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.
Haha Pinot Noir
Marlborough Pinot Noir
Saddleback Pinot Noir
Saddleback is the second label to Greg Hay's Peregrine and the Pinot Noir is made using fruit from the Gibbston and Cromwell Basin sub regions of Central Otago. Light, elegant with black cherry and plum fruit, held together by a fine tannin structure and refreshing acidity.
Catalina Sounds Chardonnay
Kim Crawford Pinot Noir
New Zealand is proving to be a star performer when it comes to Pinot Noir. This is a fruit driven style exhibiting juicy cherry and strawberry fruit combined with subtle oak. The finish is smooth and soft.
Oyster Bay Rose
New from Oyster Bay, summer cherry and fragrant blossom notes with a burst of red berries and a lively citrus zest and lingering freshness.
Nanny Goat Pinot Noir
You are greeted on the nose with suggestions of bramble and spice, gradually opening up to reveal red and black berry fruits, spice, leather and subtle floral notes.The palate is soft and supple, with cranberries and sweet red berry fruits upon entry. Fine silky tannins entwine a concentrated core of juicy black cherries, dark berry fruits, dried herbs and cocoa before trailing off to a long even finish.
Rapaura Springs Pinot Noir
'Producing great value Pinot Noir is a tough ask, and so when you do stumble across one it's worth making as much noise as you possibly can about it! To that end, this is lush, textural Pinot where intense sweet cherry fruit is cleverly offset by vibrant acid and a wash of super fine tannin to end. Amazing value and a sure-fire way to impress at your next dinner party.'
Mount Difficulty Roaring Meg Pinot Noir
This wine highlights the slightly cooler season with lovely perfumed dark red forest berries and cherry fruits along with a hint of dried herb, adding complexity. The wine has a sweet berry entry which displays these same characters in abundance. Lovely ripe textural tannins rise gracefully out of the mid-palate to finish the wine. These are balanced by the wines acidity and fruit, to produce a long fruit-driven finish.