Single vineyard wine named after a giant gum tree planted in 1867. Fruit hand-picked, WBP and fermented, partially in seasoned French oak barriques to 13.0% alc. and aged on lees. Brilliant straw-yellow colour with hints of gold, pale on edge. The bouquet is tight, dense and concentrated with aromas of nectarines, herbs and gooseberries interwoven with mealy barrel-ferment notes and hint of flinty lees, clearly with much to unfold. Dry, tight and firmly concentrated, there are savoury herb and nectarine fruit flavours with mealy oak elements expressed. Powerful and intense, the textures are fine and there is a restraint providing stylishness. The acidity is softening but carries through to a lingering finish. This powerful and concentrated oak-complexed Sauvignon Blanc will develop more over and become rounder the next 3-4 years. Match with grilled and roasted seafood and poultry dishes. 18.0-/20 Feb 2012 RRP $32.95

Deep, dark, ruby-red colour with purple hues, youthful in appearance. This has a rich, full and intense nose of very ripe dark berry and dark plum aromas, well packed and concentrated, the oak integral with the fruit on bouquet. Full-bodied and powerfully constructed, this has dense and robustly rich fruit flavours of lush dark plums and berries with sweet oak noticeable. The extraction is serious, but the tannins are fine-grained with firmness, this contributing to a deep core. Balanced acidity completes the palate, and the wine has a long, sustained, lush finish. This is a fulsome and powerful wine that is brooding at present, but it will come together and reveal much more over the next 5-7+ years. Clones 777, 667, 115, 114, 5 and 10/5 from the ‘Gum Emperor' and ‘Somerset' vineyards in the Waihopai destemmed, soaked and native yeast fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged approx. 11 months in new and seasoned French oak barrels. Match with game meat. 18.5+/20 Feb 2012 RRP $35.95