Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1025306
82 / the tasting panel / september 2018 82 / the tasting panel / september 2018 grape, Sauvignon Blanc, the winery's prowess extends to other varieties as well, including Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Portfolio highlights include the Yealands Estate S1 Single Block Sauvignon Blanc ($30), which undergoes stainless-steel fermentation and spends three months on the lees—as does the Single Vineyard Pinot Noir ($35), which follows a malolac- tic fermentation process divided between stainless steel (30%) and French oak (70%, with 20% new). "Think Boldly, Tread Lightly" Although Yealands currently imple- ments many sustainability initiatives, it's constantly exploring new ways to minimize its environmental impact. The estate is hardly a novice when it comes to reducing its carbon footprint: It's one of the few wineries in the world certified as carbon-neutral from its inception. Yealands' ultimate goal is to generate enough energy to become self-sufficient—ideally supplying any surplus back to the national grid. In celebration of the winery's motto to "think boldly, tread lightly," we've highlighted some of the ways Yealands is leading the wine industry by enacting eco-friendly practices from vineyard to bottle: Solar, Vine, and Wind Power With the Marlborough region receiving the most hours of sunlight in New Zealand, Yealands opted to use the climate to its advantage by installing solar panels on its roof. The panels produce more than half a million kilowatts per year, enough to power 86 households; the three wind turbines on the winery's property, meanwhile, produce an additional 48,000 kilowatts of energy annually. Approximately 10 percent of the vineyard prunings are harvested, baled, and burned at the winery, with one 440-pound bale gener- ating the equivalent of 60 kilograms of LPG (liquified petroleum gas). In the Vineyard Yealands employs numerous envi- ronmentally friendly strategies in its vineyards, from using wildflowers as a natural form of pest control to creating 25 wetlands to promote biodiversity at its Seaview Vineyard in the Awatere Valley. Barnyard animals also make appearances among the vines, with free-range chickens performing addi- tional pest control duties and Babydoll sheep helping to control the grass levels (fortunately, they're too small in stature to reach the grapes!). Yealands Estate 2014 Single Vineyard Pinot Noir ($35) Plum spice on the nose is tinted with freshly tilled soil and dried red flowers. Black cherries are heartened by sweet violets and a hint of mocha. Black pepper, forest leaves, and shiitake mushroom warm up the lengthy finish with savory tonality. The harsh- est growing conditions in New Zealand can be found at the Seaview Vineyard. 94 —Meridith May Peter Yealands 2017 Pinot Gris ($15) Delicately aromatic with salty-peanut and toffee notes. A dollop of pear à la mode comes in mid-palate, finishing with honey and white tea. Searing acidity keeps it pure and fresh. 92 —M.M. Yealands Estate S1 Single Block 2017 Sauvignon Blanc ($30) Spiced goose- berry and white grapefruit: iconic flavors in a lean body framed with flint. Peach pith and just-ripened stone fruit sweeten the finish. 92 —M.M. Yealands Estate 2018 Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc ($25) Aromas of tarragon and basil spice up white grape- fruit. A gemlike quality of Asian pear, honeysuckle, and honeydew melon fills the mouth with a fine crispness as white pepper glides along, seasoning snap peas and white grapefruit zest. 92 —M.M. Wildflowers grow between vineyard rows at Yealands Estate, serving as a natural form of pest control. SUSTAINABILITY