Hawksdrift – Marlborough Power, Quality, Grace and Finesse

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Hawksdrift ‘Barrel Fermented’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011
  Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 10-Oct-2015

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, light straw-yellow colour, pale on rim. This has an elegant and restrained bouquet with subtle aromas of white stonefruits, lifted by white florals, and entwined with delicate nutty oak notes. The nose is slender in expression, with growing intensity of herbal elements along with some volatile lift. Dry to taste, this is tightly bound and elegant on palate. The flavours of white stonefruits and herbs are shy and restrained in expression, showing herbal interest and nutty, resinous oak detail. The wine follows a fine-textured line with some dry grip, the mouthfeel showing some acid bite which carries the wine to a tightly bound, dry finish with lifted herb and stonefruit notes. This is an elegant and shy oak-aged Sauvignon Blanc with a fresh, fine and dry palate along with some volatile lift. Serve with antipasto, seafood and poultry over the next 2 years. Hand-picked fruit from vines 14 y.o. from a single vineyard in the Dillons Point district, WBP and fermented partially by indigenous yeasts in seasoned French oak barriques to 13.75% alc., the wine aged 12 months in oak with partial MLF. 15.5+/20 Oct 2015 RRP $39.95 Full, pale straw-yellow colour with slight green hues, pale on rim. The bouquet is very subtle with gentle aromas of white and yellow stonefruits with nuances of citrus, herbs and nuts unfolding. Dry to taste, the palate shows good weight and presence, with delicate flavours of white stonefruits and herbs at the core. The mouthfeel is rounded with some creamy barrel-ferment balanced by a little phenolic texture and line, and lacy acidity. The wine has tension and lift, which leads to a soft, restrained finish with nuances of herbs and minerals. This is a very subtly flavoured Sauvignon Blanc with good weight and creamy barrel-ferment textures. Match with seafood and poultry over the next 2-3 years. Hand-picked fruit from vines 14 y.o. from a single vineyard in the Dillons Point district, WBP and fermented partially by indigenous yeasts in seasoned French oak barriques to 13.75% alc., the wine aged 12 months in oak with partial MLF. Approx. 40 dozen available. 17.0+/20 Aug 2013 RRP $39.95
• Hawksdrift ‘Barrel Fermented’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012
  Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 10-Oct-2015

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Hand-picked fruit from vines 15 y.o. from the home block in Dillons Point, WBP and fermented partially by indigenous yeasts in seasoned French oak barriques to 13.3% alc., the wine aged on lees in oak for 10 months, with 25-30% undergoing MLF. Bright, even, straw-yellow colour with light golden hues, lighter on the rim. The bouquet is deep and powerful with concentrated aromas of greet stonefruits and cut grass, unfolding herb and herbaceous notes, and some secondary green bean and asparagus elements. Dry to taste and medium-full bodied, the palate is deep with a luscious and sweet core of greengages, nectarines, cut grass and some secondary bean and asparagus flavours. The mouthfeel is very fine in texture, allowing the fruit richness to show. This is smooth-flowing, with a slipperiness, the palate enlivened by lacy acidity. The wine leads to an elegant, lingering finish of herbs, stonefruits and beans. This is a smooth-flowing, sweet-fruited, oaked Sauvignon Blanc showing some secondary bean development. Match with Mediterranean fare over the next 2+ years. 225 dozen made. 17.0+/20 Oct 2015 RRP $39.95 Brilliant straw-yellow colour with slight golden hues, pale on edge. Fresh, bright, ripe stonefruit aromas of nectarines and greengages show with concentration and depth. The fruit is subtly interwoven with oak and nutty elements and the bouquet is fresh and aromatic. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, flavours of greengages, nectarines and yellow stonfruits gently fill the mouth with richness and lusciousness. The mouthfeel is creamy and rounded from the barrel-ferment, but has good liveliness from ripe acidity. The palate is one of harmony and integration, with good breadth. Fine textures carry the flavours to a lush, flavoursome finish. This is a full, rounded oak-influenced Sauvignon Blanc with subtle and integrated complexing interest. Serve with Mediterranean-inspired fare over the next 3-4 years. Hand-picked fruit from vines 15 y.o. from the home block in Dillons Point, WBP and fermented partially by indigenous yeasts in seasoned French oak barriques to 13.3% alc., the wine aged on lees in oak for 10 months, with 25-30% undergoing MLF. 225 dozen made. 18.0+/20 Aug 2013 RRP $39.95
• Hawksdrift ‘Barrel Fermented’ Marlborough Chardonnay 2012
  Chardonnay from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 16-Aug-2013

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Hand-picked fruit from vines 12-15 y.o. from a single site in the Dillons Point district, WBP and fully barrel-fermented to 14.0% alc, the wine aged 10 months in 2 y.o. French oak barrels, undergoing 100% MLF with batonnage. Bright straw-yellow colour with slight green-gold hues, pale on rim. The nose is very subtle and tightly bound, slowly revealing white stonefruits, lifted oak and nuts and hints of cream in delicate layers. Medium-full bodied, the flavours are shy and need aeration to show the layers of stonefruits, citrus fruits, oak spices and nuts. Waves of detail and interwoven interest unfold, and fill the palate. The mouthfeel is creamy in texture with some alcohol power providing drive and fine acidity the freshness. This grows in richness and flavour and the wine carries through to a long, subtly nuanced, dry finish. This Chardonnay needs aeration to reveal its layers of fruit and barrel-ferment character. It has power and mouthfeel. Serve with roast pork over the next 5 years. 115 dozen made. 18.0/20 Aug 2013 RRP $39.95
• Hawksdrift ‘Single Vineyard’ Marlborough Pinot Noir 2011
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 16-Aug-2013

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Moderately deep, light ruby-red colour, pale on rim. This has a softly full, ethereal, building bouquet of dark red berry and plum fruit, along with spices and savoury game nuances seamlessly melded with earth, oak and cedar notes. Medium-full bodied, soft dark plum, earthy berry and cedary spice flavours feature. Very fine-grained, supple tannins support the fruit, the acidity soft and restrained. The mouthfeel is creamy and smooth in flow, revealing a rich amalgam of liquorice and oak, leading to a very long and sustained finish with spicy plum nuances. This is a gentle, plummy and spicy Pinot Noir with richness and a smooth texture. Serve with Middle Eastern fare and slow-cooked red meat dishes over the next 4-5 years. Hand-picked fruit from vines 12-15 y.o. from a single site in the Dillons Point district, destemmed and fermented to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 18 months in seasoned French oak barrels. 140 dozen made. 18.0-/20 Aug 2013 RRP $44.95