From the winemakers...

Our Chardonnay comes from an old hillside vineyard in the Southern Valleys region of Marlborough, where clay based loess soils prevail. Larger old barrels have predominantly been used to naturally ferment the wine. Untouched and aged over 14 months, without anything more than a peek in the barrel from time to time, has enhanced the elegance of this wine. Poised, with a delicious mineral backbone this chardonnay has tension, and genorosity at the same time, with a whiff of that classic struck match note that cool climate chardonnay can produce so well.

Suitable for Vegans.

From Amoise...

This Pinot Noir (*label information below) was my first pick from the Two Terraces vineyard in the Mangatahi Terraces, Hawke’s Bay.  Ian and Linda Quinn are conscientious and detail oriented growers with the quality of their grapes being exceptional.

After a carbonic maceration, where there is no crushing of the grapes and fermentation occurs within the berries, the wine was pressed to tank and was a beautiful garnet colour. The following day I opened the valve of the tank and much to my surprise a pink hibiscus coloured wine came flowing out! Totally unexpected, and at first I was panicked, but as I tasted the wine I enjoyed the complexity of flavours: red currants, strawberries and pomegranate with a textural finish.

This wine is perfect for summer, I definitely recommend to drink cold or lightly chilled. Also a great food wine! Spicy foods, charcuterie, fish, grilled veggies and cheese. At 11.5% it is your ultimate picnic wine.

No additions at any stage, including sulphur. The wine is unfiltered and unfined. The grapes are certified organic and my rows have been farmed biodynamically since 2020.

After this wine was labelled, we became aware that the grapes used in making this wine, that we believed to be Gamay, were actually Pinot noir. This was identified following DNA testing of the grapevines. While we labelled this wine in good faith, this news means that the label is incorrect, and this wine is actually a Pinot noir. This wine is sold on the basis that the labelled grape variety is incorrect (the label is correct in all other aspects). Due to this unique situation, we are selling our stock that has already been labelled, while making sure that customers are made aware of this issue. If you have any questions about this issue, please contact amy@amoisewines.co.nz.

Commercial description.

Our "Home Block" vineyard, planted over 3 decades ago, is the sole source of this 2022 Forrest Malbec, revealing a captivating mix of boysenberry, chocolate, and coffee notes with a hearty and intense body.

Kumeu River Wines is New Zealand's top Chardonnay producer and best known globally. 

Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay is the flagship white from the winery. It is made from  grapes grown on six different vineyard sites in Kumeu and is consistently one of New Zealand's greatest dry, full bodied whites with outstanding freshness and complexity.

The winery is in the West Auckland village of Kumeu where it began life as San Marino Wines in 1944 when Croatian immigrant couple, Mick and Katé Brajkovich, bought a small property with a vineyard on it. Their descendents now own and run Kumeu River Wines, which produces 250,000 bottles of wine annually from its owns 30 hectares of vineyards in Kumeu and from another 10 hectares, owned by local grape growers. 

Complex and enticing with ripe apricot, fig, vanilla, clove and hazelnut aromas on the nose, followed by a concentrated palate offering plush texture backed by beautifully pitched acidity, finishing wonderfully long and expansive.

Tannat originates from the Madiran region of south-west France – the variety the so-called “French Paradox” is based on. Tannat is known for its huge colour and tannin concentration – in the Madiran region, this grape has the nickname of ‘la folle noir’ – literally ‘the crazy black grape’. It has a unique aroma and flavour profile – vibrant fruit alongside ‘earthy’ notes.

The colour of the wine is a rich and vibrant hue of real intensity. The nose has a totally unique fruit profile of blackberry/blueberry notes and an underlying earthiness with hints of fountain-pen ink and a seam of French oak. At present, the wine displays a youthful vibrancy – our experience is that with bottle age, the primary fruit gives way to earthiness and increased complexity.

There is a burst of black cherry fruit with a fresh lively mid-palate. The winemaking was directed towards softening the tannins to create mid-palate ‘flesh’ – tannins support rather than dominate the palate here. Acid has been managed to enhance the wines vibrancy and fruit.

This huge wine will work well with a wide range of red meat dishes. We expect it to last a very long time – 10+ years.

Approximately 30% new French oak, un-fined and unfiltered. Estate bottled, hand-labelled and individually hand-numbered

Spicy new, medium bodied Pinot Noir with lifted aromas of red flowers, ripe plums and hints of spicy macerated cherries, all held together in a smooth, silky wine made by  Julian Richards with grapes from the Ashmore Vineyard, owned by Dog Point Vineyards. 

This wine was aged in a combination of older oak puncheons for 30% of the wine with the balance being in stainless steel. 

"I'm trying to express the fact that style can be one simple change in the winemaking technique and Pinot Noir is a beautiful way to express that."

The other wine made from the same vineyard by Richards is called Fractal Pinot Noir. Both come from the 2020 vintage, one of the best years this century. 

Amber is made with an unusual technique for white wine. White grapes are fermented on skins, as one would for a red, left to macerate for the winter, then pressed the following spring. No fining, no filtering. The result is a complex and textured wine, naturally cloudy, with body, and plenty of soul.

