Top Picks

This wine wine shows an intriguing range of nectarine, pear and spice flavours. The palate is rich and full, very long and pure. The strength of this wine is that you get all that fruit and texture without oak or any coarseness.
Trophy: Best New Zealand Wine, Best New World White Wine - Japan Wine Challenge 2010.

"Invitingly deep in colour, this youthful Bendigo red is beautifully perfumed, mouthfilling, sweet-fruited and supple. It's an almost hedonistic wine, with a compelling richness of cherry, plum and spice flavours, finely balanced oak, and silky, ripe tannins. Best drinking mid-2011" Five Stars, Winestate Magazine July/August 2010 Edition - Michael Cooper Review

This Gewürztraminer has fragrant spice and light floral notes, with mouth filling richness despite the lack of residual sugars.
The wine was partially tank fermented and aged to preserve its wonderful aromatics, with the remainder aged in a large oak puncheon "sur lies" to develop textural weight and complexity.
We had the good fortune to source outstanding fruit from a neighboring vineyard, with vines that were 20+ years of age. We feel this vine age adds significantly to the complexity of this wine.

"The 2008 vintage offers wonderful value. A single-vineyard red, matured in French oak barrels, it is deep and rich, with ripe cherry, plum, herb and spice flavours, hints of raisins and coffee and good, savoury complexity"
MICHAEL COOPER'S Buyer's Guide to NZ Wines 2010 - FIVE STARS
Cuisine NZ Pinot Noir tasting - Nov 2009 - FIVE STARS and TOP 10 - 244 tasted
Winestate - Otago and Canterbury regional tasting - Nov/Dec 2009 - FIVE STARS and Equal Top in Pinot Noir category
Sydney International Wine Competition - Nov 2010 TOP 1OO
Gold medal, International Wine Challenge 2010

The nose displays attractive dark fruits, which continue on the palate with plums, cherries, hints of liquorice and spicy integrated oak. The tannins are fine grained and well balanced. This Pinot Noir is an elegant wine with a firm backbone of acidity.
Food match: rabbit, duck, lamb.
Gold medal: International Wine Challenge (IWC) 2010

A full, opulent wine with lots of complex, pure Central Otago Pinot Noir, the wine displays, concentrated dark fruit and raspberry aromas and flavours with complex spicy smoky herbs with underlying hints of forest floor. The palate is characterised by a rich complex, velvety structure with layers of elegant silky tannins and a well balanced acidity, culminating in a long lingering finish. "This should please both classicists and modernists" : Jancis Robinson, Master of Wine
Gold medal, International Wine Challenge 2010.

White gold in colour the Prophet's Rock 2008 Dry Riesling displays floral and citrus aromas and flavours with a strong underlying minerality. These aromas are echoed on the concentrated, crisp and lingering palate. The freshness and aromatics make this a great food wine which will harmonize with a diverse range of fish, seafood, salads and white meats. Fantastic acid structure and concentration mean that this wine will also reward careful cellaring for those with patience over the next 4-8 years
"Bone, bone dry. Cheek-clenchingly so. From a well-drained, warm, stony, mineral site. Bursting with citrus flavours and a mouthwashing oily texture. Collectors' item. Not for the faint-hearted." John Hawkesby - NZ Herald April 2010

This wine has been produced from some of the South Islands oldest grape vines, (planted near Alexandra in 1981).
Of all New Zealand's grape growing regions Alexandra has the greatest diurnal temperature range, perfect for Riesling, the hot days mean the fruit fully ripens while the cool nights help retain its acidity. The Valli Old Vine Riesling style is consistent with previous vintages, aromatically very perfumed; white peach and ripe stone fruits, with a hint of clean dusty crushed rock, (the minerality associated with this variety).

Wonderfully aromatic example of top Pinot Gris. Fantastic fruit and spice aromas, concentrated with a long dry finish. Complex, absolute pleasure and shows what Pinot Gris in Central Otago is capable of.
White gold in colour the Prophet's Rock 2009 displays a wide spectrum of aromatics from pear, peach and citrus peel to quince and spice notes with an underlying minerality. These aromas are echoed on the concentrated, crisp and long lingering palate. The freshness, aromatics and concentration of this wine mean it will harmonize with a diverse range of Asian and Pacific Rim dishes, fish, seafood, salads and white meats. Good acid structure and concentration mean that this wine will also reward careful cellaring for those with patience over the next 5 years.

