Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1004126
july 2018 / the tasting panel / 7 is comprised of six subregions, each of which creates a nuanced style of wine. The most prominent of these areas are the Wairau and Awatere valleys, which is why Nobilo focuses on these two regions in particular. The Wairau Valley tends to emphasize the characteristic tropical fruit notes of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, while the smaller Awatere Valley coaxes out the herbal side of the grape to produce wines with a fine thread of minerality. Nobilo slightly favors fruit from the Awatere Valley, which is responsible for creating the winery's signature bright, crisp-fruited, herbal-accented style of Sauvignon Blanc. Known for its classic flavors and approachability, the top-selling Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc is crafted from fruit grown throughout Marlborough. It features everything New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc lovers have come to expect—ripe grapefruit, pineapple, and grassy green pepper notes—while remaining remarkably well-balanced. Though the palate is abundant in flavor, the finish is clean and cool with a snap of brightness that wholly refreshes. If the Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc is about everyday value, Nobilo's Icon Collection aims to showcase the renowned quality of Marlborough by sourcing from the region's best vineyards. The Nobilo Icon Sauvignon Blanc, the flagship wine of the estate, is primarily crafted from grapes in the Wairau, Rapaura, and Awatere subregions. By blending fruit from several areas, the finished wine combines their attributes to balance full, round fruit with lifting acidity. While Sauvignon Blanc is certainly the breakout star of New Zealand winemaking, Pinot Noir is one of the fastest-growing segments of the country's production and export mar- kets. The award-winning Nobilo Icon Pinot Noir exemplifies Marlborough's phenomenal ability to produce a cool- climate wine with sunny fruit flavors and fine acidity. Edmonds specifically seeks out vineyards with more difficult growing conditions in order to create a more complex Pinot Noir accented with spice and berries. Some might assume that as Nobilo moves into the next 75 years of winemaking, it would feel pressure to reinvent itself in order to stay current. On the contrary, the estate aims to continue upholding the ideals behind its steady ascent in the New Zealand wine industry. Inventive winemaking, a commitment to quality, and a mission to showcase the best of Marlborough's vineyards in all their diverse excellence: Those priorities will propel Nobilo—and New Zealand—forward. A piece of Nobilo history from the 1970s: Mark Nobilo was the former Vineyard Manager and youngest of founder Nikola's three sons, all of whom joined the family business. Nobilo's Sauvignon Blanc, Icon Pinot Noir, and Icon Sauvignon Blanc are all produced from grapes grown in the Wairau and Awatere valleys in Marlborough, New Zealand.