Zweigelt 2017

Vintage 2017 set off to a great start with good flowering during Spring and whilst Autumn was challenging (due to cyclones which hit Marlborough), our low yield philosophy paid out and we picked healthy grapes bursting with flavours before any rain could touch them. We hand-picked this exuberant Austrian grape variety (crossing of ‘Blaufränkisch x St Laurent’) at a low yield of 700g/vine mid of April. Zweigelt is said to combine some of the best qualities of its parents, creating wines with deep, rich purple-crimson colour, depth and complexity. It inherited the desirable characteristics from both of its parent. From St-Laurent it gets its bright, Pinot-like cherry aromas and the ability to create silky, elegant wines. From Blaufränkisch it has taken a certain spiciness and great acidity. The seasons perfect climate and Hans’ extensive vineyard work, produced grapes of amazing fruit purity and intense flavours.

Hand-picking only perfectly healthy grapes allows for long cold soaks and a slow, soft extraction of colour and flavours from the grape skins. The must then went naturally through a wild fermentation for a true expression of the grape variety and its terroir, as it is not influenced by added yeast. In total, the must was left 21 days on the skins before being pressed and transferred into French oak barriques (20% new) for the natural malolactic fermentation. The young wine was matured for a long 24 months in the same barrels making it a contender for a long life. Unfined & unfiltered to retain the great flavours. Natural sediments may show.

The vitality and exuberance of aromas is mouth-watering before the wine even reaches your palate. Intense ripe blackcurrant and plum jumps out at you like a sucker punch, enveloping Szechuan pepper, cloves, and a hint of nutmeg. Perfect balance in a powerhouse wine as it bursts with vibrant acidity, dark fruit at the core and firm tannins. dark, brooding and savoury melt with freshness on the long, long finish. A wine drinking wonderfully now in its youth but will soften as it matures. A collectors dream...

Technical Data

Great wines for flavourful food or charcuterie. An excellent match to pork belly or rib-eye steak and Mediterranean herbs! The vibrant acidity cutting perfectly through even richer foods.