Te Whare Ra Sauvignon Blanc
Anna and Jason Flowerday run the Te Whare Ra vineyard in Marlborough according to organic and bio dynamic practices. The fruit is picked and sorted by hand, then processed in a winery especially designed for small-batch wine making. On the nose, this Sauvignon has characters of elderflower and white currant with ripe tropical and citrus fruits. These follow on the palate, which is fine and soft with vibrant, fleshy fruit, balanced by ripe, juicy acidity and lingering minerality.
Mt Difficulty Roaring Meg Pinot Gris
This great Pinot Gris from Mt Difficulty has aromatics reminiscent of a fruit cocktail full of stone fruit, melon and green mango. These characters are richly replicated on the palate, with a full-textured mid palate and an off-dry finish. Delicious.
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc
Family owned Villa Maria Estate has been rated as New Zealands
Babich Headwaters Organic Block Sauvignon Blanc
A great new addition to the Babich range of much loved Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs, this time an organic Sauvignon Blanc. Great single vineyard expression with large amounts of tropical fruit with a backbone of clean and crisp minerals. Cleansing acidity on the finish rounds out what is a true organic star.
Contentious Character Pinot Gris
All the hallmarks of classic cool climate Pinto Gris, but blessed with the nuances of fruit character, brought out by the Aussie sun, and lightly oaked.
Marlborough Sounds Pinot Noir
Marlborough Sounds Pinot Noir is packed with sweet, cherry flavour. Luscious & complex with smooth tannins & rose aroma, the fruity flavours in this Pinot Noir are expertly balanced by hints of spice & toasty oak.
Meltwater Marlborough Chardonnay
A rather hedonistic nose suggests ripe pears, fresh peach and oatmeal while the palate is taught and chalky with nectarine, pear and iodine notes and a driven freshness. Unmistakably Marlborough for its cleansing hit of salty goodness, this is harmonious, balanced and dry. Established in 2011, Corofin is the new home for ex-Jackson Estate winesmith Mike Paterson and his partner Anna, until recently GM at TerraVin. At this early juncture, while Mike is contracted to another project and Anna busy raising the couples two young daughters, Corofin craft two (soon to be three) single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, each in tiny 100-150-case lots. You can read about two of these pretty special Marlborough sites below (the third being the Weavers Waihopi Slopes at Churton). Not too far down the line well see a little Chardonnay as well. For the time being the wines are made out of temporary digs at Fromm. Having spent the majority of their working years in and about Marlborough, Mike and Anna have no doubt regarding the potential of their adopted region, and were well placed to approach their first choice of vineyards. Indeed, Patersons selection of sites reflects both a winemakers enthusiasm for Marlboroughs Southern Valley hillside vineyards plus the dedication of certain grape growers whose vineyards he believes act as a beacon of Marlborough individuality. Not by accident do these growers focus on organic and/or biodynamic principles. In addition, Patersons artisanal approach in the winery does the necessary justice to each site; hand-harvesting and sorting, whole berry/cluster ferments, fermentation with indigenous yeast, no fining nor filtration and zero new wood, with the wines raised in 2-4 year old barrels. In a region where for much of the time money talks and terroir walks, Corofins 2013s show that great, singular terroir is thriving in Marlborough (a cliché that has sometimes hit troubled waters in its journey across the ditch). Paterson goes one step further in demonstrating that precocious, ripe Marlborough Pinot can be made without confected fruit, nor winemaking artefactPatersons are beautifully aromatic, detailed and sculpted Pinot Noir, which combine the best of all worlds: finesse, freshness, terroir transparency. We can already tell you hes got a similar way with Chardonnay. The wines have the aromatic prowess and elegant texture that will appeal to Burgundy fanatics, but also youthful generosity and reasonable price tag; qualities all Pinot lovers can get behind. In short, were delighted to be working with this talented and classy young project.
Catalina Sounds Chardonnay
Isabel Estate Wild Barrique Marlborough Chardonnay
Isabel Estate is one of the original Marlborough vineyards and boasts some of the oldest vines in the region with wines 100% grown and bottled within the boundaries of the estate. There is a focus on small batch winemaking, giving greater options at blending and helping to create complex wines with a sense of place. This new vintage release of the acclaimed Isabel Estate Wild Barrique Chardonnay is a powerful and vibrant wine displaying notes of gun smoke and struck match, complemented by white peach and nectarine. Wholemeal, cracked pepper and savoury notes add to the complexity of this wine. Grapefruit and lime notes give the palate poise and restraint and complement the hints of French oak. A lively wine that will age gracefully.
KONRAD ORGANIC PINOT NOIR
Konrad Organic Pinot Noir. Quality has always been the absolute focus for Konrad wines. It starts in the vineyard where no corners are cut and continues in the winery where handcrafting is the standard. Certified organic, this Pinot Noir has aromas of black cherry, mocha and hints of porcini mushroom, underpinned by smokey, earthy flavours and dark fruit on the palate.