When we were last with the relatives at Matarangi in 2003 we visited some wineries down the East coast through Tauranga down to Hastings and Napier. Not realising that it would be 12 years before we would be here again we selected just over a dozen bottles for aging to see how they would develop.
They were two of each of the following:
- Firstland Pinot Noir 2000 Marlborough/ Gimblett Gravels
- Morton Estate ’The Mercure’ 1998 Hawkes Bay
- Morton Estate Pinot Noir 1997 Marlborough
- Mills Reef Cabernet Merlot 1998 Hawkes Bay
- Mills Reef ‘Moffat Road’ 1999 Cabernet/Merlot /Franc Hawkes Bay
- Montana Reserve Merlot 2000 Barrique Matured Hawkes Bay
- Te Mata ‘Coleraine’ Cabernet/Merlot 1999 Hawkes Bay
We have now tasted all of them with the exception of the Te Mata ’Coleraine’ 1999 both of which were, sadly, truly corked.
Firstland Pinot Noir 2000 Marlborough/ Gimblett Gravels: Created f
Stuart and Brian this bought back memories I was born in Napier and grew up under the shadow of the vineyards.
Keep having a wonderful time I am hugely envious.
Best wishes
Stephen
It’s good to see that you are enjoying yourselves. Even Bernie Ecclestone’s daughters South Kensington cellar doesn’t extend as far as down under as yours. I particularly envy you the 707, reputed to come from the oldest (Victorian) Cabernet root stock in the world and the ‘best wine in Ausland’ Grange, good for 50 years in the bottle. I’m not sure that it would last that long in my ‘cellar’.