04-Oct-2017
The Mount Brown label is Catherine Keith and her father Tony Rutherford’s Waipara Valley wine business. They have three established vineyards with the valuable resource of old vine material. Their winemaker Frank Manifold is an experienced operator, and the Mount Brown wines have seen a steady progression up in quality, such that they see top awards in wine shows. Catherine is a strong promoter of the wines which are seen increasingly in all channels and markets. They offer very good value which is an added attraction. Here, I review the new 2017 Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir Rosé, from a challenging Waipara growing season, made from fruit clean harvested ahead of the rain, but as with most producers, at slightly lower Brix than normal. This has resulted in elegant wines, which particularly suit the making of rosé styles. www.mountbrown.co.nz
