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Tasting Notes and Awards
Current Releases

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2011 Sauvignon Blanc
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Winery: Borthwick Vineyard
Region: Wairarapa
Grapes: Sauvignon Blanc
Vintner: Paddy Borthwick
History: Established in 1996 the family owned and managed Borthwick Vineyard perfectly captures the special region of Gladstone, New Zealand. Ancient stony, alluvial soils and cool climate allows the grapes to grow in harmony in their environment. Sustainably practices and minimal intervention in the vineyard and winery gives our wines their distinctive single vineyard characteristics and flavor.
Vineyard Location: Gladstone, Wairarapa, New Zealand. 280 feet asl. Row orientation of north-south for even ripening. Chose the site for the climatic extremes and fantastic soils for growing Sauvignon Blanc. Climatic factors of low rainfall, ( rain shadow) low humidity due to NW winds and a long ripening season during autumn (allowing the grapes to fully mature) with fantastic diurnal temperature fluctuations.
Soil Type: Free draining wind blown loess amongst silt loam 25 yards deep on an old river bed.
Age of vines: 5 to 15 years old. Mix of grafted and ungrafted vines with clones, Mass selection and 316
Oak Handling: 100% tank fermentation.
Fining and filtration: X-Flow filtered.
Analysis: Alcohol: 13.5% PH: 3.19 TA: 6.5gms/l Residual Sugar: 1.6gms/l
Fermentation: The harvested fruit was processed quickly into tank to retain the vibrant aromas and fresh acidity. Settled and inoculated in tank with a varierty of yeasts for a long slow cool fermentation. The wine was lees stirred and blended after 5 months on lees, filtered and bottled.
Tasting notes: Gooseberry, guava and lycee aromas are supported by intense flavors of tropical fruit. This is a wine with great balance, structure and intensity.
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2010 Chardonnay
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Winery: Borthwick Vineyard
Region: Wairarapa
Grapes: Chardonnay
Vintner: Paddy Borthwick
History: Established in 1996 the family owned and managed Borthwick Vineyard perfectly captures the special region of Gladstone, New Zealand. Ancient stony, alluvial soils and cool climate allows the grapes to grow in harmony in their environment. Sustainably practices and minimal intervention in the vineyard and winery gives our wines their distinctive single vineyard characteristics and flavor.
Vineyard Location: Gladstone, Wairarapa, New Zealand. 280 feet asl. Row orientation of north-south for even ripening. Chose the site for the climatic extremes and fantastic soils for growing aromatics and Pinot Noir. Climatic factors of low rainfall, ( rain shadow) low humidity due to NW winds and a long ripening season during autumn (allowing the grapes to fully mature) with fantastic diurnal temperature fluctuations.
Soil Type: Free draining wind blown loess amongst silt loam 25 yards deep on an old river bed.
Age of vines: 15 years old. Mix of grafted and ungrafted vines with clones, Mendoza, 15, 2/23,95
Oak Handling: 20% new puncheons, balance 5 year old oak.
Fining and filtration: X-Flow filtered.
Analysis: Alcohol: 13.5% PH: 3.50 TA: 6.9gms/l Residual Sugar: Dry Fermentation: 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 2011
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 6 years.
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2010 Pinot Noir
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Winery: Borthwick Vineyard
Region: Wairarapa
Grapes: Pinot Noir
Vintner: Paddy Borthwick
History: Established in 1996 the family owned and managed Borthwick Vineyard perfectly captures the special region of Gladstone, New Zealand. Ancient stony, alluvial soils and cool climate allows the grapes to grow in harmony in their environment. Sustainably practices and minimal intervention in the vineyard and winery gives our wines their distinctive single vineyard characteristics and flavor.
Vineyard Location: Gladstone, Wairarapa, New Zealand. 280 feet asl. Row orientation of north-south for even ripening. Chose the site for the climatic extremes and fantastic soils for growing Pinot Noir. Climatic factors of low rainfall, ( rain shadow) low humidity due to NW winds and a long ripening season during autumn (allowing the grapes to fully mature) with fantastic diurnal temperature fluctuations.
Soil Type: Free draining wind blown loess amongst silt loam 25 yards deep on an old river bed.
Age of vines: 5 to 15 years old. Mix of grafted and ungrafted vines with clones, 5,115, 777,667,113,114,12,375, and Able.
Oak Handling: French oak with 40% new 30% 1 year old and 30% 2 year old. 14 months in barrel.
Analysis: Alcohol:13.9% PH:3.52 TA:5.6gms/l Residual Sugar: Dry
Fining and filtration: egg white fined and X-Flow filtered.
Fermentation: 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. Selective barrel blending followed by minimal fining and filtration and bottled in April 2010.
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.
