Our wines
Winemaker's Vintage Comments 2008
The 2008 growing season was one of the earliest we have seen in the Wairarapa, with a very early bud-burst and flowering. The summer was warm and dry with some high temperatures during January and February, resulting in vintage starting for us on the 23th of March – earlier than normal. Ripening was relatively quick through this period, with both Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir ripening well.
2008 Wairarapa Sauvignon Blanc
This crisp styled wine has a wonderful combination of gooseberry, ripe capsicum and passionfruit aromas - typical stylish Sauvignon Blanc. We love to drink it with seafood or pasta dishes and delicious summer salads. While this wine is ready to drink now, it can also be cellared for up to two years.
2008 Wairarapa Holly Sauvignon Blanc
We are trying to achieve a balance between maintaining the pure Sauvignon fruit vibrancy and building in complex yeast and barrel derived flavours. Nectarine and lime/grapefruit flavours marry with nutty yeasty characters and a vibrant citrus finish. We enjoy this wine with freshly smoked white-fleshed fish served with crostini or crackers or with a fresh green salad. While this wine is ready to drink now, it can be cellared for up to three years.
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.
2008 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.
2008 Hawke's Bay Rosé
This very approachable rosé has hints of red cherries and raspberries with a smooth, refreshing finish. We enjoy this wine lightly chilled with lunch, during the afternoon and before dinner as an aperitif. While this wine is very ready to drink now it can also be cellared for up to two years.
2008 Wairarapa Pinot Noir
This attractive soft Pinot Noir shows dark plum and raspberry 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.
2008 Wairarapa Holly Pinot Noir
The 2008 vintage was one of the best yet in Wairarapa. This delicious Pinot Noir has fragrant cherry and plum aromatics with sweet fresh hay, mocha and spicy oak characters. On the palate ripe cherry and red fruit flavours mingle with floral, bright fruit and spicy oak. Silky tannins finish this wine. We love to enjoy this wine with barbecued lamb rack or eye fillet steak with mushroom sauce.
2008 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. Enjoy now or until 2012 with full-flavoured meats and chargrilled vegetables.
