Reductive, oak profile, alcohom warmth, red cherry and currant fruit, palate is juicy, lacks depth and structure, edgy tannins

Grown across the Estate with vines planted in the Waenga silty loam soils of lower terraces and the more gravelly Lochar sandy loams of the blocks beside the winery. Certified Organic since 2021.
Hand-harvested fruit was ambient-soaked for four to five days before fermentation began. Gentle, selective timing of hand-plunging and pump overs during fermentation. Approximately 15% whole-bunch clusters were included in some of the ferments. 15 months in French oak. 14%
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Reductive notes, cherry notes, tight tannins, smoky, give it time

Robust, hearty, red and black fruit, herbal notes, licorice, floral notes too. Palate is juicy, sweet notes, thin oak frame, fresh, a bit of volatile acidity, fresh with some alcohol warmth (despite only 13.6%)

+2% Gewurztraminer, 13%. A bit spicy, fragrant, citrus, pear scented, palate smooth, fresh, apple, green notes, pear,lemon, knettle

Medium intenstity, citrus fruit, citrus, palate with med acidity, med body, pear, party wine

Vibrant, spicy, green fruit peel, palate is juicy, nice texture, freshness, pear, green apple, med body and finish. More distinguished than normal bottling

Fragrant, floral notes, thin spice frame, clear, sweet spices, palate is smooth, med body, red fruit, freshness, cherry notes

Lime, lemon, fresh tropical fruit notes, peppery, juicy, easy, palate is vibrant, grassy, green, pineapple, pear, green apple, a bit tight for now though

From Headwaters vineyard.
Spicy, grapefruit,pear notes, evident RS (4.4gr), med acidity, easy to have on its own but don't let that fool you, med body and finish

Tropical fruit, crunchy, quite evident RS, citrus notes, palate is off dry, pear, pineapple, hugely extrovert, tea leaves, med body, med finish

Fragrant, spicy, green fruit, pear, bold flavors, palate is beautiful with smooth texture, sweet fruit notes, nice acidity

Very oaky, thick, bold, stalky, warmth (13%), black fruit, currant and cherry, palate shows oak notes, stalky, quite green, herbal notes, med finish

Nose shows spicy and savoury character, fresh red fruit, floral notes, toasty, almond, palate is juicy, more black fruit in palate, smoky, med body, a touch warm, long finish

The flagship Irongate Vineyard is situated in an old shingle bed of the Ngaruroro River in the Gimblett Gravels appellation of Hawke’s Bay. First produced in 1987, this single vineyard wine has crop-levels that are heavily restricted. 43% Cabernet Sauvignon 40% Merlot 17% Cabernet Franc, 15 months in french oak, 13.70%
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Herbal notes, stralky notes, red and black fruit, thick, very fresh still, palate shows the same profile as the nose, stalky, floral, black fruit, tight tannins

The estate's flagship red. Grown on the ‘Irongate’ vineyard in the Gimblett Gravels of Hawke’s Bay. 57% Cabernet Sauvignon 32% Malbec 11% Merlot. Fermented in open vats, matured for 21 months in french oak, 14.4%
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Very thick in the nose, herbal notes, very strong, upfront, stalky notes, palate showing the same profile, very warm from alcohol, smoky, stalky, harsh tannins, overly oak, full body, long finish. Why so much oak ?

A mere 3km from the ocean, Brawn (Glover) Vineyard lies south east of the Wairau Valley floor, with fertile Kaiapoi silt loam soils deposited by flooding, over centuries, of the neighbouring Ōpaoa River.
Hand-harvested on 2nd April 2020. Whole bunches were loaded and pressed slowly over 6 hours to a small stainless steel tank with a smaller, harder press fraction separated on taste and discarded. After settling, the main press fraction was moved with a high percentage of solids to a combination of 500 litre seasoned French oak puncheons and one 300 litre stainless steel barrel, for fermentation. A full and natural malolactic fermentation finished early January 2021, after which the young wine was topped and remained on original lees in barrel, without stirring or sulphur, until April 2021. The components were then racked together to tank and sulphured where they remained on lees for a further five months until bottling in November 2021. This wine was bottled without fining or filtration.
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Flinty, oaky notes, more fruit in palate, tight texture, med to full body, needs time

