Clos Henri Sauvignon Blanc 2012 (12 x 750mL), Marlborough, NZ.

Henri Bourgeois is a very highly regarded French producer, in Sancerre, in the Loire Valley. a district best known for its wooded and highly ageable Sauvignon Blancs, with 10 generations of viticulture running through this family's veins. They made the leap to becoming dedicated producers in 1952, with great success.In 2001, the Bourgeois family, feeling their hands bound by the restrictions Appellation rules lay upon French producers, decided to purchase a vineyard in that other, new, home of Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand, where they would be able to make wine in a more free fashion.The vineyard is a former sheep station, and has never been used for cultivation. Nevertheless, the Bourgeois have spent considerable time gradually preparing the soils for viticulture, 6 hectares of the property at a time.With 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Pinot Noir planted, the same proportions as the Sancerre Vineyard, and the understanding of generations of winemaking and viticulture, Clos Henri has earned a esteemed place within the broader New Zealand winemaking community.