Kevin is legendary for his expertise with Sauvignon Blanc, his 25 years at the helm of Cloudy Bay one of the cornerstones for this country’s success with the variety. Less well-known is the high quality of the little-seen aromatic wines that trickled from the Cloudy Bay cellars. These gems were snapped-up by ardent Cloudy Bay fans. This may be the case again, with Kevin’s aromatic wines under his own Greywacke label. All of the wines were vinified at Kevin’s friends Ivan Sutherland and James Healy’s Dog Point winery, and are bold expressions that also carry the depth of character and rich texture that the Sauvignon Blanc possesses. One can easily see a resemblance to some of our favourite wines from Alsace…..

Greywacke Marlborough Riesling 2009
The fruit for this wine was sourced from the Ashmore vineyard in Fairhall, next to the mouth of the Brancott Valley, the vines low cropped at 4.5 tonnes/hectare and half of the fruit wild yeast fermented in old French barriques, the remainder by inoculated yeasts in stainless-steel, to 11.7% alc and 20 g/L residual sugar. Pale straw yellow in colour, this has an intense and piercing bouquet of lime juices and minerals with subtle and complexing honied nuances. Off-dry to taste, this is bold in its expression of citrus fruit flavours and is laced with flint, minerals and succulent wild honey notes. The palate carries some weight and even a little texture, which provides dryness to the long finish.

Greywacke Marlborough Pinot Gris 2009
This is a Zind-Humbrecht look-alike with its weight, power and density. Brilliant pale straw yellow in colour, this has aromas of ripe, yellow stonefruit with tropical fruit, oak spices and smoke in support. There is warmth and heat, adding to the volume of bouquet. Pretty well dry on palate, the alcohol heat makes its mark on entry, but this is enveloped by the masses of rich, ripe, savoury stonefruit. The palate is one of body and power and the length of finish is astonishing. Many people find the wines of Zind-Humbrecht over-the-top. If you do, then this may not be for you. Made from equal mix of Selection Ovaille and Mission clones, from the Wrekin Terrace vineyard in the Brancott Valley, half wild yeast fermented in old French barriques, the remainder in stainless-steel to 14.5% alc, leaving 8.5 g/L rs. The fermentation was finished off in oak, with lees stirring for added weight and nuance.

Greywacke Marlborough Late Harvest Gewurztraminer 2009
Gewurztraminer is proving to be a wonderful variety to make interesting and individual dessert wines as is Viognier, providing a difference to the staple diet of Rieslings. The Greywacke Late Harvest Gewurztraminer is an exotic offering that is an irresistible and decadent wine to sip as a conversation piece, or match tropical fruit-based desserts, and possibly with some Turkish Delight! Brilliant straw yellow with flashes of gold, the bouquet is redolent of roses, citrus fruits, honey and fully-ripened yellow stonefruits. The wine is sweet and unctuous, yet in no way overbearing, due to its clean and pristine acid cut. Beautifully rich, yet with a degree of restraint, the seamlessness and rounded textures underscore the exoticism of this superb number. An equal mix of 456 and 457 clones sourced from a single site in the Brancott Valley, the fruit showing moderate botrytis infection, fermented to 12.5% alc leaving 90 g/L residual sugar.