24-Dec-2018
Ant and Fiona Mackenzie have seen rapid growth of their wine business over the last year, especially with the ‘Theory & Practice’ wines made from Hawke’s Bay growers, and the ‘Craft Farm’ single site expression wines. In addition to increasing domestic sales, they have sent wine to the new export markets in the U.K. and China, and further shipments to Japan. Ant reports that the low harvest volumes of 2017 have created some supply and continuity issues, but the 2018 vintage wines will settle these problems.
The 2018 Theory & Practice Rosé and Pinot Gris wines explore the usage of the Glencoe Station vineyard in Marekakaho, Ant pointing out that this third release of the Pinot Gris is his best yet and closest to what he is trying to achieve. The ‘Craft Farm’ releases employ fruit from two new sites; the 2017 Chardonnay from Neal Cave’s Omaranui Road vineyard, parcels previously used in the Theory & Practice wines, but for Craft Farm this vintage, as the ‘Home’ vineyard fruit was not of the required style; and the 2017 Pinot Noir from the ‘Crosby’ vineyard in Martinborough. The 2016 Syrah is from the ‘Lyons’ site, which Ant has used for several vintages now. I review these new wines here. I believe Ant is continuing to raise the bar in quality and character of the Theory & Practice wines and the Craft Farm wines. www.antswines.co.nz
