Resolute Organic Sauvignon Blanc

Crafted on the edge of the earth, our organic, vegan-friendly single vineyard Resolute wines balance Marlborough's rugged exuberance and fruit expression with elegance and refinement.

Crafted from a few hand-selected rows of Sauvignon Blanc within our vineyard in Marlborough’s Wairau Valley, Ara Resolute represents our unwavering dedication to showcasing the essence of Pure Marlborough. The fruit benefits from specific oak and ageing to create Ara’s iconic wine. Resolute is our purest expression of place.

93 POINTS, James Suckling; 2021 Vintage.
94 POINTS, Wine Orbit; 2019 Vintage.
5 STARS, Michael Cooper; 2019 Vintage.
5 STARS, Wine Orbit; 2019 Vintage.
SILVER MEDAL, 92 POINTS, International Wine & Spirit Competition; 2019 Vintage.
SILVER MEDAL, 90 POINTS, Decanter Wine Awards; 2019 Vintage.
We use meticulous hands-on viticultural techniques to ensure our premium fruit produces highly concentrated flavours. We select only the best organic parcels from selected rows in our organically-certified single vineyard in the lower Wairau Valley - sought after for its stony soils and sea breezes. Our premium fruit is carefully collected through a combination of harvesting techniques. Hand harvested fruit contributes purity and acidity, with machine harvesting allowing some skin contact texture and classic tropical notes associated with the lower Wairau Valley.

Weather conditions across the 2021 growing season had a significant effect on the region’s fruit set, creating a high number of small berries in the bunches. This lower yield was offset by concentrated aromas and expressive flavours in the grapes. The summer ripening period was slightly cooler and drier than normal, with a few cooler evenings during the lead into harvest helping acidity and fresh, vibrant flavours. A long slow ripening period allowed our winemakers to block pick grapes as they reached optimal ripeness, without any inclement weather pressure.
The two fruit parcels picked from our organic vineyard were treated separately.

The first parcel was gently whole bunch pressed to minimize phenolic pick up and fermented in stainless steel at relatively cool temperatures to emphasise purity and aromatics.

The second parcel was fermented and matured on lees in seasoned German oak Fuder barrels; this oak frames the fruit and adds weight to the palate, with warmer ferment temperatures bringing texture and complexity to the wine.

We carefully select yeast so it magnifies classic Marlborough character and lets the wine speak for itself. The wine was racked, blended, stabilised prior to bottling.

Please see Tasting Notes for more details, technical specifications, and dietary information, as these will differ with each vintage.
Download 2021 Tasting Note

Download 2019 Tasting Note

Download 2018 Tasting Note

Download 2017 Tasting Note

"A shining example of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc versatility, this wine showcases the varietal’s depth and character. As soon as you open the bottle you’re struck by rich, complex aromas of ruby grapefruit, elderflower, lychee and lemon thyme. The palate gives over to refreshing citrus and passionfruit notes with a hint of hazelnut. Beautifully integrated acidity makes for a long, lean, crisp finish." - Jeremy Tod, Winemaker.

"Voluptuously ripe with the flavours of passion fruit, candied pineapple and sharp green capsicum." -International Wine & Spirit Competition, UK; 2021 Vintage.

"A pretty nose of dragon fruit, peaches and colored flowers. Medium-bodied with brightness and a gentle approach. Subtle and nuanced but with a sneaky amount of concentration that keeps the rather pretty palate fresh and fruitful through a long finish. Refreshing tannins at the end. 93 Points." -James Suckling; 2021 Vintage.

"Lemon pith, green mango, crushed stone, thyme, fennel and white pepper on the nose. Medium-bodied with bright acidity and a spicy, mineral and textured palate. Serious sauvignon. From organically grown grapes. 92 Points." -James Suckling; 2019 Vintage.

"Floral, fruity and quite seductive with aromas of peach blossom and apple then grapefruit and softer herba nd hay layers. Equally enticing on the palate with flavours of golden kiwi and lemon, stony minerality, pineapple and apple. Medium+ acidity with a core of fruit and herb leads to a decent finish and mouthfeel. Well-made and ready to enjoy from today" -Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier; 2019 Vintage.

"The delicious 2019 vintage (5 Stars) is a single-vineyard wine, partly barrel-fermented. Bright, light yellow/green, with a complex bouquet, it is weighty, ripe and rounded, with concentrated, tropical fruit flavours, showing a distinct touch of complexity, and a very harmonious finish. Certified organic." -Michael Cooper; 2019 Vintage.