"Made from 100% Pinot Noir, this whiter-shade-of-pale-rosé is irresistibly tasty, displaying floral, stonefruit and a hint of red cherry characters on the nose. The palate is delightfully fruity and smooth with refreshing acidity and a juicy finish. A wine of scintillating clarity and huge appeal." - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit.
Trophy winner, Gold medal, Royal Easter Show 2010

This perfect vintage has produced an elegant, feminine wine with supple flavours of boysenberry, sweet dark plums, intertwined with a touch of spice and silky tannins. Hand harvested in April 2008 in perfect weather conditions, our wine is produced with a combination of Pommard and Dijon clones, each of which were fermented individually. The fruit was 100% de-stemmed followed by a cold maceration before being inoculated followed by a post fermentation maceration, pressed and put to barrel for 11 months.
TROPHY - Champion Wine of the Show O-I New Zealand Trophy, Royal Easter Show Wine Awards
TROPHY - Champion Pinot Noir New Zealand WineGrower Magazine Trophy, Royal Easter Show Wine Awards
Royal Easter Show Wine Awards - GOLD Medal
New Zealand International Wine Show - GOLD MEDAL
Winestate Magazine - GOLD Five Stars

Sourced from 16yo vines in the subregion of Lowburn. Combination of clean and botrytis fruit, gently whole-bunch pressed and returned to press to soak overnight. Lightly settled in tank, racked off solids and fermented very cool. Bottled October 2009. Alcohol 10.0%, pH 3.21, TA 7.7g/L, RS 28g/L. Production 242 bottles. Aromatic and lifted, there is a combination of stonefruit and citrus on the nose, leading to exotic spice notes. Lots of viscosity and honey notes, finishing surprisingly dry. This is an interesting wine, an example of a spatlese trocken (fruit harvested sweet, made dry) that we initially planned as a dessert wine, but the microbes had other ideas. This is not a stereotypical Riesling and a wine that we will only make in certain years. Best enjoyed as an aperitif or even with roast pork.
5 stars - 93 points, Bob Campbell bobswinereviews.com

This 2008 Pinot Noir is the latest release named after the critically endangered Cromwell Chafer Beetle, which is found in only one place in the world, Cromwell. The 81 hectare site has now been set aside as the Cromwell Chafer Beetle Nature Reserve to monitor and protect their habitat. Gold medal, Royal Easter Wine Show 2010

Blue Gold award, Top 100, Sydney International Wine Competition 2010. Winemaker: Christopher Keys

"Low cropping in an otherwise large vintage has maintained the red cherry purity and balance in this Central Otago wine.  The bouquet explodes with lifted violets and rose petals, leading into a red fruit palate with structured fruit tannins, vibrant acidity and supportive oak." 93 points – Tyson Stelzer WBM100 Oct 2009 , Sydney International Wine Competition 2010: Top 100, Blue Gold Medal,
Cuisine Nov 2009: 4 stars,
Liquorland Int. Wine Competition 2010: gold medal
Winestate Nov/Dec 2009: 4 stars

"There's a wonderfully uninhibited quality to this Pinot from winemaker Carol Bunn. It's dark, sweet and spicy and fair romps across the palate, fresh but visceral. Oak lends support without compromising the juicy core of fruit. Food suggestion: barbecued Toulouse sausages." 4 stars - Cuisine Pinot Noir tasting - November 2009
 

The 2007 season was typified by a cool start followed by a long warm autumn allowing extended ripening and full aromatic expression with great concentration. The wine was fermented using only indigenous "wild" yeast in multiple small lots and was matured on its yeast lees prior to bottling. This richly textured and aromatic wine is a great match with a diverse range of cuisine. Enjoy now or cellar over the next 5 years.

Noble Rot developed on these grapes under the influence of warm rain followed by foggy nights and dry sunny days. The resulting desert wine is clear pale straw in colour, the bouquet is intense quince and orange flower blossom. The palate is succulent and honeyed; this wine exhibits orange blossom, dried apricot and ripe grapefruit flavours with a long clean finish. Climate Perfect with desserts and foie gras, but also with strong cheeses or as an aperitif. Winestate 4 stars

