Johnston

2007 Sauvignon Blanc

TECHNICAL  
   
Appellation Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Vintage 2007
Variety Sauvignon Blanc
Harvest Date March 2007
Harvest Maturity 11.5 baume
Bottling May 2007
TA 6.75 gms per litre
Ph 3.2
Alcohol 11.85%
 
WINEMAKING

Machine harvested, minimal skin contact. Tank pressed with free-run and pressings juice fractions fermented separately. Cool even fermentation over 15 days retained fruit flavour and freshness.

TASTING
The 2007 vintage displays lovely aromatics with fresh gooseberries and hints of blackcurrant, with a thread of green bean. The palate is flavoursome with great depth and length, balanced with clean crisp acidity. Will age slowly over the next 2-3 years.

VINEYARD
The fruit for this wine was entirely estate grown at Johnston’s Oakbank vineyard, nestled on elevated slopes about 400 metres above sea level. It was carefully monitored by Winemaker David O’Leary and picked under ideal conditions to ensure that optimum fruit flavour was captured at harvest.

   
Winemaker: David O'Leary

2006 Sauvignon Blanc

   
TECHNICAL  
   
Appellation Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Vintage 2006
Variety Sauvignon Blanc
Harvest Date March 2006
Harvest Maturity 12.5 baume
Bottling July 2006
TA 7.10 gms per litre
Ph 3.39
Alcohol 12.5%
 
WINEMAKING

Machine harvested, minimal skin contact. Tank pressed with freerun and pressings juice fractions fermented separately. Cool even fermentation over
15 days retained fruit flavour and freshness.

TASTING
Another great season for the Adelaide Hills and this wine is a good example.
The 2006 vintage displays lovely aromatics with fresh gooseberries and hints of blackcurrant, with a thread of green bean. The palate is flavoursome with great depth and length, balanced with clean, crisp acidity. Will age slowly over the next 2-3 years.

   
Winemaker: David O'Leary
   
National Cool Climate Wine Show 2006    Murrumbateman Bronze 2006
February 2007
 

Power and presence on both boquet and palate; an attractive combination of herb, gooseberry and tropical fruit, the latter persisting on the long finish.
Rating 91
- James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion 2007

 
One of AUSTRALIA'S TOP 100 WINES 2006.
-The Advertiser, Nov 2006
   
"A cracker of an Aussie savvy with a big gooseberry side plus powerful passionfruit flavours, herbal and vegetal notes, classic fresh beans and generosity of flavour. If you want Kiwi aromatics in a home-grown package, try it."
-Tony Love, The Advertiser, Nov 2006

2005 Sauvignon Blanc

     
TECHNICAL    
     
Appellation Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Vintage 2005  
Variety Sauvignon Blanc
Harvest Date March 2005
Harvest Maturity 12.6 baume  
Bottling July 2005  
TA 7.10 gms per litre  
Ph 3.39
Alcohol 13.3%  
   
WINEMAKING  

Machine harvested, minimal skin contact. Tank pressed with freerun and pressings juice fractions fermented separately. Cool even fermentation over 15 days retained fruit flavour and freshness.

TASTING
One of the best vintages yet for the Adelaide Hills and this wine is a great example. The 2005 vintage displays lovely aromatics with fresh gooseberries and hints of blackcurrant, with a thread of green bean. The palate is flavoursome with great depth and length, balanced with clean, crisp acidity.
Will age slowly over the next 2-3 years.

     
Winemaker: David O'Leary  
     
 

Silver, Royal Melbourne Wine Show June 2006

Silver, Brisbane
Wine Festival
April 2006

 
     
Extract from AUSTRALIAN WINE COMPANION 2007
Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2005 Well-constructed and balanced; plenty of mid-palate fruit without heaviness; grass, herb through tropical; finishes with bright acidity. Good length. Screwcap. RATING 93 DRINK NOW $17.95

2004 Sauvignon Blanc

     
TECHNICAL    
     
Appellation Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Vintage 2004  
Variety Sauvignon Blanc
Harvest Date April 2004
Harvest Maturity 12.3 baume  
Bottling June 2004  
TA 6.90 gms per litre  
Ph 3.20
Alcohol 11.5%  
   
WINEMAKING  

Machine harvested, minimal skin contact. Tank pressed with freerun and pressings juice fractions fermented separately. Cool even fermentation over 15 days retained fruit flavour and freshness.

TASTING
2004 vintage was reasonably long and cool, with larger than usual crops extending the vintage by 2-3 weeks. The bouquet shows cutting edge Sauvignon Blanc character with lychee/cut grass and hints of mineral. The palate is fine medium flavour, again with lychee fruit, balanced acid with a clean crisp finish. A slightly leaner style when compared with the '03, but with great character and varietal style.

     
Winemaker: David O'Leary  
     
Extract from AUSTRALIAN WINE COMPANION 2006
Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2004 Spotlessly clean; tropical passionfruit aromas; lively palate, finishing with minerally, squeaky acidity. Screwcap. RATING 93 DRINK 2007 $17.95

2003 Sauvignon Blanc

TECHNICAL    
     
Appellation Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Vintage 2003 Click to enlargeClick to enlargeClick to enlarge
Variety Sauvignon Blanc
Harvest Date April 2003
Harvest Maturity 12.3 baume  
Bottling July 2003  
TA 7.10 gms per litre  
Ph 3.31
Alcohol 12.7%  
   
WINEMAKING  

Fermentation was carried out over 10 days keeping temperatures down to enhance the flavours and aromas to encapsulate the great varietal character.

TASTING
Yet another very good vintage in the Adelaide Hills for Sauvignon.
This wine shows the real cutting edge of what this style of wine should be. Cut hay and flinty, balanced with tropical punch. The palate is flavoursome with good depth and acid balance.

     
Winemaker: David O'Leary

2002 Sauvignon Blanc

TECHNICAL    
     
Appellation Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Vintage 2002  
Variety Sauvignon Blanc
Harvest Date April 2002
Harvest Maturity 12.3 baume  
Bottling August 2002  
TA 7.20 gms per litre  
Ph 3.32
Alcohol 12.5%  
   
WINEMAKING  

Fermentation was carried out over 10 days keeping temperatures down to enhance the flavours and aromas to encapsulate the great varietal character.

TASTING
The 2002 Johnston Sauvignon Blanc is a great example of the varietal grown in cool climate conditions. The wine displays extensive tropical flavours such as lychees, lime and passionfruit which produces a distinctive bouquet and continues through to the fresh palate. The natural acidity levels in the Adelaide Hills fruit were relatively high in 2002 and this provides a crisp, fresh backbone to wine. An outstanding example of cool climate Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc.

     
Winemaker: David O'Leary