Wine
Waipara West Two Terrace Pinot Noir 2017
Hand-picked, individual parcels were destemmed without crushing into small open-top fermenters. The fruit was soaked until natural fermentation commenced before a selected yeast strain was inoculated to carry on and finish the fermentation, which was hot and quick. During this time, the ferments were worked to extract tannins appropriate to fruit weight and intensity. The more aromatic parcels were pressed off skins within five days of dryness, and the Swiss clones spent up to two weeks on skins. Parcels then went to barrel where we used only 5% new oak, instead opting for a high percentage of one-year-old (20%) to better match fruit weight. The wine then spent 12 months in barrel undergoing malolactic fermentation in spring, before being lightly fined and course pad filtered prior to bottling.
Colour: Crimson and pink flashes against a plummy red base.
Aroma: Aromatics of currant pastries, woody spiceās, and manuka leaf, leading to notes of forest undergrowth and florals.
Palate: Moderate fruit sweetness, fine tannin and restrained volume allow savoury elements to splice evenly into the tart red fruit. A very enjoyable aromatic pinot noir, with good fruit density
pH:Ā 3.70
Acidity:Ā 5.25 g/L
Waipara West Pinot Noir 2018
Estate grown on 3 blocks with differing soil structure, wind exposure and clones ā early 1980ās selections from St Helena and more recent Dijon clones. The colour is an attractive, very bright ruby garnet with distinct crimson hues at the rim. Aromatically it is as striking as it is seductive. Bright red fruits - raspberry, strawberry and Morello cherry have immediate impact with an equally impressive array of oriental spices - anise and clove. Ripe seed aromas of almond kernel and cherry stone lift the nose. Time reveals an inner core of darker black cherry, and just a hint of bramble all kept in check by some very attractive yet subtle French oak. The palate is soft, silken and warm but with a certain nervositĆ© which is to say that as a young wine it may appear both bright in acidity and forward in tannins, but thatās just for starters. Those are simply the framework in which the wine is cradled, the fruit depth is palpable, the Pinosity generous and its presence authoritative.
Waipara West N Block Chardonnay 2018
A stripped-back Chardonnay style that showcases the fruit from our site while still being rich in subtle complexities. We achieve this using large, berried Chardonnay clones, whole bunch pressing, minimal use of old oak barrels, extended time on yeast lees and no malolactic fermentation.
Three qualities define this wine - above all else, the first being the fruit aroma/flavour, which we want to be subtle and pure. Acid structure is the second propping up the wine and giving it a salt crunch. Yeast derived aroma/flavours and mouthfeel provide balance.
Color: Pale golden kiwifruit in colour with hues of green and silver.
Aroma: On the nose, this wine is truly multi-layered however, all of them are understated. Fresh pineapple and sea salted cracker at first, perfumed white flower and white tea in the centre, all sitting on a base of malt toffee. These aromas combine and evolve into a vast number of flavours in the mouth.
Palate: Ripe peach and lemon meringue define the taste, due to a combination of full-bodied mouthfeel, cleansing acidity and a bite on the finish. A rich complex wine.
Food Pairing: Pork. Rich Fish (salmon, tuna, etc...), Vegetarian, Poultry
Residual Sugar:Ā 0.52 g/L
pH: 3.51
Acidity: 6.75 g/L
Waipara West Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Pale gold with silver streaks.
Aromas of yellow and green citrus, sweet red capsicum, hints of fennel and freshly crushed herbs combined with passionfruit seed and warm wet river gavels.
Bright citrus, white nectarine with underlying tropical notes, pink lemonade and salted grapefruit pith on the finish. The sweet fruit characteristic interplays with the crisp and silken texture to give a long lingering mouthfeel.
Food Pairing: Shellfish, Vegetarian, Goat Cheese
Waipara West N Block Chardonnay 2020
2020 vintage was the earliest in our 30 years at Waipara West. We had a warm, dry September and cool October were followed by our hottest November on record, this set up very favourable conditions for f lowering. Summer started with dry, slightly warmer conditions than normal for both December and January, followed by a dry, much warmer than average February, this put much of the east coast of New Zealand, including North Canterbury into drought. March brought a break in the heat and some much needed rain that slowed the ripening of beautiful clean fruit, the first blocks were picked on the 16th of March. April, returned to dry weather, with above-average temperatures which was ideal for the bulk of our harvest.
The grapes were hand harvested from the upper terrace from a combination of various clones. Clones are picked and vinified separately until blending for aging.
Colour: A clear pale lemon core with a gold hue and flecks of green and silver.
Aroma: The aroma of the wine is truly multi-layered. It shows fresh lime and lemon, white stone fruit and fragrant almond blossom mixed with malt biscuit and underlying mineral notes.
Palate: Ripe peach and nectarine with key lime and yuzu drive the palate. A luscious full-bodied mouthfeel from aging on fine lees gives flavours of malty cheesecake crust combined with a crunchy mineral finish and hints of salted caramel
Food Pairing: Pork, Rich fish (salmon, tuna, etc...), Vegetarian, Poultry
pH:Ā 3.45
Acidity: 5.3
Residual sugar: 0.54g/L