Ripe hand picked fruit, gentle winemaking and maturation in French oak have resulted in a complex and powerful wine, with aromas of ripe cherries, raspberries and Black Doris plums, a rich and silky smooth palate with fine grainy tannins to match the fruit. Excellent value, drinking fantastically well now and will develop and cellar for several years.
Winestate Magazine September / October 2008 , "Michael Cooper's Recent Releases". 5 stars, "Perfumed, rich and supple, this single-vineyard Cromwell red is densely coloured and crammed with beautifully ripe cherry and plum flavours. Fresh acidity keeps things lively, with a hint of liquorice. Hard to resist in its youth, it's best cellared to 2010 "
Trophy Best Pinot Noir, Trophy Best New World Pinot Noir, Gold Medal - Hong Kong International Wines and Spirits Competition 2009
Gold medal - San Francisco International Wine Competition 2009
Gold medal - Air NZ Wine Awards 2009
Gold Medal - International Wines and Spirits Competition, London, 2009
Gold Medal - New Zealand International Wine Show 2009
Gold Medal - Royal Easter Show 2009
Gold Medal - Liqourland Top 100 2009

  This wine has been crafted from fruit selected for vibrancy and precision and has been fermented with the inclusion of some whole clusters. The fragrant red and black cherry fruits open out to a spicy and deliciously warm texture with persistence and length that define this site. Enjoy this wine with your favourite dishes as it unveils over the next five years.
John Belsham – Winemaker (2 April 2009)
Gold medal - Air NZ Wine Awards 2009

Lowburn Ferry Pinot Rosé 2009 is a lightly coloured varietal style (100% Pinot Noir), with brambly red fruits of the forest, cherries and licorice. The palate is a dry style, which shows fresh strawberries and cherry stone fruits and can be enjoyed with food or on its own.

Compare 3 pinot noirs made from grapes sourced from the same block in this Bannockburn vineyard - made by three highly respected New Zealand winemakers - Blair Walter (Felton Road), Mike Weersing (Pyramid Valley Wines), Adrian Baker (Craggy Range) - tasting notes included - the perfect gift for a pinot lover or wine tasting group member.

• 1 bottle Felton Road Calvert Pinot Noir 2008
  
• 1 bottle Craggy Range Calvert Pinot Noir 2008
  
• 1 bottle Pyramid Valley Calvert Pinot Noir 2008

Dark, rich wine presenting attractive Central Otago Pinot Noir characters of cherry and plum on the nose, supported by earthy complexity and herb fl avours. Full and round on the palate, this wine has great tannin structure, length and weight. An excellent complement to food, Mount Dottrel Pinot Noir 2007 will drink well while young, but will open up with careful cellaring.
IWSC (International Wine & Spirit Competition - London) Bouchard Finlayson Trophy and gold medal - October 2009 Gourmet Traveller Wine 92pts
Romeo Bragato Wine Awards 2009 Gold
NZ International Wine Show 2009 Silver

Blackberry briar notes blend seamlessly with meaty, charcoal aromas in this complex Pinot Noir. Rhubarb and black cherry characters coat the front palate and integrate with a luscious mid palate of coffee and spiced plum. The wine is founded in firm structure and gracefully balanced with lingering savoury tannins supporting a long velvety finish.
Best in Class & Gold medal - International Wine & Spirits Competition in London 2009, Elite Gold medal - Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2009

NZ Winegrowers Bragato Wine Awards 2009:- CHAMPION PINOT NOIR - Mike Wolter Memorial Trophy, - RESERVE CHAMPION WINE - Richard Smart Trophy
Royal Easter Show 08 - Silver Medal
Liquorland Top 100 International Wine Competition 08 - Silver Medal

From its deeply jeweled, luscious colour to its rich, multi-layered tastes, this wine is unpretentious, delivers more than expected of a young vintage and promises excellence as it matures. A stylish wine with a rich aroma of bright cherry, blackcurrant, licorice and a hint of chocolate. It's lingering finish leaves an impression of a wine that is endowed with depth and complexity. Gold medal NZ Winegrowers Bragato Wine Awards 2009.

