Mahi Aeris Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Special Edition Sauvignon

Do you like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc but want to try something other than the classic "fresh and fruity" style?

Then this "Mahi Alias Sauvignon Blanc" is perfect for you!

Mahi is a winery located in Marlborough, New Zealand's largest wine region, but unlike many other big-product wines, it produces unique wines with a focus on handcrafted quality.

The grapes are organically grown, hand-picked, and fermented naturally with wild yeasts. Mahi wines are produced through these "time-consuming" processes, setting them apart from industrial wines.

Mahi means "handiwork" or "craftsmanship" in Maori. It is truly a craft wine born from the handiwork of owner Brian Bicknell.

This is Brian Bicknell. After working as a winemaker for major wineries around the world, he established Mahi in Marlborough to bring his own unique vision to life.

The biggest difference between Alias Sauvignon Blanc and regular Sauvignon Blanc is that it is "barrel fermented" rather than "stainless steel tank fermented."

Almost all Sauvignon Blanc wines with the intense aromas of citrus, passionfruit, and cut grass, which are typical of the so-called Marlborough style, are fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.

However, this Alias is fermented in French barriques, which are 225-liter French oak barrels.

What happens then? It doesn't become a wine with those intense fruit and herb flavors. It becomes softer, milder, and less assertive in flavor.

And this Alias is aged for 15 months with the dead yeast cells (lees) remaining in the barrel after fermentation by wild yeasts. This contact between the lees and the wine significantly enhances the wine's umami and adds a savory flavor.

After barrel aging, the wine is gently racked, and to preserve its delicate flavor, it is bottled without fining.

The resulting wine is a very complex wine.

The aroma has elements reminiscent of tropical fruits like pineapple, and a subtle herbaceous nuance like chervil.

One sip reveals a wine with a solid umami flavor.

It has a juicy, peach-like quality, as well as a milky and roasted almond-like savory flavor (however, there are almost no buttery or vanilla notes like in barrel-aged Chardonnay).

Compared to fresh and fruity Sauvignon Blancs, these "complex" wines tend to pair well with a wider range of foods.

Alias pairs perfectly with salads, white fish, shellfish, chicken, and pork.

Thanks to its savory and umami flavors from aging, it can even stand up to meat dishes.

And since it retains the crisp acidity characteristic of Sauvignon Blanc, it pairs perfectly with oily dishes such as fried foods and stir-fries.

• Tuna and avocado salad
• Shrimp and mushroom ajillo
• Chicken cutlet
• Pan-fried Spanish mackerel with butter
• Pork and napa cabbage hot pot

With a menu like this, you'll experience a wonderful harmony between wine and food.

Beyond the classic fresh and fruity style. Please try this "slightly more mature Sauvignon Blanc."

It's truly delicious!

About Mahi Winery

Mahi is a winery in Marlborough established in 2001 by Brian Bicknell.

Winemaker Bicknell was involved in winemaking in various regions around the world for about 15 years before moving to Marlborough, where he excelled.

When he moved there in 1996, many of the wines produced in Marlborough were made by blending grapes from different areas within the region, and the individuality and characteristics of the land were being lost. Furthermore, wineries were becoming larger, and international media were beginning to comment that "many wines taste the same."

However, Bicknell felt that Marlborough's diverse terroir could produce different styles of wine, and he relaunched winemaking based on "single vineyards" rather than regional blends.

This was the beginning of Mahi Winery.

Mahi's desired wine style is "not a fruit-bomb style with upfront fruitiness, but rather a wine that emphasizes texture and balance, providing a satisfying mouthfeel."

It is a winery that stands apart from the "fresh and fruity" style synonymous with Marlborough wines, expressing the quality and diversity of wine and leading the region.

The label also features a "fern," a plant native to New Zealand, symbolizing "strength," "life," and "growth."

About the Marlborough Region

"Marlborough" is the heart of New Zealand's wine region.

With abundant sunshine and large diurnal temperature swings, favorable natural conditions for grape cultivation are met, and over 80% of NZ wine is produced in Marlborough.

Among these, Sauvignon Blanc, characterized by its crisp acidity and abundant fruitiness, boasts an overwhelming production volume and is widely loved globally for its unique character. For red wines, Pinot Noir, with its appealing rich berry fruit flavors, is popular.

Mahi Alias Sauvignon Blanc 2023