Terrace Edge - Waipara
Situated on the south bank of the Waipara River in North Canterbury, the Chapman family owned Terrace Edge operation encompasses a 12 hectare vineyard planted to Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Syrah, along with 2000 olive trees. The Chapmans are dedicated to the land as shown by their commitment to the ‘Greening Waipara’ project aimed at increasing biological diversity through the restoration of native vegetation. The most meticulous vineyard management has seen their pristine fruit keenly sought-after by local wineries. And Terrace Edge won Canterbury’s first Extra Virgin Olive Oil gold medal in 2005! The vineyard is overseen by Peter Chapman and the wines made by the talented Belinda Gould at the Muddy Water winery.

Terrace Edge Waipara Valley Riesling 2008
This is classic Waipara Riesling with its intense jasmine and lime florals and subtle, but flavour-building palate which has superb fruit weight and concentration, with finesse and great line and length. A medium style at 13.1% alc and 18 g/l rs, this was made from hand-picked fruit harvested at a low 1.9 tonne/acre and fermented with indigenous yeasts along with 5% botrytised fruit to add wild honey complexities. A Riesling of sheer class. The Chapmans intend to investigate the increasingly popular Germanic, low alcohol style of Riesling to complement the proven Waipara expression in the future.

Terrace Edge Waipara Valley Pinot Gris 2008
If fruit weight and texture can be built into a Pinot Gris wine, it is bound to be a good example. Too many examples of this variety are alcoholic, bland and propped up by sugar. Not so the Terrace Edge wine, made from hand-picked fruit at 2 tonne/acre, whole cluster pressed and fermented with native yeasts in seasoned oak barrels, the wine was given lees stirring three times a day for a month. The resulting wine has real aromatic profile and an intensity of spiced pears, brioche and nutty nuances that unfold in the glass. A very impressive effort indeed.

Mt Beautiful – Cheviot Hills
The establishment in 2004 of the Mt Beautiful vineyards near the banks of the Waiau River in the Cheviot Hills, about an hour’s drive north of Waipara has meant the creation of a new wine-growing region for New Zealand. Renowned U.S.-based academic Dr David Teece and his wife Leigh wanted to create something unique in his homeland and the Cheviot Hills development is so, the first wines possessing a style that has elements of the warm Waipara region to the south and the cooler Awatere vignoble two and a half hours to the north. 70 hectares are planted, 50 ha to Sauvignon Blanc, 12 ha to Pinot Noir and 5 ha each to Pinot Gris and Riesling, and the wines are made by Marlborough-based, multi-award winning winemaker Sam Weaver. The Mt Beautiful wines are truly beautifully presented, and the label features the handwriting of David’s father Allan, taken from his letters sent home while serving with the N.Z. Expeditionary Force in Europe and the Middle East. And yes, Mt Beautiful is a real mountain in the coastal ranges, protecting the vineyard from the seaward winds.

Mt Beautiful Cheviot Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2008
A youthfully pale wine, this is tight and restrained with cooler expressions of Sauvignon Blanc, such as herbs and minerals over the English gooseberry varietal character, very much in the Awatere Valley style, only less exuberant. There is still no mistaking the wine as classical Sauvignon, but its refinement will enable it to be extremely versatile with seafoods, especially shellfish, creamy sauce chicken and pork dishes, all salads and goats cheeses. Cool fermented to 13.5% alc and 2.5 g/l residual sugar, this will drink well over the next 3-5 years.

Mt Beautiful Cheviot Hills Pinot Noir 2007
The style of this Pinot Noir is that of an elegant Waipara one, with ripe, dark and red berry flavours, with a round and more accessible palate and slightly broader structure than those of Marlborough. That being said, it is a delicious and satisfying drop, with its lovely fruit base characters lifted with florals and a savoury bramble note adding interest. At 12.5% alcohol, this avoids any excessive heat, and its time of 11 months in 30% new French oak shows sensitive handling. We reckon this will drink well over the next 4-6 years. It will certainly be interesting to see how the Cheviot Hills wines develop.