Deeply fruited with delicate floral tones enhanced by nuances of liquorice root, and supple, silky tannins leading into a long spicy finish. Gold medal, NZ Winegrowers Bragato Wine Awards 2009

This is a fresh clean Central Otago Riesling. It has a delightful mineral undertone that adds to the overall harmony and balance of the wine.
Gold medal, IWC International Wine Challenge 2008

This wine is ruby in colour, and exhibits sweet fruit and oriental spice on the nose. It has an opulent, lush ripe pinot noir palate, silky, complex, and supported by seamless tannins. Cellar: 4-7 years
Gold medal - 2009 Small Vignerons Awards, Australia – July 2009
Jancis Robinson MW - Central Otago Pinot Celebration – Jan 2009 www.jancisrobinson.com 17/20 - "Spicy, reverberant fruit……Glossy black fruit character. Quite long and certainly distinctive. Drink 2011-16"
Michael Cooper – 2009 Buyers Guide To NZ Wines (5 Stars *****) "The 2007 is equally as impressive (as 2006): full coloured, ripe, spicy and savoury, with notable complexity and density."
Australian Gourmet Traveller WINE Magazine – Oct/Nov. 2008 94/100 ***** 5 Stars "Dense wine with appealing dark and red cherry flavours with a seasoning of spice and oak. Serious pinot noir with concentration and a good structure of ripe tannins. Attractive now but promises to age well."

Time spent deep within Rippon's soils has allowed these mature vines to speak of their place with true clarity; layered and detailed, poised rather than laden and a genuine tension between finesse and compressed power. After two winters (15 months) of barrel maturation, this wine was run into bottle without fining or filtering; cellaring or decanting recommended.

This wine is made from fruit from the Cromwell basin (50%) and Gibbston (50%) sub-regions. The 2008 growing season was long with above average temperatures providing the perfect conditions for Pinot Gris with fruit with excellent varietal definition. All the fruit was carefully hand harvested and destemmed and crushed prior to gentle pressing. The resulting wine abounds with pear, quince, mango and stonefruit. It is well balanced and mouth filling with great persistence. Lovely drinking now, this wine will continue to develop over the next few years. Gold medal – 2008 NZ International Wine Show, Gold medal – 2008 International Aromatic Wine Show, 4 ½ Stars – Winestate Magazine

Lowburn Ferry Pinot Noir 2007 shows dark fruit and cherry notes on the nose that are gently wrapped in a blanket of dried herbs and spices with velvety tannins in the mouth. This classic Central Otago Pinot Noir is long and smooth in the finish and makes an ideal match food especially with roasted duck and other poultry. It will continue to develop depth and complexity for 5-7 years.


Gold medal, NZ International Wine Show 2008 Judges' note: A powerful wine with a rich earthy depth, fruits of the forest, wild thyme, savoury oak and a concentrated finish.
Sliver medal, International Wine Challenge (IWC) London 2009
***** 93 points"Silken-textured fruit bomb with masses of dense red and black cherry flavours plus a suggestion of anise and spicy oak. A classic Central Otago style that's easy to love and understand." Bob Campbell - BobsWineReviews.com
***** 93 points Gourmet Traveller Wine March-April 2009

This wine has been produced from some of the South Islands oldest grape vines, (planted near Alexandra in 1981).
Of all New Zealand's grape growing regions Alexandra has the greatest diurnal temperature range, perfect for Riesling, the hot days mean the fruit fully ripens while the cool nights help retain its acidity. The Valli Old Vine Riesling style is consistent with previous vintages, aromatically very perfumed; white peach and ripe stone fruits, with a hint of clean dusty crushed rock, (the minerality associated with this variety).
It is a dry Riesling, with the acidly being balanced by a core of concentrated ripe fruit and depth of flavour only old vines and low cropping levels can achieve.
As only one hectare of these old vines exists, production is very limited with less than 400 cases made annually. The philosophy behind the Riesling is the same as for all Valli wines; show a sense of place, work well with food and have the ability to age and improve over time, we expect it to be alive and well in 10 years so well worth cellaring and watching evolve.

Youthful colour with straw coloured rim. The bouquet is bright and fragrant, extraordinarily aromatic. Clear aromas of lime, sherbet and blossom emerge, bright and strongly varietal. The palate has a sweet succulence of flavour, with blossom and limey flavours again prevailing. A lovely citrus cut is provided by the acidity that pierces the palate keeping it fresh and exuberant. A mineral, nervy energy counterpoints the cool climate Riesling fruit. With its tantalising balance between sweetness and zesty tangy flavours combined with obvious youthfulness, Le Fou has definite long term cellaring potential (10 years).
EXTREMELY LIMITED RELEASE - INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED BOTTLES
"This is a Riesling drinkers dream and simply a must have wine. I ordered my 6 pack the following morning. One of the greatest NZ Rieslings I have ever tried. A masterpiece, I can't wait to try it again. 100+/109 " Craig Thomson, kiwiwinefanclub.co.nz