Sato La Ferme de Sato Sous Bois Cabernet Franc 2022

"Sous Bois" translates to "Forest Undergrowth", which is reminiscent of the earthy, savoury characters that present in Cabernet Franc grown on the Sato home vineyard.

It's a rarity to see this variety in Central Otago - a region dominated by Pinot Noir - but on the North-Northeast facing slope of Block Four of Kyoko and Yoshi Sato's vineyard, it gets to perfect ripeness.

As with all Sato wines, there's an elegance and freshness to this wine that harks back to something old world. It's very, very good.

Winemaking Notes: Sato Pisa Vineyard. Soil: Alluvial, sandy or silt loam with schist & quartz gravel. Viticulture: No pesticides, herbicides, systemic fungicides or inorganic fertilisers used. Harvest: Hand picked, 16 April 2022. 40 hl/ha. Vinification: Natural yeast fermentation. 14% whole bunch, 26 – 29 days on skins. No additives except for 15 mg/l sulphites before bottling. Maturation: 17 months in old French oak barrels. Bottled: 22 November 2023 without fining or filtration. 1427 bottles produced.