Beach House Wines is a family owned and run winery in Hawke's Bay, founded by winemaker Chris Harrison, who produces three outstanding Chardonnays, including The Tracks - his top wine. 

Full bodied, creamy flavours and all the bells and whistles are present and counted in this wine, which we think over delivers massively on its price. 

Viticulture 

Grapes sourced from our own Fromm Vineyard (5.1%), from Churton Vineyard in the Waihopai Valley (18.8%) and from two sites in the Brancott Valley, Yarrum (25.4%) and Wrekin (50.7%). No herbicides, pesticides or systemic fungicides used. Only approved natural fertiliser applied. All vineyards certified organic (BioGro).  

Winemaking 

Hand-picked between March 16th and 31st. 100% destemmed while retaining a high portion of whole berries. Selected parcels from each vineyard were individually fermented on “wild” yeast and vinified into single vineyard wines, providing the blending components for this Cuvée. Average time on skins between 14 and 28 days. Matured for approximately 14 to 18 months in French oak barrels (less than 10% new). 

Wine facts

Grape variety  Pinot Noir

Bottled   March 2022 under cork at FROMM Winery

Labelled and packed at FROMM Winery

Production  7044 bottles and 18 magnums

Cellaring potential 2036

Winemaker  Hätsch Kalberer

Store   10° – 14° Enjoy   16° – 18° 

Wine analysis  Alcohol   13.5%

Total acidity  4.6 g/l pH   3.63

Residual sugar  less than 1 g/l 

Winemaker’s comments - Dense, deep red colour. The nose is concentrated yet fragrant with dark fruit aromas, complex, focused and very expressive. On the palate again concentration without being heavy. An elegant Pinot Noir with beautiful transparency, excellent structure and tension and very fine tannin support in the finish, reflecting one of our most exciting vintages since 2010. 

Food match - Beautiful with venison, wild game, beef, lamb, vegetarian dishes, cheese and charcuterie, chocolate, raspberries and strawberries.

15 Minute Bottles is Tom & Anne (Central Otago) alongside Dave & Lana (North Canterbury). Their eclectic backgrounds in wine, hospitality and agriculture have culminated in this project, producing the kind of lively, energetic wines that they love to drink.
15 Minute Bottles sources fruit from family owned and operated vineyards who are both certified and practising organic.
Their exposure to energetic and thought-provoking natural wines coined the phrase “15 Minute Bottle,” which represents their collective ethos towards drinking wine, where a bottle is shared around a table, inspiring conversation, conviviality and connection.

Riesling (2/3) and Feijoa (1/3), sourced from two different sites a stone’s throw apart on opposite sides of the Waipara River. Both direct pressed, co-fermented in neutral oak. Settled and stabilised over the winter at ambient, bottled in the spring with the addition of frozen juice to reach 13 g/l residual sugar before fermenting dry in bottle.
Effervescent, boldly fragrant and textural.
Unfined and unfiltered. No added sulphites

From Marlboroughs' Ukrainian wine making duo Alina Tenetka & Masha, bringing their experience from Europe to make really elegant wines out of different sites in Marlborough, teasing the potential out of grapes in ways we don't often see in New Zealand wines. These wines are full of poise, elegance & are hot off the lips of many a wine critic. 

When Alina turned up with her wines at Regional's we were taken aback, why hadn't we heard of this any sooner? The wines all were a departure from the styles New Zealand had previously offered & placed themselves in some of the best examples of each variety they make that NZ has to offer!

Region: Southern Valley, Marlborough

The Story
In a land famed for Sauvignon Blanc, making Austria's Grüner Veltliner was a quiet rebellion. Drawn to its sharp wit and spicy character, we wanted to see how its alpine soul would develop a Marlborough accent. This wine is the result—a brave expression of a new identity.

Tastes Like
Crisp Green Apple, a bright spark of White Pepper, fresh Lime Zest, and a signature stony finish that speaks of our river-stone soils.

Pair With
A perfect match for asparagus and goat cheese tarts, fresh oysters with a squeeze of lemon, or a classic chicken schnitzel.

For the Geeks

Perfect heavy clay soil, similar to the Austrian motherland of Grüner. Excellent vintage with low crop, concentrating fruit and aroma. Fermented in stainless steel and seasoned French oak. Aged on fine lees for 7 months. Pure, fresh and vibrant - a true reflection of Marlborough

Residual Sugar: 2.8 g/L (Dry)
Acidity (TA): 7.2 g/L
pH: 3.17
Alcohol: 12.5%

Accolades:Cam Douglas MS - 94 points Excellent

LINDEN ESTATE Grüner Veltliner 2024

Grape Varietal: 100% Grüner Veltliner

Growing Region: Hawke’s Bay - New Zealand Winemaker: Alex Hendry

This 2024 Grüner Veltliner has a straw yellow colour with shining hue. On the delicate nose you have aromas of white flowers, honeysuckle, green pears and a subtle pinch of white pepper. On the light-to-medium palate you have a relaxed wine style with appealing fruit flavours, showcasing ripe pears, and a casual splash of citrus acidity. The wine has an easy drinking nature and a simple friendly personality that signs off with an off-dry finish.

Food Pairing: An ideal wine with grilled calamari, Thai fishcakes, spring rolls, and a chicken salad.