Only in exceptional vintages are Icon wines declared at Foxes Island. La Lapine is the ultimate expression of that philosophy. It took nearly 18 years before founder and winemaker John Belsham was fully satisfied that Sauvignon Blanc from the Awatere Estate could achieve the depth, structure, and longevity required of an Icon wine.
Every detail is deliberate. The vines are hand-tended, and the fruit is hand-harvested at optimal ripeness. Only the finest free-run juice is used, fermented naturally with indigenous yeasts in a large French oak cuve. The vessel is chosen not to impart oak flavour, but to build texture, dimension, and quiet complexity. In crafting La Lapine, John Belsham deliberately steps outside convention — allowing time, intuition, and terroir to lead. The result is a wine of rare individuality, inseparable from the land from which it comes.
Internationally awarded and widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s finest expressions of Sauvignon Blanc, Icon La Lapine has received multiple gold medals and critical acclaim for its poise, depth, and ability to evolve gracefully over time.
This 2013 Icon La Lapine is presented as a collector’s piece:
– One bottle,
– Presented in a wooden gift box crafted from sustainably farmed New Zealand timber.
Produced in extremely limited quantities, this Icon release is a rare opportunity to experience Sauvignon Blanc at its most considered, expressive, and enduring.
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Sauvignon Blanc is one of the world’s most ancient grape varieties, with a rich and influential history in fine winemaking. A parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, its name is derived from the French word sauvage, meaning wild—a nod to both its origins and its natural vitality.
While its precise lineage remains partially unresolved, Sauvignon Blanc is firmly rooted in western France, most notably the Loire Valley (Sancerre) and Bordeaux, where it has long been celebrated for its purity, structure, and ability to express place.
In New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc has found a distinctive home. Here, climate and soils combine to produce expressions of remarkable clarity and intensity—wines that are recognisably New Zealand yet impossible to replicate elsewhere. The result is a style that speaks clearly of origin, shaped by light, temperature, and terroir.
Sauvignon Blanc spans a broad spectrum of styles, from vibrant, youthful wines to those of greater depth, refinement, and ageing potential. At Foxes Island, our approach sits firmly in the latter. Winemaker John Belsham, whose training began in Bordeaux over four decades ago, brings a philosophy rooted in restraint, structure, and respect for terroir. This commitment to crafting sophisticated, elegant Sauvignon Blancs is reflected in every bottle we produce.
