After working overseas and in Marlborough, she released her own brand in 2001. Jules Taylor is one of Marlborough's star winemakers and a household wine name throughout New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. She was named Winemaker of The Year in 2021 by the Australian publication Gourmet Traveller Wine.
After releasing her Sauvignon Blanc 2022 in July, The Jules Rosé 2022 and Gruner Veltliner 2022 followed.
The Jules Rosé 2022 is made from 100% Merlot sourced from Briant Vineyard, Patutahi Valley in Gisborne, planted on silt/ clay loam soils. The fruit was machine picked in the first hours of daylight in the cooler morning temperature to keep the grapes fresh. Once at the winery, the grapes were crushed and pressed immediately and gently off the skins and inoculated with an aromatic yeast. Fermented cool to retain freshness and delicate aromas. The wine was settled after fermentation, stabilised and passed through a light filtration. Capturing maximum freshness and flavours in the bottle.
Gruner Veltliner 2022 is sourced from a single vineyard in the Wairau sub-region of Marlborough. Hand harvested, then whole bunch pressed, the free run juice was cold settled for 48 hours before fermented cool and slow in stainless steel tank to capture the vibrant aromatics. A second portion was pressed directly into old French oak for wild fermentation, followed by a full malolactic fermentation to add texture and complexity. The two components were blended soon after fermentation and bottled under a screw cap.
Both wines are deliciously well-made, fit for the warmer weather and vegan-friendly. Read my full review in expansions below.