Different, thin, red fruit, some reduction, palate lean, red fruit, some smoke notes, green tannins

Aggressive at this point, onion-like reduction, palate is bitter, no fruit, elevated acidity, med body, weird

Pinot Noir 20 months on lees, savoury, red fruit, yeast notes, spicy, med to full body, nice carbonation, cherry notes

32 months on lees, oxidative notes, yeast, citrus, spicy, palate with texture, citrus, crunchy, nice carbonation, med finish

The wine shows freshness, elegant palate, smooth texture, nice juicy green notes.

Spicy, tight, warmth, a touch medicinal, stalky, herbal, bitter notes, palate is light, showing body, smoky notes, red fruit, cherry, med finish

Fresh, vibrant, juicy, citrus, green fruit, lime, welcoming, palate is juicy, green apple, easy, peach, juicy, fresh, med to full body, lively, nice showing

A bit too low intensity, not giving away much, palate juicier, shows fruit, green apple, crunchy, med finish, give it time

reductive at first, floral notes next, peach, red cherry notes, same palate, nectarine, tight texture

Fragrant, ripe cherry, toasty, black fruit, palate juicy, fresh, toast, tasty, nice texture, smoked herbs, nice tannins, med body and finish, nice

Lighter and more fragrant than "normal" pinot bottle tasted before, shows more finesse and elegance, thin oak frame, whole spice, palate juicy, nice fruit, smoky, med palate

dark fruit core, whole spice, juicy palate, black fruit, thin oak frame, tight tannins, give it time

a touch herbal, stalky, floral notes, blue and black fruit, palate is easy, med body, lower in fruit, more red fruit now

Dense, thick black fruit, depth, floral ntoes, elegant, welcoming
Palate is juicy, black fruit, toast, tight tannins, juicy, forward, long finish

49% Merlot 34% Cabernet Sauvignon 12% Cabernet Franc 3% Malbec 2% Petit Verdot, 14%
Fragrant, red fruit flavored with pyrazine, fresh palate, med body, following the nose profile, black fruit, tight as it is

Merlot and Cabernet Franc, 14%
Warmth, straight away, ripe to overripe black fruit, some stalky notes, black fruit.
Palate shows juicy tannins, red and black fruit, tight tannins, thick oak frame, sweet spices, red cherry notes, med finish

green and citrus notes, better in palate, nutty, the fruit is riper, spicy, med body

low intensity, green fruit, not much

light, cherry fruit notes, some spices, toasty, thicker oak frame, med body and finish

spicy, light, green ,citrus, youthful

Chardonnay, citrus, yeast, green fruit, savory, med body, crunchy, balanced carbonation, med finish

80% Chardonnay 20% Pinot Noir, light cherry notes, currants, stone fruit, explosive CO2, citrus, tart, med body

green, stalky, red cherry, berry notes, palate is the same, ripe red cherry, soft tannins

lean, red cherry, lacks depth, palate is smooth, green, thicker red freuit, low tannins, short finish

Spicy, green freshness, pineapple, grapefruit, pear, palate is smooth, fresh, tasty, green fruit, spicy again, peach notes, med finish

Overly green, asparagus, grassy, grapefruit peel, pineapple, palate balanced, med body, fresh, med finish

Lees 50% oak, tight frame, citrus, fine oak adding depth and flavor, palate with med body, elegant, finesse, citrus, grapefruit, a touch grassy, med finish

Citrsu, asparagus, spicy, a weird camphor note, palate better, green fruit, pear, green apple, med body, tasty, med finish

ripe fruit, forward, citrus, pear drop, grapefruit, easy, nice, palate is the smae, fresh, fun to drink, citrus, nicely balanced, med body and finish

