The Vineyard

Matakana clay was identified over a century ago as having good potential for viticulture and as the premium Merlots in the world have the common thread of being grown in similar soils Merlot was our first choice of variety. The meso climate and soils combine to allow us to grow premium fruit with the potential to produce a rich, elegant red wine displaying all the best characteristics of the great Merlots.

We produce a standard, easy drinking wine every year and in exceptional years will allocate the best parcel of fruit to make our Reserve. So far that has only happened twice , 2002 and 2004.

The barrel sampling of our 2008 is looking very promising and may well earn the title of "Hinch". The use of this word to describe our reserve wine may seem a little unusual but has it's roots in the family tradition of each generation having one member who is nicknamed  Hinch. This person is normally a big, bold and larger than life character so we felt it extremely appropriate to use that description for our flagship wine.

Recently we planted a small block ( 1200 vines) in chardonnay and  have just released  the  first 2008 vintage. Our philosophy for this wine is unashamedly old fashioned, using new American oak and lees contact to give a big buttery mouth feel and weight.