Stoneburn wines are made by none other than James Macdonald, a winemaker who grew up among the vineyards of Marlborough. He was brought up with the lifestyle and winemaking, having gained some of his experience from his father. James studied at Lincoln University in Christchurch, four hours south of Marlborough, and gained experience in countries such as France, Italy, and the United States. But thankfully, he's back in his own country and proudly makes Stoneburn wines.
The Sauvignon Blanc grapes receive everything they need: plenty of sunshine, allowing them to ripen slowly but perfectly, along with the refreshing ocean breeze. The wind provides the perfect cooling for the harvest in Marlborough. This results in a long and balanced growing season, and at ideal ripeness, all the bunches are harvested in the early morning. As quickly as possible, the bunches are transported in Klien crates to Stoneburn, where they await a gentle pressing. To preserve purity and freshness, the wine is aged in steel barrels. After a long period of aging, the wine is ready to drink. We open the bottle and are overwhelmed by the freshness of citrus fruits and gooseberries. In the glass, it has a light yellow color with a green sheen. It flows from the glass, offering impressions of tropical fruit balanced with light green herbs like mint. On the palate, it leaves the palate feeling fresh with a rich minerality, citrus fruits, and gooseberries. Later, as the wine rolls around in the mouth, it also reveals nuances of green herbs, a touch of pepper and, of course, the right dose of tropical fruit.