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2009 Riesling
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Winery: Borthwick Vineyard
Region: Wairarapa
Grapes: Riesling
Vintner: Paddy Borthwick
History: Established in 1996 the family owned and managed Borthwick Vineyard perfectly captures the special region of Gladstone, New Zealand. Ancient stony, alluvial soils and cool climate allows the grapes to grow in harmony in their environment. Sustainably practices and minimal intervention in the vineyard and winery gives our wines their distinctive single vineyard characteristics and flavor.
Vineyard Location: Gladstone, Wairarapa, New Zealand. 280 feet asl. Row orientation of north-south for even ripening. Chose the site for the climatic extremes and fantastic soils for growing Riesling. Climatic factors of low rainfall, low humidity and a long ripening season during autumn with fantastic diurnal temperature fluctuations.
Soil Type: Free draining wind blown loess amongst silt loam 25 meters deep on an old river bed.
Age of vines: 5 to 15 years old. Mix of grafted and ungrafted vines with clones, 198-98, GM110 and 239.
Oak Handling: 100% tank fermentation.
Fining and filtration: X-Flow filtered.
Analysis: Alcohol: 12.5% PH:3.05 TA:7.1gms/l Residual Sugar:5.4gms/l Fermentation: Harvested in the early morning when the flavors were at their optimum, the grapes were machine picked and processed quickly. Following a slow cool fermentation in stainless steel the wine was stopped to retain natural fruit sweetness.
Tasting notes: Our Riesling has an enticing aroma of blossoms, limes, and citrus. Dryish to taste with delicate perfumed and fresh citrus flavors. Bottle age will show the fantastic developing complexities of great Riesling.
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2011 Pinot Gris
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Winery: Borthwick Vineyard
Region: Wairarapa
Grapes: Pinot Gris
Vintner: Paddy Borthwick
History: Established in 1996 the family owned and managed Borthwick Vineyard perfectly captures the special region of Gladstone, New Zealand. Ancient stony, alluvial soils and cool climate allows the grapes to grow in harmony in their environment. Sustainably practices and minimal intervention in the vineyard and winery gives our wines their distinctive single vineyard characteristics and flavor.
Vineyard Location: Gladstone, Wairarapa, New Zealand. 280 feet asl. Row orientation of north-south for even ripening. Chose the site for the climatic extremes and fantastic soils for growing Sauvignon Blanc. Climatic factors of low rainfall, ( rain shadow) low humidity due to NW winds and a long ripening season during autumn (allowing the grapes to fully mature) with fantastic diurnal temperature fluctuations.
Soil Type: Free draining wind blown loess amongst silt loam 25 yards deep on an old river bed.
Age of vines: 5 to 8 years old. Clones Barrie, Berry-Smith and 141 grafted on Riparia Gloire
Oak Handling: 40% fermented and aged in old oak, balance in tank.
Fining and filtration: X-Flow filtered.
Analysis: Alcohol: 13.8% PH:3.39 TA:4.8gms/l Residual Sugar:4.0gms/l
Fermentation: The harvested fruit was processed quickly into tank to retain the vibrant aromas and fresh acidity. Settled and inoculated in tank and barrel for a long slow cool fermentation. The wine was lees stirred and blended after 5 months on lees, filtered and bottled.
Tasting notes: This native of France and Italy is a fantastic variety to grow in New Zealand, but demands the same attentive treatment as Pinot Noir. Perfumed aromas of pears and spice with a rich middle palate. Displays a purity of aromatic fruit which follows through on the wonderful palate. Fantastic balance of flavor and texture.
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2011 Pinot Rose
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Winery: Borthwick Vineyard
Region: Gladstone, Wairarapa
Grapes: Pinot Noir
Vintner: Paddy Borthwick
History: Established in 1996 the family owned and managed Borthwick Vineyards perfectly capture the special region of Gladstone, New Zealand. Sustainably practices and minimal intervention in the vineyard and winery gives our wines their distinctive single vineyard characteristics and flavor.
Vineyard Location: Gladstone, New Zealand. 280 feet asl. North South row orientation for optimum flavor ripening. Chose the site for the climatic extremes of low rainfall, ( rain shadow) low humidity due to NW winds and a long ripening season during autumn (allowing the grapes to fully mature) and fantastic diurnal temperature fluctuations.
Soil Type: Free draining wind blown loess amongst deep silt loams on an old river bed.
Age of vines: 5 to 15 years old. Blend of 13 different clones.
Oak Handling: 2 months in old French oak
Analysis: Alcohol: 13.5% PH: 3.42 TA: 6.6gms/l Residual Sugar: 3.5g/l
Fining and filtration: egg white fined and X-Flow filtered.
Fermentation: The juice is drawn from the vats of Pinot Noir after 6 hours in the vats to ensure the fresh flavors and minimal colour extraction. The juice is transferred to old barrels and fermented in the barrels. When finished the wine is transferred back to tank and followed by minimal fining and filtration before bottling.
Tasting notes: This Rose has intense crushed strawberry flavours and a suggestion of watermelon sweetness with a pleasantly dry finish. Serve chilled with mildly spicy dishes or perfect on a summer evening.
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