Oaky, overripe black fruit, a touch warm (13.50%), fruit in alcohol, palate is the same, oak profile, smoky, a touch bitter, almond, med body and finish

Grapes were sourced from three Akarua Estate vineyards. The Bannockburn vines are approximately 25 years old and grow at 270 metres above sea level on a north west facing sloping glacial terrace. The vines are planted on alluvial, sandy loam-based soils overlaying schist bedrock. The Pisa vines are planted on a flat and level river terrace created by glacial activity, at an elevation of 205 metres above sea level. Soils here are fine silt loam over schist based alluvial gravels and the vines, aged 28 years. The younger 25 Steps vines, with an average age of 19 years, lie at 200-317 metres above sea level on sandy and stony topsoil with a subsoil mix of deep gravels and clay loams.

After five to seven days of cold soaking, fermentation took place using indigenous yeasts, with 6% of the fruit left as whole bunches. Twice daily punch-downs helped extract both colour and flavour. The wine was given another six to ten days on the skins post-fermentation. It then spent six months ageing in 100% French oak barriques prior to bottling.
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Lean, a bit green, fresh currant, a touch spicy, palate is the same, thin body, red fruit, a touch spicy, easy to drink tought, nutmeg, med finish
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Another bottle I tasted in a different table and much later during the wine fair :
extrovert, floral notes, red and black fruit, juicy palate, freshness, sweet spices, elegant tannins, toasty, med body and long finish

I'm guessing it needs time to open up

Light, easy, fruity, citrus, fresh, some tea notes, same palate, to be fair its not much fun to drink it

Floral, light, easy, peach, citrus, pear, green apple, juicy texture, crunchy, spicy, lacks some depth though

Green, plain, simple, palate is fresh, technically nothing wrong with it, but ...

Vibrant, green fruit, fresh, asparagus, tropical fruit, palate is juicy, freshness, med body, long finish

Greener, spicier, tropical fruit notes, pineapple, med body, nice and fresh

Smoky, toasty, red cherry notes, palate smooth, nice red and black fruit, med body, nice tannins, needs time though

Very thick oak frame, smoky, clove, nutmeg, palate is filled with black fruit, thick oak frame, some bitter notes, a beast of a Pinot

Smoky, thick core of black currant, toast, spice, palate shows fullness and firm character, toasty, smoky, some pyrazine notes, bold tannins, edgy, long finish, give it time

Low grassy notes, spicy, fresh, light with riper stone fruit, med body, fun to drink, different

This is a blend if 75% Sauvignon Blanc 25% Semillon. Hand harvested from the oldest organic vineyard in Marlborough.
French in style, ripe fruit, bigger in palate, much more fruit, broad, sweet notes, green fruit, full body, long finish, interesting

Green, spicy, cardamon, broader palate, green apple, pear, tight, high acidity, very youthful, high intensity, long finish

Herbal notes, lively, like a low-intensity Loire, grapefruit, quince, some CO2 in palate, lively acidity, pear, apple, med body, interesting

Lighter and more flinty than I remember, citrus, nutty, full body, tight, youthful, green fruit, almond, toasted notes, needs time

Quite pyrazine fuelled nose, peppery, green tropical fruit in the back, same palate, more fruit, apple, med body, long finish, 13.50% warmth

Thicker cherry oak frame, ripe strawberry in the back, palate shows oak frame, lean, green fruit, med dusty texture, med finish

Grassy, weird, lime, spice/resin mix, mastic notes too, grassy in palate, high acidity, long finish

Fruit in balance wth oak, sweet spices, a touch angular, med body, lean red fruit, edgy tannins

Strangely gamey for a NZ Pinot, ripe black fruit, floral notes, palate is light, lacks depth, cherry notes, tight and lean tannins

Different, fragrant, spicy, ripe red and black fruit, cherry, currant, floral notes. Palate is lean, planky oak notes, green tannins and fruit, med finish

37% oak vfor 11 months. Big in the nose, heavy oak frame but not aggressive, ripe stone fruit, citrus, palate finesse, elegant, nutty, biscuit, full body, long finish

