This month, the Hyde Park Wine Club features wines from the island of New Zealand! This small wine-producing country is known the world over for its fantastic Sauvignon Blanc wines. It also produces fantastic Pinot Noirs and other French-inspired blends. For the wine club we selected a classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, a barrel-fermented Chardonnay, and light Pinot Noir.
Walnut Block Sauvignon Blanc 2023
A bright and vibrant Sauvignon Blanc, this wine is sourced entirely from the Walnut Block estate and is aged in 100% stainless steel. Bursting with tropical fruit aromas on the nose, the palate is smooth and textured with notes of passionfruit, citrus, and freshly cut grass. Pair this classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with a goat cheese salad.
The Producer: Walnut Block
Brothers Clyde and Nigel Sowman started Walnut Block in 1996. In combining their experience in viticulture and the wine industry with their passion for and appreciation of fine wine, they have created a unique range of superbly crafted Marlborough wines. Named for the landmark walnut tree in the vineyard, the 17-hectare Walnut Block is located on the Wairau Valley plains, a dry ancient riverbed which has created a prime growing area for great wines, particularly intense aromatic Sauvignon Blanc.
The Region: Wairau Valley, Marlborough
The Wairau Valley is a wide river valley that follows the Wairau River from the Spenser Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean. Hot sunshine during the day and cold ocean winds at night extend the ripening period in the grapes, leading to a balance of fruit complexity and acidity. New Zealand’s modern wine industry began in Marlborough in 1973, when the Brancott vineyard was established in the southern Wairau Valley. Two years later the first Sauvignon Blanc vines were added. Today, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is world famous, and the Wairau Valley is home to some of New Zealand’s most well-known producers.
This 100% Chardonnay, hailing exclusively from the Auntsfield Vineyard, is barrel-fermented and barrel-aged, leading to a rich, creamy textured wine. Golden in color, it has flavors of ripe apricot, honeyed pear, lemon curd, caramelized hazelnuts, and a subtle hint of cinnamon. Pair this Chardonnay with crab legs with a garlic butter sauce.
The Producer: Auntsfield
Auntsfield Estate was the first commercial winery to be established in Marlborough in 1873. The land changed owners and uses over the years, and today the Cowley family are the owners and caretakers of the estate. The Cowleys planted the property with Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, and they now have around 65 acres planted on glacially carved slopes on Greywacke rock overlaid with fine clay soil. The wines have continued to earn Auntsfield its place in the highest echelon of Marlborough producers.
The Region: Southern Valleys, Marlborough
Wrapping around the surrounding hills, the Omaka, Fairhall, Brancott, Ben Morvan, and Waihopai Valleys make up this important subregion. Soils and meso-climates vary, but tend to be heavier and contain more clay than Wairau. It also becomes cooler and drier further south into the valleys. A broad range of varieties are grown according to the merit of each site, with particularly good Pinot Noir being produced by the area. Overall, The Marlborough wine region is by far New Zealand’s largest, accounting for three quarters of the country’s wine production, 70% of its vineyard area and 85% of its wine exports.
This Pinot Noir is sourced from the Certified Organic Walnut Block Vineyard and is aged 12 months in French barriques. It has a vibrant bouquet of ripe strawberry, raspberry, and red cherry with underlying notes of earth and baking spices. With fine tannins and gentle acidity, this is an appealing and crowd-pleasing Pinot Noir. Pair this wine with grilled mushroom pasta.
The Producer: Blicks Lane Vineyards
Blicks Lane Vineyards is the vision of the two brothers behind Walnut Block Wines – Clyde and Nigel Sowman. With Walnut Block growing to be a sustainable and successful venture, they saw the need for another single vineyard bottling showcasing the unique site of Walnut Block, but unfortunately none of their neighbors were looking to sell vineyards. The Sowlands went back to the drawing board and negotiated a long-term lease controlling the farming entirely of a neighboring vineyard and aptly named the brand Blicks Lane, as that is the road that is shared between Walnut Block Estate and this adjacent vineyard.
The Region: Wairau Valley, Marlborough
Old, gravely riverbed soils, and diverse aspects and rainfall create numerous meso-climates within this subregion. Broadly, it covers a range of cooler, drier inland sites: barren stony, early-ripening sites, as well as sea-breeze moderated coastal sites. Across the subregion wines reflect the strengths of individual vineyards and vignerons, but all have the hallmark fruit intensity and body. Hailed as one of New Zealand’s most sunny and dry regions, Maori, the indigenous Polynesian people of mainland New Zealand, referred to the Wairau Valley as ‘Kei puta te Wairau’ – ‘The place with the hole in the cloud’.
