced by a chalky mineral texture and bright acidity. Subtle savoury notes from barrel fermentation add depth and finesse, leading to a long, mouthwatering finish.

It pairs beautifully with oysters, goat cheese, grilled fish, or salads with citrus and herbs. It also complements sushi, scallops or roast chicken with lemon and thyme. Enjoy it now for its purity and lift, or cellar for up to five years to develop gentle honeyed and flinty complexity.