A cracking sparkler from Marlborough's Cloudy Bay. This has more weight and fruit sweetness than the standard Pelorus thanks to a higher percentage Pinot and offers strawberry and biscuit elements on the nose and palate. 

94/100 Bob Campbell
“Reasonably deep copper colour. Full-flavoured wine with hints of biscuit and strawberry. Dry, but not austere, with a rich texture and lengthy finish. Classy sparkler with character.”

It's no secret that great Chardonnay is made in beautiful rolling Moutere Hills in Nelson, which is home to the clay based vineyard where this wine comes from. Hand picked grapes were pressed into French oak cuves, where they went through spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts followed by malolactic fermentation and minimal filtration at bottling. This wine is fresh, dry, full bodied and creamy, balanced by nutty and citrus flavours.

From a 40-year-old Sauvignon Blanc planting, the oldest in the region - this wine shows a deeply aromatic nose of honey suckle, lime and jasmine. On the palate it is silky with a phenolic grip that helps balance the acidity which is long but subtle. Notes of gooseberry and white peach. This is a wine to drink now or to cellar

Full bodied, earthy and superbly well structured Pinot Noir for now and the cellar. Runholder is one of our favourite full bodied Martinborough Pinot Noirs with spicy structured flavours of black plums, dark macerated cherries and smoky mushrooms with notes of cedar and pronounced oak. 

Runholder is made with grapes grown on the Te Kairanga Home and McLeod vineyards, which were destemmed grapes then fermented in stainless and aged in French oak for 10 months for structured, smoothness and a velvety texture. 

Winemaker John Kavanagh is one of the top Pinot Noir makers in Martinborough and has a long track record of outstanding Pinots from both this region and also in Nelson, in his former role at Neudorf Vineyards. 

TK Runholder is dry as a bone with .29 grams of residual sugar per litre. It's made from seven clones of Pinot Noir: Abel, 777, 6, 5, 115, 667 and 828.

Odyssey Wines is owned by winemaker Rebecca Salmond, who sources grapes from a number of different regions. She produces exceptionally good value wines, including this full bodied, creamy big Chardonnay from Gisborne; the fifth biggest wine region in New Zealand - and aptly named the country's Chardonnay Capital.

Craggy Range chief winemaker Julian Grounds uses an old heritage clone of Syrah to make this full bodied, deeply coloured red with its spicy flavours and fresh fruit forward style. Syrah is the second most planted red grape in Hawke’s Bay after Merlot and 70% of the grapes in this wine were hand harvested, 18% whole bunch fermented with the remaining 82% destemmed. They were all fermented with indigenous yeasts and the wine was aged in French oak, 25% new, for 14 months. 

The result is one of our best value and best tasting local Syrahs under $30. An extraordinary wine for the price. 

We love it and think it represents outstanding value for money. 

Try it. 

Luna winemaker Joel Watson is a devoted fan of Martinborough Syrah but is also candid about how tricky it can be to grow in this dry North Island wine region. His latest is a great example of cool climate Syrah with spicy black pepper aromas leading into a velvet smooth, highly structured wine with a full body and lingering finish thanks to its refreshing acidity. 

The Luna Syrah is made from grapes grown on the winery's Blue Rock Vineyard, which was planted south of Martinborough township in 1997 on a steep north facing slope. The sun shines all day here, providing evening ripening conditions for this late ripening grape variety but the wind also brings its influence to bear, making high crops a marginal prospect in this relatively cool climate. 

This is a stunning wine with huge complexity of clove and peppery spice coupled with dark chocolate and black fruit flavours. What's not to love in this wine. 

The Elder Pinot Noir is made from grapes grown on a small, elevated, stony, north facing vineyard, situated south of Martinborough township on White Rock Road. It's produced by Mike and Margaret Hanson and Nigel and Bridgit Elder, hence the name.

The wine is an earthy, delicate style of Pinot Noir, made for the two couples by winemaker Paul Mason of Martinborough Vineyards. 

TASTING NOTES: Aromas of ripe dark red berry fruits dominate the nose with hints of spice and floral notes in the background add complexity. Velvet soft tannins form the backbone of this succulent and vibrant Pinot Noir. Spice flavours come through on the mid palate along with rich cherry fruit flavours and underlying savoury notes. This is a superbly balanced, elegant and weighted Pinot capable of ageing for up to ten years.

Barrel fermented with extended lees contact & aging.

Tasting Note: Co-fermented blend of Riesling and Pinot Gris; floral and citrus aromas. A savoury and full palate, balanced with appealing Waitaki minerality. Harvested 9th May 2021. 12g/l residual sugar, 3.15pH, 8.8g/l total acidity. 80 cases total production.

Vinification

Our Estate grown grapes are hand harvested, then whole bunch pressed gently over several hours. The must settled overnight before being racked off gross solids taking only fluffy lees. Fermentation is allowed to proceed slowly at low temperature and stopped when the sugar, acid, alcohol and phenolics are in balance. We hold the wine at a cool temp for the remainder of it’s time in the cellar to retain its natural co2 spritz from primary ferment. The wine is racked and spends 6 months on fine lees before bottling.

Wine

Pale green gold and silver streaks. Delicate notes of apple blossom, honeysuckle, mandarin zest with mineral undertones.On the palate - lime oil, fleshy stone fruits, ripe red delicious and tangerine peel. Bright acidity gives the palate freshness and is balanced with generous fruit sweetness. These aspects are accentuated by the natural spritz retained from fermentation which give a lift in the midpalate. The reprise is long and lingering with a satisfyingly crisp clensing texture.

Tech

Parcel 1: Picked 31/03/23 pH: 2.96 TA: 9.20 Brix: 20.5

Parcel 1: Picked 04/04/23 pH: 2.92 TA: 9.20 Brix: 21.7

Final Wine: Bottled 28/03/24 pH: 2.86 TA: 8.17 Alc: 10.3% RS 27.8g/L

A razor-sharp Riesling that keeps its cards close to its chest. Flint and citrus peel edge around a core of dry, chiselled fruit, while subtle spice lingers in the background. Brisk acidity slices through, creating a taut, electric structure. Beneath it all, the first whispers of smoky sweetness and mellow honey hint at what’s to come. It wraps up with a firm, grippy finish that leaves a lasting impression.

This flagship Chardonnay expresses a medley of peach and melon flavours, overlaid with toasty oak. A rich, ripe style with finely integrated oak and a taut but harmonious acidity on the finish. - Matawhero.

Outstanding Pinot Noir from one of Martinborough's first wineries, Nga Waka; a small company with new owners and the same winemaker - founder and former owner, Roger Parkinson. This spicy, full bodied, darkly fruited wine is as elegant as it is power packed with flavour and beauty. It drinks beautifully now and is a definite keeper for at least five years. 

This wine is made using 16% whole bunch fermentation to add structure and accentuate spicy flavour notes with 20% new oak for support rather than dominating the delicate fruit flavours in this excellent expression of Wairarapa Pinot Noir.