Esk Valley RESERVE Chardonnay Hawke's Bay NZ

A rich and weighty wine showing evidence of very ripe fruit. Flavours of citrus and pineapple are overlaid with a subtle oak and nutty complexity from barrel fermentation and lees ageing. Long and complex, this wine will develop with careful cellaring. (6 x 75 cl)

The growing season of the 2002 vintage was characterised by an early budburst after a mild winter, followed by a cool and damp summer until late February when an extended period of fine, hot weather took hold. This coupled with low yields in our vineyards provided the ideal conditions for a very successful red wine harvest. This wine is from two vineyard sites within the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing District. These vineyards were planted in 1990 and 1992 respectively, and show a consistency of flavour and tannin development expected from older vines. They are spur pruned on a standard vertical trellis system and cropped at extremely low levels to ensure maximum quality. The grapes for this wine were destemmed and crushed to our 70 year old open topped concrete fermenters and inoculated with selected red wine yeast strains. Once active, the ferments were plunged six hourly by hand to ensure a complete and gentle extraction of colour and tannin. When fermentation was complete the new wines were pressed to tank and barrel and underwent malolactic fermentation. The wines were then aged in French oak barriques for 21 months before egg white fining and bottling. This is consistently one of New Zealand's top red wines and this vintage is no exception. The wine is black in colour with aromas and flavours of black fruits and chocolate. It is generous in flavour and mouthfeel, and possesses high tannin levels due to the ripeness of grapes at harvest, and vine maturity. The wine will benefit from time in the cellar and is amongst the best wines yet from this Estate. (6 x 75 cl)

This wine is a blend of Malbec 43%, Merlot 32% and Cabernet Franc 25%. Black in colour, with bold flavours of cherries, plums and chocolate. The wine is mouthfilling and generous, very drinkable as a young wine, but possessing ripe tannins to give the wine cellaring potential. (6 x 75 cl)

Esk Valley THE TERRACES Hawke's Bay NZ from New Zealand, Hawke's Bay by Esk Valley (12 x 75 cl)

This is a vibrantly fruity wine, delicious to both smell and drink. Its flavour profile of summer berries with a hint of spice make it the perfect summer wine. Chill well and enjoy its full bodied nature, and crisp. The wine is 79% Merlot and 21% Malbec. (6 x 75 cl)

This is a single vineyard wine from Dr David Yates' vineyard near Clive in Hawkes Bay. These vines are now 21 years old and combined with free draining soils and a cool site, produce grapes with a great depth of flavour. Apples, honey and lime notes dominate the nose and palate. This wine has a crisp acidity balanced with residual sugar in an off dry style. (6 x 75 cl)

VINEYARDS Verdelho is a Portuguese variety originating from the island of Madeira, where it has long been used to make a white fortified wine. Recently it has become increasingly popular in Australia where it has been made as a crisp dry white. It is this example we have followed. Our Verdelho vines are planted in our Omahu Gravels vineyard in Hawke's Bay Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing District. The vines have struggled in these poor soils and yield a small crop of early ripening and intensely flavoured grapes. WINEMAKING The fruit was hand harvested and whole bunch pressed, to tank and old barrels for fermentation. A selected aromatic yeast strain was used for the tank fermented portion and indigenous yeast used for the barrel ferments. The individual parcels were fermented dry and then blended and bottled early to capture the vibrant fruit flavours. WINEMAKER'S COMMENTS This is a highly aromatic wine, exhibiting aromas and flavours of stonefruit, passionfruit and citrus notes. It is a dry style with a good mouthfeel and body and a clean crisp finish. Enjoy as an aperitif or with seafood. (6 x 75 cl)

Pale yellow/green in colour. Very aromatic nose reminiscent of melons, apple,and tropical fruits. The palate is full bodied with a trace of residual sugar and a subtle oak influence which adds to the ripe fruit flavours (6 x 75 cl)

This is a rich and full bodied wine. The aromas of pear, honey, pineapple and hints of stonefruit, are also evident on the palate with a long and satisfying finish. Although enjoyable as a young wine, a period of cellaring will provide further honeyed notes and complexity. Ideal with white meat dishes and rich white sauces. (6 x 75 cl)