Saint Clair Estate Wines

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New Zealand wine - About Saint Clair Estate Wines

Saint Clair is owned by Neal and Judy Ibbotson, two of Marlborough's earliest vineyard pioneers, who planted their first vines in 1978. Grapes were originally supplied to local wine companies. However, a desire to extend the quality achieved in the vineyard through to the finished wine, led to the establishment of Saint Clair Estate Wines.
The quality of their wine received immediate recognition from the first vintage in 1994, when their first three wines won medals including gold for the Saint Clair Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Since then Saint Clair has won 24 New Zealand and International Trophies and 47 Gold Medals (as at 4 March 2004).
Saint Clair's success is founded on 25 years of extensive pioneering viticulture, which continues today, as a critical part of the highest quality winemaking practices. Neal and Judy's passion for their Marlborough vineyards, and award-winning range of wines, is continuing to build their growing reputation in New Zealand and in over 30 markets around the world.
Saint Clair's mission is to create world-class wines that exceed their customers' every expectation. To achieve this, Neal Ibbotson's extensive viticulture expertise and Marlborough's unique climate and soils, are combined with the proven experience of one of New Zealand's leading winemaking teams, led by Matt Thomson.
The Saint Clair name originates from the main vineyard property, which was originally settled by the 'Sinclair' family. James Sinclair built one of the first homes in Blenheim and was closely associated with the development of the early town. With the passage of time the name reverted to the original, Saint Clair.                                                                                                              

Major Awards 
Trophies

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Vineyards

Saint Clair has vineyards in five different Marlborough locations including the Rapaura, Awatere and Omaka Valleys.
These vineyards have all been purchased and developed for the quality of the site. This enables fruit from the best site to be selected because only the best quality grapes and wine are retained by Saint Clair.
Saint Clair's viticulture philosophy for quality grapes is simple. Optimum flavour is achieved by significantly reducing vine stress; obtaining uniformity in vine growth, crop level and ripening; good light exposure, no disease, harvesting at the right time for maximising flavours and adjusting management for seasonal variations.
In 2001 Saint Clair introduced a 'grading system' for all its vineyards and wine batches and marks them out of 10 for quality each year. This is providing valuable information. Records now show which vineyards and parts of the vineyards provide the best fruit and which varieties are growing the best quality in each of the vineyards. The grading system is also used extensively as a management tool for identifying and improving best vineyard practices, and for payments to growers.
The quality and sustainability of the Saint Clair vineyards is assisted by vertical shoot positioning in seasons of average or above warmth, (the Scott Henry split canopy positioning is used in cool years) leaf plucking, fruit and shoot thinning and selection, with no cultivation and minimal use of sprays. No insecticides are used at Saint Clair vineyards.

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Wine Making

Saint Clair has one of the leading winemaking teams in the country headed by Matt Thomson (B.Sc and M.Sc Biochem, Otago). Matt has been involved with Saint Clair since its inception in 1994. He also has had winemaking experience on a regular basis in a number of areas in Italy and in Bordeaux.
Matt is uncompromising on quality. Comparatively little emphasis is placed on technological gadgetry. This natural, uncluttered approach helps produce wines with distinctive characters, which are clearly appreciated by an increasingly sophisticated wine drinking public in an increasing number of world markets.
Up until harvest Matt spends most of his time monitoring the changing flavour profile of the grapes. He notes the difference in flavour between bunches and between the different vineyard areas to ensure that they are picked at optimum time. Neal says, "Matt has a great palate and tremendous skill for optimising these grape flavours at harvest."
Matt's skills and the time he spends in the vineyard are extremely important in Saint Clair's viticulture and winemaking process and they are being rewarded through the outstanding quality of their wines.

"Neal Ibbotson said the intention was to create world-class wines at competitive prices and to this end I can say that they have done just that."

"Saint Clair has a very successful record of quality winemaking having earned many top awards & accolades."

"Saint Clair Doctor's Creek Pinot Noir 2001 – 5 Stars. Beautiful, delicious in a quality you simply do not find in Burgundy at that price."

"Wairau Reserve Savvy 2002, knock out wine. How can you put so much fruit in just one bottle?"

