His Writer’s Block label is a vehicle to produce distinctive wines from unique vineyard sites and often involve some experimentation with winemaking techniques. Like an author, Brendan only intends to release when he feels the vineyard and winemaking has "something worthwhile to say”. The analogy continues "authors write all the time, but they don’t release everything they write”.
Two barrels of Pinot Noir were produced from a Bannockburn vineyard in both 2009 and 2010 to start the project. No wine was made in 2011 and 2012. Brendan will have 70 cases of a Bendigo Terraces Pinot Noir and 100 cases of an Alexandra Pinot from the 2013 vintage. Brendan vinified a total of 28 tonnes at the Wine Studio in 2013 for himself and his clients, a size which allows him to do all the work himself and focus on optimum quality. www.thewritersblock.co.nz