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Tasting Notes and Awards
Current Releases

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2009 Sauvignon Blanc
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Variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc harvested from the Estate vineyard
Viticulture: A combination of 4 clones of Sauvignon Blanc, grown on vertical shoot positioned trellis and leaf plucked by our sheep to expose the fruit and intensify the flavors. Balanced yields from a greatl December flowering with a dry warm summer have produced some exceptional grapes. The fruit was machine harvested early in the morning on 3 separate occasions according to flavor ripeness.
Specifications: Alcohol: 13.8% PH:3.30 TA:6.4gms/l Residual Sugar:1.6gms/l Locality: Dakins Road
Winemaking: The harvested fruit was processed quickly into tank to retain the vibrant aromas and fresh acidity. Settled and inoculated in tank for a long slow cool fermentation with 25% fermented in old oak barrels. The wine was lees stirred and blended after 5 months on lees, filtered and bottled.
Tasting Notes: Gooseberry, guava and pineapple aromas are supported by intense flavors of tropical fruit. This is a wine with great balance, structure and intensity.
2005 Sauvignon Blanc. Silver Medal Wine for Asia 2005. 90/100 Wine Enthusiast USA 2004 Sauvignon Blanc. 90/100 Wine enthusiast USA. 9/10 Keith Stewart, Wine Sommnet. Grand Prix award 2004 Grand Prix degustation Hamburg Wein-Salons. 2003 Sauvignon Blanc. Gold Medal 2003 Air New Zealand wine awards. 2002 Sauvignon Blanc. Blue Gold 2002 Sydney International Wine Competition. 2001 Sauvignon Blanc. Gold Medal 2001 Air New Zealand Wine Awards.2000 Sauvignon Blanc. Gold Medal 2000 Air New Zealand
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2008 Chardonnay
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Variety: 100% Chardonnay harvested from the Estate vineyard
Viticulture: Grown on vertical shoot positioned trellis in a mixture of stony shingle and clay loam soils providing different characteristics and flavours. Minimal use of sprays and some labour intensive attention to detail with hand leaf plucking and picking has produced fruit of fantastic quality from a superb growing season.
Specifications: Alcohol: 13.6% PH:3.47 TA:6.4gms/l Residual Sugar:1.0gms/l Locality: Dakins Road
Winemaking: Machine harvested and whole berry pressed, minimal settling then transferred to a combination of French and American oak for fermentation with natural yeasts. Minimal malolactic fermentation, barrel stirred monthly and aged on yeast lees for 8 months. Selectively blended, filtered and bottled in January 2009.
Tasting Notes: Lifted fruit aromas of nectarines and pineapple have integrated harmoniously with the oak to produce a wine of great texture with creamy, nutty characters on the palate. This wine shows depth of fruit and great palate weight that is enjoyable now and also in the ensuing years and will cellar for the next 8 years.
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2007 Pinot Noir
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Variety: 100% Pinot Noir harvested from the Estate vineyard
Viticulture: This is the ninth harvest of Pinot Noir from the vineyard. Frosty spring mornings, a beautiful December flowering and a ripening period of cool nights and warm days cumulated in a great growing season. A low yielding crop and attentive pampering throughout the growing season saw a selection of 8 clones (5,667,777,115,114,Abel,375,and 6) of Pinot Noir from various sites and soils in the vineyard hand picked in fantastic condition.
Specifications: Alcohol: 14.2% PH: 3.58 TA: 6.4gms/l Residual Sugar: Dry Locality: Dakins Road
Winemaking: Hand picked and fermented in open top fermenters in the new winery. Temperature controlled fermentation with a variety of yeasts, both natural and cultured, combined with strategic hand plunging to optimize the fruit and tannin balance. Following extended post ferment maceration on skins the wine was drained and pressed to barrel and allowed to age and mature in 40% new French oak barrels for 10 months. Selective barrel blending followed by minimal fining and filtration and bottled in April 2008.
Tasting Notes: Traditional Burgundian techniques and minimal handling has produced a Pinot Noir with an intense bouquet of cherries and plums. Flavors of tobacco and spice complement a rich silky palate with a purity of fruit and finely integrated tannin structure. This wine displays the poetic characteristics of the fickle and gratifying variety Pinot Noir.
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2008 Riesling
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Variety: 100% Reisling harvested from the Estate vineyard
Viticulture: A combination of 2 clones of Riesling, grown in alluvial loam and in the cooler part of the vineyard. Shoot positioning, minimal spraying and hand leaf plucking to maximize sunlight interception has produced clean ripe grapes with fantastic flavours.
Specifications: Alcohol:12.5% PH: 3.09 TA: 7.20gms/l Residual Sugar:4.6gms/l Locality: Dakins Road
Winemaking: Harvested in the early morning when the flavors were showing their optimum, the grapes were hand picked and processed quickly. Following a slow cool fermentation in stainless steel the fermentation was stopped to retain natural fruit sweetness.
Tasting Notes: The 2008 Riesling has an enticing aroma of limes, ginger and honey. Off dry with hints of apricots and a long lingering finish has created a wine with definition and enjoyment now. Time in bottle will show the fantastic developing complexities of great Riesling.
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