Bold nose, floral ntoes, ripe black fruit, berries, whole spice, palate with juicy tannins, bold frame, black fruit, nice texture, long finish

Tight, green, asparagus, lime, green fruit, grapefruit, palate tight, nice texture, balanced, big bold flavours, long finish, nice acidity keeping everything vibrant, nice

Reductive, low intensity, grassy, green fruitm palate with the same profile, shows acidity, med body, a bit angry from so2 though

peppery, spicy, ripe green fruit, palate follows nose, bold, shows body and texture, long spicy finish

citrus, pineapple, quite evident sweet notes, some rubbery notes, palate shows its 23gr of sugar, nice acidity, vanilla scents, with tea/chamomile notes, med body and finish

low intensity, a touch grassy, med body, juicy fruit, citrus, med finish

Rather reserved for now, geen fruit, lime notes, palate bright, grassy, citrus/lime peel, lacks a bit of oomph!

lower intensitythan remember, cherry notes, sweet spices, the palate is lacking intensity, red berry notes, think oak and spice frame, some toast notes at the end

Extrovert, flinty, tight, the fruit gets more upfront in palate, flinty again, lime, greapefruit, thick oak frame, long finish

Toasty, bold fruit notes, ripe strawberry, palate with ripe fruit, black cherry, spice notes, edgy tannins, medium length, crunchy

Smoky, spicy, toasty, red cherry, berry, some floral notes, palate is juicy, crunchy, spicy, showing fresh black fruit, elegant, balanced acidity, long finish

Full on spicy and oak frame, ripe strawberry notes, fragrant oak notes, palate with the same profile, nutty, nice tannins, med finish

floral notes, ripe black berry notes, strawberry notes, spicy oak frame, palate shows body, licorice, stalky/herbal notes, spice, ripeness, nutty, alcohol warmth despite only 13% ruining it for me, edgy angry tannins

low intensity, light cherry notes, low fruit concentration, palate light, with co2 still there

low intensity of fruit, grassy, citrus, grapefruit, pineapple, pear notes, palate better, juicy, med acidity

bright, juicy, grassy, green fruit, vibrant, lively, nice ripe fruit, same palate, med body, long finish, balanced, beatiful

green fruit, forward, expressive, pleasant, light, grassy, green fruity, tropical notes, med acidity, apple flavoured med finish

25% new oak, 12 months in oak
Veyr warm, ripe berry, planky, black fruit, palate smoky, same fruit core, sweet notes, cinnamon, edgy tannins, med finish

Pinot noir, herbal, low intensity, cherry notes, palate fresh, subtle tannins, easy and smooth

A touch spicy, juicy, lime, lemon peel, white floral notes, palate smooth, nice acidity, crunchy, low alcohol and shows, freshness

Fragrant, sweet spice notes, cinnamon, nutmeg, toasty, red fruit, sour cherries, floral notes, palate showing med body, spice again, toast, freshness, nice tannins, med finish

This feels more precise than the other Sauvignon blanc of the range, green fruit, citrus, lime peel, "warmer"grassy notes, lime, mineral notes, palate full on fruit, juicy, lime, pear, lemon, nice acidity, med body and med finish.
This has a 11 pound price tag, which makes great value

green fruit, grassy, citrus freshness, palate showing body, nice texture, lemon and peach flavoured, easy, smooth, party wine

Fresher and spicier than 2022, showing density, grapefruit notes, palate shows ripe fruit, concentration, lime, citrus, green fruit, some grassy notes, more lively too, med finish

Light, grassy, almost watered down, palate again light, herbal notes, citrus, pear, green apple, everyday wine

Ripe, fragrant, red cherry notes, spicy frame, light and lean palate, red cherry, med body

spicy, vibrant, concentrated fruit core, palate nice and fresh, green fruit, lime, med acidity, med body

Spice, ripe citrus, green fruit, some so2, palate is fresh, ripe white fruit, biscuit/spice note, med body and finish.
Interesting, aggressive pricing though

