Palliser Pinot and the quest for perfection
Palliser perfection
If you're looking for a next level wine experience, our new winery of the month is sure to deliver on every count from delicious Pinot Noir to top tasting bubbly to beautifully balanced full bodied Chardonnay and a special one off seven year old dry aged Riesling.
Palliser Estate is the second Martinborough winery to feature as a producer of the month here at Regional. It's the first winery on the way into the drop dead gorgeous Martinborough village and it is one of the first to be established in this remote, rural region where farming once ruled and wine definitely has at least as high a profile now.
Palliser was established in 1984 by Richard Riddiford, a visionary if ever there was and a man who is much missed in Martinborough and the New Zealand wine scene at large. He not only founded Palliser Estate but he was the driver of this country's international Pinot Noir conference, which has attracted thousands of international winemakers, writers, marketers, movers and shakers over the past couple of decades.
Today Palliser is run by CEO Pip Goodwin and her talented team, including winemaker Guy McMasters (also an outstanding viticulturist) and Ben McNab, both highly experienced in the Wairarapa.
Top wines to try
Riesling, bubbles, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, rosé...
Okay that may well be more than four words but these are, in our considered view, the top drops from Palliser and we are looking forward to sharing them with you for the month of November at Regional.
Here is a taste of what's to come
All Palliser wines will be on special - and we're done our research to bring you the facts and interestingly tasty info on each one in store.
If (admittedly a big if), but if we are in level 1, we will open beautiful bottles of Palliser wine to show you...
2019 Palliser Pinot Noir
(RRP $57.99) Special $49.99
This outstanding New Zealand Pinot Noir is made entirely from estate grown grapes, 60% from the Pencarrow Vineyard with the balance from the Waka Vineyard and the winery's home block vineyard.
The latest vintage was made using 18% whole bunch fermentation to add structure and vibrant fresh fruit appeal to a finely concentrated wine with taut flavours of red cherry and berry fruit entwined with fresh herbs, red florals and spicy oak.
2020 Palliser Riesling
(RRP $26.99) Special $23.99
Dry Riesling is Palliser's unsung hero white wine and this seven year old dry version is a stellar example with fleshy white fruit characters in beautiful balance provided by the citrusy acidity which adds length to each sip.
The grapes are grown on the organically certified Om Santi Vineyard and the Palliser Estate Vineyard.
2004 Palliser Riesling
(RRP $49.99) Special $44.99
This special library release is a one off which we have been lucky enough to secure a small amount of while featuring Palliser Estate as our winery of the month. This is the greatest dry aromatic white of the Palliser stable. It's fleshy, flavoursome and beautifully peachy buoyed up by the balance of great lime zest and a lingering citrusy finish.
As the late great Raymond Chan once said...
"This medium dry, fine, textured Riesling with pure lime, floral and minerally flavours. Serve as an aperitif and with Asian cuisine over the next 5+ years. Fruit from the ‘Om Santi’ and ‘Palliser’ vineyards, crushed and pressed, and given a short period of time on skins, cool-fermented in stainless-steel to 11.4% alc. and 8.7 g/L RS, the wine aged six months on lees.