Hawkshead

15-Aug-2020

Hawkshead_Harvest - Raymond Chan Wine Reviews

Hawkshead is the Gibbston-based boutique Central Otago Pinot Noir focussed venture of Denis Marshall and Ulrike Kurenbach. They tend their vineyard planted to clones 5, 6, 114, 115, 667 and Abel, established over 2001 and 2002. This was further supplemented with Pinot Gris plantings in 2006. Hawkshead also contracts Riesling fruit and Pinot Noir to make a rosé and table-red Pinot Noir to extend the range. Dean Shaw of the Central Otago Wine Co. is the primary winemaker, and the label has enjoyed critical acclaim over the years.

www.hawksheadwine.com

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

Hawkshead Riesling 2019, Central Otago
Riesling from New Zealand - Otago
Review Date : 06-Aug-2020
☆☆☆☆☆
Bright, light yellow, even colour throughout. The nose is soft and elegant with fragrances of elderflower, honeysuckles, fresh lime and lemon, along with light honey and subtle note of wet stones. Medium-bodied, dry to taste, there is a good core flavour of citrus, lime, lemon and pink grapefruit along with a gentle scent of its pith, unfolding light honey, oat and spices, the finish is lingering and dry. The mouthfeel is with mineral and phenolic substance; pithy notes developed into candied orange peels as it aerated, added richness. The fruit has good concentration, balanced by taut acid cut, flows with stony minerals to linearity. This is a medium-bodied dry Riesling with flavours of citrus, florals, honey and minerals on a dry finish with complex details. Match with pork scratchings and bacon-wrapped rabbit roasted over the next 5 years. 100% fruit from Lowburn. Fermented in stainless steel to 13% alc, 5 g/l. 250 cases produced. 18.5+/20 pts Aug 2020 RRP $29
Hawkshead Pinot Gris 2019, Central Otago
Pinot Gris from New Zealand - Otago
Review Date : 06-Aug-2020
☆☆☆☆☆
Bright, even, light yellow. The bouquet is gently full with nuances of citrus, nashi pear, melded with honey mead and five-spice. Medium-bodied, dry to taste, flavours of rich honey and mead, freshened by nashi pear, lemon, lime and zest, along with ginger and cinnamon spices lingering on the finish. The fruit is fresh in flavour and just ripe, balanced by mouthwatering acidity, flows smoothly along in an oily texture line. Crunchy minerals and a light phenolic grip added to palate weight, carry along zesty citrus, leaves a moreish and refreshing finish. This is a dry and fresh Pinot Gris with richness and balanced by mouthwatering acidity, mineral and spice details. Match with game fish and pork over the next 5 years. Fruit from 75% Gibbston and 25% Lowburn. Fermented in stainless steel 85% and older oak barrels 15% to 13.5% alc, 2 g/l RS. Rested on its lees for 5 months. 800 cases produced. 19-/20 pts Aug 2020 RRP $29
Hawkshead Rosé 2019, Central Otago
Rosé from New Zealand - Otago
Review Date : 06-Aug-2020
☆☆☆☆☆
Bright, even, light salmon-pink with some depth and a tinge of gold. The nose is beautifully perfumed with freshly crushed raspberries, strawberries, rose petals, along with fresh herbs, orange zest and mineral notes. Dry, med-light bodied, aromas of red berries, citrus and zest, has a good core of flavour, along with fresh botanical, herbs and rose petals, finish with subtle spice and mineral crunch. The mouthfeel is fine, lightly creamy, flows along smoothly with slaty mineral and a light phenolic texture line. Lively and lacy acidity lifted this finely-made, otherwise serious rosé with vibrance and left a moreish dry finish. Match with salmon gravlax and sunshine over the next 2-3 years. 100% Pinot Noir, carbonic maceration for 5 days then destemmed, juice left on skins for 3 days to extract colour. Fermented to 13% alc, 3 g/l RS. Rested on lees for 3 months. 133 cases produced. 18.5/20 pts Aug 2020 RRP $29
Hawkshead Pinot Noir 2019, Central Otago
Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Otago
Review Date : 06-Aug-2020
☆☆☆☆☆
Deep, medium luminous ruby-red, faintly lighter on the rim. The nose is elegant and charming with fragrances of red florals, red cherries, red currants, melded with herbaceous wild thyme, forest floor and a red liquorice undertone. Medium-bodied, aromas of red cherries, red currants and violet, interweaved thyme, forest floor and savoury charm. The fruit is with concentration, ripe and lush with plenty of acidities to provide freshness and longevity. The mouthfeel is velvety and elegant, on a fine-grained tannin texture line and lacy acidity drive, lingering to a sustained finish. This is a charming and elegant Pinot Noir with the Gibbston sub-region subtleties, assembled by aromas of red fruit, florals, herbaceous and forest floor details. Match with game fowls and mushrooms over the next 4-6 years. 100% fruit from Gibbston. Fermented to 12.5% alc, 20% whole bunches. Aged in French oak barrels for 10 months, 15.5% new. 668 cases produced. 19/20 pts Aug 2020 RRP $44
Hawkshead First Vines Pinot Noir 2018, Central Otago
Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Otago
Review Date : 06-Aug-2020
☆☆☆☆☆
Deep, ruby-red with a black hue, youthful, lighter on edge. The nose is gently full with aromas of red cherries, raspberries, violet, along with dark herbs, wet leaves and a hint of gamey note. Medium-full bodied, dry, nuances of violet slightly dried, dark herbs, wet leaves melded with black cherries, black raspberries, unfolding liquorice roots and subtle spices as it aerated. The fruit is dense with richness, enlivened by the dark herbs and wet leaves complexing characters. Velvety, fine-grained tannin extraction very elegant in weight and framed an excellent structure for this opulent Pinot Noir with elegance and complexity. Match with game and wild boar over the next 6-8 years. 100% fruit from Gibbston. Fermented to 13.5% alc, 55% whole-bunches. Aged in French oak barrels for 8 months, 27.5% new. 188 cases produced. 19/20 pts Aug 2020 RRP $65

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