Fragrant, red cherry notes, berries, some floral notes, nice spice frame, palate shows the same flavor profile, rew cherry, med body and finish.
drinking nicely

90% Abel clone
Far spicier than A2, more robust too, thick oak frame, toasty, roasted nutty almond, whole spice, black fruit
Palate is juicy, more airy than the nose, ethereal despite its youth, black fruit, toasted frame, nice acidity, a touch warmer, med finish

Whole bunch, fresh, fragrant, interesting, red fruit, a small toasty note, palate is juicy, smooth, some smoky notes, almost med body, it does seem rather lean for what it is, maybe lacking a bit of depth, med finish

20% new oak, flinty, nutty, toasty, a touch overpowering for now, palate with med body, nutty, toasty, tasty, juicy finish

A touch greener for an Albarino, fresh, mineral, lime, lemon, palate rounded by the 5gr RS, fresh, nice acidiyt, med finish, easy and highly drinkable

70% pinot noir 30% chardonnay, 3 years on its lees
citrus, fresh, yeasty, palate again fresh, vibrant, nice co2, fun party wines, some red cherry notes in the back

3gr RS, 7.4gr/l acidity, 3.14pH, 5% of juice was fermented with a non-saccharomyces yeast and 1% was barrel fermented. After fermentation, the wine was kept in contact with the lees for 3 months
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Vibrant, fresh, extrovert, green and tropical fruit, palate shows high acidity, grippy texture, grassy/grapefruit peel notes, med body, long finish
interesting

Bright, citrus, green fruity, grassy, lime, fragrant, texgtured, fresh, a bit green but ok, nice acidity, tight

Flinty, reductive, tight, needs time, palate fresh, nutty, spice, tight texture, med finish

Cherry infused nose, fragrant, floral notes, palate is juicy, a bit warm, med body,

60% Chardonnay 40% Pinot noir
Toasty, citrus, yeast, palate is juicy, pear notes, apple notes, med body, nice co2

Spicy, thin nutty frame, pear notes, lime, green tropical note, evident rs, smooth, med body, some bitter notes too, long finish

Cherry based nose, fragrant, spice notes, palate juicy, easy, light

Toasty compared to Village Pinot Noir, fresh, smoky, ripe fruit, palate shows angry tannins, aggressive acidity, lacks depth

Fllinty, so2 ntoes, pear, green apple, evident rs, fresh, crunchy acidity, highly drinkable

A touch rubbery, pear scented, green apple, grapefruit, palate is jukcy, ripe fruit, freshness, evident rs, very easy to drink, balancing acidity, highly drinkable

reductive, tight, dry fruit, green apple, palate smoother, light, same flavor profile, elevated acidity, crunchy

A touch warm, spicy, nice red fruit, cherries and strawberries, palate is smooth, juicy, smoke and spice notes, shows tannins, med body and finish

Very fragrant, spicy, toasty, smoky, ripe red fruit, palate is juicy, smooth, red fruit, spice frame, med body, shows tannins, med finish

Spicy, fresh, virbat, green notes, pear, apple, palate is fresh, light, mineral, same flavor profile, fragrant, easy, med finish

Rubbery, citrus notes, green fruit, notes, feshness and extovert.Palate shows the same profile, citrus, apple and pear, concentrated, textured, crunchy, full body and long finish

Fresh and spicy, green notes, fruit forward, citrus, stone fruit, palate is juicy, spicy, green notes, tasty, some earthy and spicy notes adding layers

More lively than "normal" Pinot Gris, bright, pear, grapefruit notes, palate showing its 7gr but better in balance, peel notes, green, fresh,

Vegetal notes, riper in style, stale green apple, mewd body, 5gr RS that are quite evident, pear drops, lime/citrus green notes

Precise, fragrant, juicy fruit, lime, citrus notes, palate is fresh, ripe, citrus, green apple, grapefriut, lemon tight texture, long finish

