Matahiwi Blanc de Blanc, 2017 Pinot Gris and Chardonnay, and 2016 Pinot Noir
Matahiwi Blanc de Blanc, 2017 Pinot Gris and Chardonnay, and 2016 Pinot Noir
24 January,2018
Owned by Alastair Scott, Matahiwi Estate is one of the
greater Wairarapa’s significant wine producers, with 80 ha of vineyards and a
modern winery. The Matahiwi wines are
excellent representations of the Wairarapa region, and the flagship ‘Holly’
tier is particularly exciting, and well supported by the ‘Estate’ and secondary
’Mt Hector’ tiers. The company sources
fruit from Hawke’s Bay for some of the wines.
It was announced last year that Miles Dinneen, formerly of Crossroads in
Hawke’s Bay had taken over the winemaking role, following the long-serving and
thoughtful Jane Cooper who left after 14 years to further pursue her own
brand. Miles finished off the 2017
vintage wines, and is anticipating introducing some new ideas for the 2018
vintage. It could be a very auspicious
start for Miles, as the 2018 harvest is early and the crops look to be in good
health with good crop size. Here, I
review the NV Blanc de Blanc, and ‘Estate’ wines, the 2017 Pinot Gris and
Chardonnay, the latter from Hawke’s Bay fruit, and the 2016 Pinot Noir. www.matahiwi.co.nz
Sparkling Wine from New Zealand – Hawke’s Bay Review Date - 23-Jan-2018    16.5/20
Bright, even, light straw-yellow colour, a littler lighter
on the edge, the bubbles moderately fine and persistent. The nose is soft and light in expression with
gentle aromas of white stonefruits and white florals melded with very gentle
but mouthwatering wet-stone and mineral notes, and suggestions of nuts at the
core, unfolding hints of bread and yeast.
Dryish to taste and medium-bodied, the palate has soft, light flavours
of white stonefruits, citrus fruits and white florals with hints of yeast and
minerals. The mouthfeel is creamy with
good effervescence, and balanced by fine, crisp acidity. The wine flows with good energy to a light
finish. This is a soft, creamy sparkling
wine with light stonefruit, floral and citrus flavours and hints of nuts and
yeast. Serve as an aperitif over the
next 2 years. A Charmat wine. 100% Chardonnay from the Dartmoor district,
all from the 2017 vintage, fermented to 13.0% alc. and 9 g/L dosage, the wine aged
7 months on lees. Lot L7525. 16.5/20
Jan 2018 RRP $21.99
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Pinot Gris from New Zealand – Wairarapa & Wellington Review Date - 23-Jan-2018    16.5/20
Bright, even straw-yellow colour with pale golden hues, a
little lighter on the rim. The nose has
good depth and presence of yellow stonefruits with an amalgam of nutty notes
and honeysuckle elements, unveiling some stonefruit pith and lifted
florals. Dryish to taste and
medium-bodied, the palate has moderately concentrated, up-front flavours of
white and yellow stonefruits along with light floral, honeysuckle and nutty
elements. The palate is gently rich and
flows along a soft line with integrated acidity, leading to a light,
uncomplicated finish of stonefruit and honey.
This is an up-front, dryish Pinot Gris with light stonefruit, floral and
honeysuckle flavours, an an uncomplicated palate. Match with Asian cuisine over the next 2-3
years. Fruit from the ‘Home’ vineyard,
fermented in stainless-steel to 13.5% alc. and 4.6 g/L RS. 16.5/20
Jan 2018 RRP $19.99
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Chardonnay from New Zealand – Hawke’s Bay Review Date - 23-Jan-2018    16.5+/20
Bright, light straw-yellow colour with slight lemon hues,
paler edged. The nose is taut and finely
concentrated with aromas of white stonefruits and nutty oak, entwined with
minerally reductive elements. This has aromatic
freshness and intensity. Medium-bodied,
the palate has bright and lively flavours of citrus fruit along with spicy and
nutty oak. The fruit has good presence
with moderate concentration and a rounded mouthfeel. The flavours unfold to provide good,
mouthfilling breadth, and are enlivened by fresh, lacy acidity, lending good
energy and tension. The wine carries to
a lingering finish. This is a bright and
lively, moderately concentrated Chardonnay with citrussy fruit and spicy oak
that gently fill the palate. Match with
seafood, pork and poultry over the next 3-4 years. Mendoza and clone 15 fruit from the Dartmoor
district, 48% tank-fermented and 52% indigenous yeast fermented in seasoned oak
to 13.0% alc., the wine aged 7 months on lees, with approx. 20% MLF. 16.5+/20
Jan 2018 RRP $22.99
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Pinot Noir from New Zealand – Wairarapa & Wellington Review Date - 23-Jan-2018    17.5/20
Dark ruby-red colour with good depth and youthful purple
hues, a little lighter on the edge. The
nose s soft and gently concentrated with ripe fruit aromas of dark red berry
fruit and black cherries, unfolding dark herbs and raspberry liqueur notes. Medium-bodied, the palate has sweetly rich
and lusciously ripe fruit flavours of black cherries and dark-red berry fruit, blackberries
and plums, with dark herb detail. The
mouthfeel is bright and lively with fresh, lacy acidity, and the fruit is
supported by light, grainy tannin extraction and structure. A little spice, liquorice and nutty oak
emerges as the wine carries to a nuanced finish. This is a fresh, bright and lively Pinot Noir
with flavours of black cherries, dark raspberries and black fruits, balanced by
light, grainy tannin grip. Match with
duck, pork, beef and lamb dishes over the next 4 years. Clones 115, 114, 10/5, 777 and Abel, the fruit
fully destemmed and fermented to 13.0% alc., 70% of the wine aged 8 months in
barrel. 17.5/20 Jan 2018
RRP $28.99
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