2005 Ferus Sauvignon Blanc

VINTAGE
Vintage 2005 was perfect for ripening and flavour development. Mild conditions, modest crops, healthy vines and contributed to early picking of fully ripe (but not overrripe) grapes. Natural acid levels are an indicator of quality and they were high but in balance with the flavours. No additions of acid were made.

TASTING NOTES

Aroma: Fragrant and lifted. Mineral notes as well as subtle florals notes. Faint lanolin. Elusive and understated
Colour: Pale straw with a light green tinge.
Palate: Gently flavoured with the characters apparent on the nose carrying through to the palate. Ripe fruit with a gentle creamy richness on the middle palate and a lingering mineral finish.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Region: Lenswood, Adelaide Hills
Variety: 100% Sauvignon blanc
Oak Maturation: 1 year on lees in second use French oak barriques
pH: 3.03 | Alcohol: 13.2% | TA: 7.4 g/L
Winemaking: Crush, destem, gently air bag press. Rack settled juice with some solids to barrel and allow to begin ferment naturally. Ferment to dryness with no temperature control. Leave on yeast lees with some stirring. SO₂ added post ferment to protect against oxidation. The aim was to produce a wine, reflective of its vineyard origin, with as little intervention as possible. No fining or filtration. The wine was racked to achieve clarity, SO₂ adjusted and bottled. without filtration.
Cellaring: Will develop the mineral character of classically aged flinty Sauvignon over a decade or so.
Serving Suggestion: Cool to cold. Best between 5 and 10°C. Can be enjoyed with a wide range of foods or on its own.
Closure: Stelvin ensures its freedom from taint and freshness.

REVIEWS FOR THE  2005 FERUS SAUVIGNON BLANC

Four stars. Ferus, from the Adelaide Hills, is another in a growing number of sauvignon blancs that transform this normally simple fruit-driven white into something much more elaborate. It has an earthy, rather wild edge, with mineral and nutty lees/barrel influence seamlesssly integrated with melon and herby fruit character. The palate is mellow and dry, and a million miles from those juicy, tropical-accented wines
Ralph Kyte-Powell, The Age, Epicure Autumn 2007

 Explore savvy b above and beyond the common fruit bomb and herbaceous-hit style. Here there are florals, flints and fine mineral salts across the nose and palate, after wild yeasts and barrel maturation have had their way. Rich and finessed. A joy.
93 points
Tony Love The Advertiser 30th May 2007