"Saint Clair has done a phenomenal job in raising not only its own profile in one of the great wine producing countries of the world but also that of New Zealand. Saint Clair deserves a big oak tinged bouquet for their efforts"

"Experience counts because the top wines under the Saint Clair label have enjoyed notable competition success"

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CURRENT WINES

Saint Clair Reserve Range

Omaka Reserve Chardonnay
A full-bodied Chardonnay with rich complex flavours of stonefruit and spice supported by underlying nutty, oak notes and subtle yeast autolysis characters.

Saint Clair Godfrey's Creek Reserve Pinot Gris
A medium-bodied wine with a mouth filling, creamy palate. It has flavours of ripe pear, apricot, almond and vanilla with a touch of spice. Enjoy with lightly spiced Asian cuisine.

Saint Clair Godfrey’s Creek Reserve Gewurztraminer
A delicious medium-bodied Gewurztraminer with a soft round oily texture on the palate. Elegant and restrained with aromas and a palate of rose petals, lychees and Turkish delight.

Omaka Reserve Pinot Noir (not made in 2006)
A full-bodied true expression of pinot noir with soft tannins and well balanced acidity. Blackcurrant and ripe cherry dominate the palate, supported by notes of plums and mushrooms. 100% new and used French oak lends elegance, structural support and savoury smoky notes.

Doctor's Creek Reserve Pinot Noir
A rounded, luscious pinot noir with a soft, full palate and well balanced acidity. Good length of fruit with flavours dominated by red currant and cherries, complemented by hints of plums. Oak aging has lent warm savoury notes on the palate with a full lingering finish.

Rapaura Reserve Merlot
A medium-bodied Merlot with lifted aromas of plums, currants, chocolate and mushroom with hints of spicy, toasty oak. A full, supple tannin structure supports a palate which is elegant and youthful with well balanced acidity that leads to a warm lingering finish.

Saint Clair Marlborough Range

Marlborough Riesling
This light-bodied, easy drinking wine shows distinct Riesling characters of ripe limes and grapefruit on the palate.  The wine has a distinct mineral note and good fruit weight which follows through with well balanced acidity and a round smooth pleasing finish.

Saint Clair Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
A full and crisp, powerful wine with intense flavours of passion fruit, blackcurrant, underlying gooseberry and herbal tones. Mouth-watering acidity is balanced by a full yet elegant palate that leads to a long lingering finish.

Saint Clair Marlborough Pinot Gris
A medium bodied wine with a refreshing and full palate of ripe pear and apricot with a touch of spice.

Saint Clair Marlborough Pinot Noir
A luscious, medium-bodied pinot noir with a round, soft, full-palate, well balanced acidity, supple tannins and flavours that linger. Cherry notes dominate the palate and are supported by hints of plum and redcurrant. A mixture of new and old French oak offers rich savoury notes on the palate with a full lingering finish.

Saint Clair Marlborough Merlot
A medium bodied Merlot with lifted aromas of plums, currants and mushroom with hints of spicy, toasty oak. The palate is elegant and youthful with well balanced acidity that leads to a warm lingering finish.

Saint Clair Vicar's Choice Range

Saint Clair Vicar's Choice Sauvignon
A light bodied, dry, crisp wine with typical Marlborough flavours of gooseberry, guava, nettles and just a hint of honeysuckle and lime. Mouth watering acidity leads to a long lingering finish.

Saint Clair Vicar's Choice Chardonnay
A medium-bodied chardonnay with bright flavours of stone fruit and underlying nutty, spicy oak notes. The palate is elegant, youthful and creamy with a soft acidity that leads to a warm lingering finish.

Saint Clair Vicar's Choice Pinot Noir
A vibrant, fruity, medium-bodied pinot noir with a round, soft, full-palate, well balanced acidity, supple tannins and flavours that linger. Cherry notes dominate the palate and are supported by hints of plum and redcurrant. A mixture of new and old French oak offers rich savoury notes on the palate with a full lingering finish.

Saint Clair Vicar's Choice Merlot
A medium-bodied Merlot with lifted aromas of ripe plums and red currants with hints of toasty oak.  The palate has youthful well balanced acidity that leads to a warm lingering finish.   

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Price List and Order Form

• Persons ordering wine must comply with relevant national liquor laws.
• Wine is only supplied to persons over 18 years of age.
• When the order is received you will be sent a confirmation of your order as soon as is possible.
• We offer FREE Freight on all wine orders over twelve (12) bottles.
• A $5.00 freight charge will be added for orders less than twelve (12) bottles
• Delivery can be expected within four working days of receipt of the order.
• All prices are inclusive of New Zealand GST.