11-Sep-2017
The ‘Te Awanga Estate’ brand of Rod McDonald is his expression of the cooler, more elegant and aromatic styles of Hawke’s Bay wines, as typified by the coastal styles as originating from the 17 ha home vineyard at Te Awanga. There, he has Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Merlot planted. Interestingly, it is the style of the wine that is paramount, so Rod is not averse to sourcing fruit and other varieties not planted on the vineyard from inland sources. These wines are made to capture the cooler-style characteristics. Here, I review the ‘Te Awanga Estate’ 2017 Pinot Gris and 2015 Syrah from further inland. www.rmwines.co.nz
