30-Sep-2016
The ‘One Off’ brand for Rod McDonald has captured the keen wine consumers’ interest. It’s not only the funky and classy label, but the diverse styles of wines that are released. While the wines are generally from Hawke’s Bay, there are bottlings from other regions. Their commonality is that they are one-off bottlings of individual, unique and limited quantity wines. It’s this diversity and variety, as well as their high quality that has perked the wine enthusiast. For Rod McDonald and his winemaking team, the ‘One Off’ brand gives them the opportunity to innovate and put into practice some of the more interesting, if not risky vinification techniques, as well as making wines outside the commercially safe sphere. It’s a win-win scenario for all concerned!
Here, I review the 2016 ‘Black Book’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, the ‘Black Book’ referring to his ‘little black book’ names of useful contacts that Rod has accumulated over his years of winemaking, here applying to the Amsler grapegrowing family. Also, I review the 2016 ‘Lola May’ Rosé, named after his daughter, who adored the colour pink as a young child. And I review the 2015 Gisborne Marsanne/Viognier blend, a play at a white Rhone style. www.rmwines.co.nz
