La Ferme de Sato Schisteux

Sato's Bannockburn vineyard sits on the Pisa Range's eastern slope, where schist-dominated soils and a rain shadow create one of New Zealand's most extreme growing conditions. The site's elevation and aspect force the vines into a battle for ripeness, concentrating phenolic intensity and mineral expression.

The fruit undergoes cool-fermentation in stainless steel, preserving aromatic volatility and acidity. No oak contact allows the schist minerality—a signature of this subregion—to dominate the palate without softening. The wine spends time on its lees, building textural complexity without oxidative character.

What distinguishes this expression: the schist signature is unusually pronounced, delivering wet-stone and flint notes that define Bannockburn's geological identity rather than fruit-forward aromatics. This is terroir-first winemaking, where soil speaks louder than varietal character.

Drink 2024–2028 for maximum mineral definition and acidity retention.