Our wines
Winemaker's Vintage Comments 2011
The 2010/2011 growing season was later than usual. Flowering was very late due to cool conditions in spring and early summer. However, late summer and autumn were warm and dry, with very good weather extending all the way through vintage, which ran from the April through to May.
These conditions resulted in a long and slow, but complete ripening of both the Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.
2010 Wairarapa Sauvignon Blanc
This vibrant, aromatic wine has flavours of gooseberry and limes, with a lively finish. We love to drink it with seafood and pasta dishes and delicious summer salads. No cellaring required.
2009 Wairarapa Holly Sauvignon Blanc
The Holly wines are the flagship range for Matahiwi and are named after the owner's daughter. We are trying to achieve balance with this wine between maintaining the pure Sauvignon fruit vibrancy and building in complex yeast and barrel derived flavours. Lime skin and elderflower aromas along with a mineral, crushed stone note, marry with nutty yeasty characters and a savoury edge. While this wine is ready to drink now, it can be cellared for up to four years.
We enjoy this wine with freshly smoked white-fleshed fish served on crostini or try with a leek and pecorino tart.
2008 Hawke's Bay Chardonnay
This is a rich style of Chardonnay with the accent on strong fruit flavours. Ripe melon, nectarine and summer peach aromas abound with oak hints of cedar and spice and a long, full, yet soft finish. ideal matched with creamy pasta and white meat dishes. It is also delicious with seafood. Wonderful to drink now, or cellar until 2011.
2009 Wairarapa Holly Chardonnay
The fruit for this wine was sourced from a single vineyard in Wairarapa. This is a rich style of barrel fermented Chardonnay with the accent on complexity and fruit weight. Ripe white peach, hazelnut and biscuit aromas combine with toasty oak hints and citrus acidity. The finish is silky and elegant. Perfect with seafood or pasta with rich, cream-based sauces or roast chicken. Already enjoyable or cellar until 2012.
2010 Wairarapa Pinot Noir
This attractive, soft Pinot Noir shows red berry, dark plum and cherry flavours with fragrant fresh hay and savoury oak characters. On the palate, it is soft and round, with a hint of spicy smoky oak and a long finish.
2009 Wairarapa Holly Pinot Noir
This attractive, soft Pinot Noir shows dark plum and cherry flavours with fragrant fresh hay and cedary oak characters. On the palate, the vibrant cherry flavours come through with a hint of spicy toasty oak and velvety tannins.
2010 Hawke's Bay Merlot
A generous, deep brick red precedes cassis and ripe brambly fruits supported by a shot of sweet cedary oak. On the palate these dark, ripe fruit characters combine with spicy oak, chocolate and savoury leather flavors.