Juicy, fresh, easy, light, less intensity, same palate , pear, green apple, lime, nice party wine

Fresh, green fruit, fresh and spicy, ripe citrus, palate juicy, green fruit, some chamomile notes, juicy, interesting, different

Very fragrant, green, some reduction notes, onion-like notes (needs some time to open up), grassy and asparagus notes, palate is juicy, med body, tropical fruit notes, med body, med finish

Herbal notes, citrus, green notes, showing depth, palate green apple, mear, rich texture, 6.8gr evident, med finish

Ripe fruit, green notes, there is a strange airy/lemon-scented/carbonated drink/sprite-like note which is strange. Palate round, juicy, lime, lemon, green fruit, med finish, friendly, easy drinking

Flinty, bright, light palate, nutty, almond, ripe fruit, med to full body, long finish

Fragrant, spicy, sweet spice, palate juicy, spicy again, earthy, maybe lacking a bit of depth, nutty, cinnamon, med body, savoury

Much more savoury than Two Terrace Pinot Noir, spicy, earthy, fragrant, red ripe fruit, palate with the same profile, spicy frame, tight texture, med finish

Spicy, red cherries, berrues, floral notes, some pyrazine notes, palate is juicy, red and black fruit, some stalky bits, peppery, nice

1/3 of each for Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot plus 1% (!) Syrah
Spicy, savoury, smoky notes, ripe red cherry and berry, palate with freshness, soft silky tannins, black fruit, herbal notes, med finish

Grassy, green fruit, easy, fruit forward, palate with more grassy notes, greapefruit, crunchy textured, nice acidity

A bit more reserved, riper "grassy" notes, grapefruit, lime, pear notes, palate shows vibrant notes, tropical fruit, med acidity, med body, med finish

warmth, citurs, lemon peel, rs evident, round, apple, stone fruit and pear drops

light, green pepper, a touch spicy, green, some reduction, grapefruit bitter notes

low intensity, peel notes, bitterness

"Self pour table"
ripe, tense, dense, asparagus, grassy, whtie berry notes, spicy, pepperu, med body, high acidity, med finish

Flinty, oaky, dense, needs time, ripe stone, fresh, melon, freshness, palate with the same flavor profile, more flinty, lime, citrus, high acidity, long finish

Different, lean, raw veggie-like notes, in a way like a low intervention Loire, palate shows the same flavors but its tight, austere, citrus, quince, med body, long finish
Weird

Mostly oaky notes, fruit in the back, toasty, almond, palate is much lighter and fresher than expected, easy, lacks depth though and then plank-y aftertaste kicks in

Rather numb, oak frame, low in fruit, palate the same profile, med body, nitty, fruit way in the back

Dense oak frame, flinty, toasty, palate is balanced, a little bit on heavy side, oaky, citrus, give it time, med finish

Different, fruit, vegetal notes, fresh, smooth, forward, palate is the same, light, fresh, nice aftertaste

vegetal, bitter, stalkynotes, thin body

Low intensity, smoky notes, low in fruit, ripe berry, palate the same, thin, lean

Ripe and oaky, fruit and toasty, some rubbery notes, palate leaen, short finish, thin

bold in the nose, ripe red and black fruit, thin spice frame, palate is thinner, astringent tannins, med body, not much fruit, med body, med finish

Spicy profile, clean, red fruit, dusty, sweet spice notes. Palate showing the same profile, red cherry, high acidity, tight tannins, med body, smoky, med finish, austere for now. Can't see the reason behind its price tag

Intersting, full on spicy, ripe strawberry notes, thin oak frame, palate is juicy, fruit forward, savoury, same profile as the nose, med body, med finish

Ripe, blue fruit, black fruit, cinnamon, spicy notes, some floral notes, palate the same as the nose, a touch bitter, tight tannins, it would benefit from time, toasty, full body, a bit warm, long blue berry-flavored finish

Warmth, heavy oak, whole spice and planky, some green stalky notes, palate still planky, warm, lean, stalky, varnish, full body, long finish
Why use so much oak????