Showing all 5 results
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£15.00Unison New Zealand Alluvius Rosé Wine 2021
Grown, fermented, matured and bottled at Unison Vineyard
Vintage 2021
After average winter rainfall, the soils were carrying adequate moisture going into the growing season. Spring was mild and flowering early. By December rainfall was lower than average, a trend that would continue through the season. Temperatures in December and January were warm without excessively hot days. This diurnal swing gave perfect conditions for ripening. The dry conditions continued through autumn and our grapes were picked in optimal health and maturity.
Alluvius is the Latin word for the unconsolidated fine gravel, silt and sand that is deposited at the bottom of River beds which is out soil. Hence the name for our Gimblett Gravels Rosé.
Winemaking Notes – hand crafted with attention to detail.Unison Rose is made by the traditional method of saigné (bleeding). Our red grapes are de-stem and lightly crushed before going into the fermenting vats. The must (crushed grapes) is then left to macerate for 4 to 5 hours at which time we draw off the lightly coloured pink grape juice. This juice is fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel tanks using the same methods as for white wine. The fermentation of the red juice without the skins gives us vibrant red berry flavours in the wine without tannins.
Our 2021 Rose is made from Merlot and Syrah saignéTasting Note
Delicate pale pink.
All things pink and red on the nose; wild strawberries, raspberries, roses and with a swirl of the glass a wave of lavender. Crisp and flavoursome
in the mouth with red berries and a touch of spice. The silky dry palate finishes with bright lifted, lingering, flavours that are reminiscent of a warm summers evening. Flavours of strawberries, wild dried herbs and a touch of spice. A silky texture carries the wine across the palate with sustained fresh flavours.2021 is a dry rosé (<1g/L residual sugar) with complex layers of flavour. Vegan friendly. Pair with Paella, Roast Pork, Antipasto Platter, Fish and Chips!
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£22.00Unison New Zealand Excalibur Wine 2016
Grown, fermented, matured and bottled at Unison Vineyard
52% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Syrah.Vintage 2016
Vintage 2016 growing season can be summed up as good, but challengingly erratic. We experienced a cool start to the growing season with the growing degree running below average until mid-January. February was a scorcher, and permitted the ripening of all our grapes to move into the “normal window.” March and April had threats of rain, but on the whole, were fine and warm allowing us to pick healthy grapes in good conditions.
Winemaking
Gentle handling and attention to detail are the hallmarks of our winemaking. We handpick our grapes, then de-stem and lightly crush to just break their skins before they go into small, open topped fermenting vats. The ferments are worked by hand plunging along with drain and returns to maximise gentle tannin extraction, and extended post ferment maceration allows us to achieve a balance between fruit intensity and tannin structure. After basket pressing the individual component varieties of the 2016 Excalibur went into barrel.
The blend was put together mid-winter 2017 and continued to mature in oak barrels. 2016 Excalibur spent 20 months in barrels and was fined using fresh egg whites and filtered before bottling on the property in March 2018. Bottle aging on site for 5 years and released August 22.
Tasting Note
Wonderful complexity of aromas. Warm spicy blueberries, black Doris plums, violets and vanilla.
Seamless and elegant on the palate with concentrated flavours of dark berry fruits, laced with warm spice, purple florals and cocoa,
Great freshness and persistence on the finish. Enjoy now or cellar with confidence. -
£22.00Unison New Zealand Merlin’s Reserve Merlot Wine 2016
Grown, fermented, matured and bottled at Unison Vineyard
Vintage 2016
Vintage 2016 growing season can be summed up as good, but challengingly erratic. We experienced a cool start to the growing season with the growing degree running below average until mid- January. February was a scorcher, and permitted the ripening of all our grapes to move into the “normal window”. March and April had threats of rain, but on the whole, were fine and warm allowing us to pick healthy grapes in good conditions.
Winemaking – hand crafted with attention to detail.The grapes for Merlin’s Merlot were hand picked and fermented in small open topped vats. The fermentations were carefully monitored and worked daily by hand. The new wine spent 3 weeks macerating with the grape skins while the tannins and fruit evolved and developed. When a balance point was reached we “devatted” and basket pressed the grape skins. The new wine spent 20 months maturing in oak barrels and puncheons and was bottled on the property in March 2018. Further maturing in bottle for 5 years, release Mar 2023.
Tasting NoteBold penetrating aromas of roasted black Doris plum, blackcurrant, dark chocolate and a hint of liquorice.
Supple with sustained presence on the palate. Layered flavours of spicy dark fruits, chocolate, and dried herbs.
Great balance with fine tannins that melt on the finish carrying the flavours to persist with freshness and purity.
Drink now and cellar with confidence. -
£15.00Unison New Zealand Rocky Red Wine 2020
Grown, fermented, matured and bottled at Unison Vineyard
68% Merlot 32% Cabernet Sauvignon
Unison Vineyard is a small Family Estate in the heart of the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing District in Hawkes Bay. Established in 1993, with densely planted vines that are carefully managed for low yield, ripeness and intense flavour. Our red wines are made from 100% Gimblett Gravels fruit grown in our own vineyard.
Rocky Red is an easy drinking style red wine and is a testament to the Rocky soil which enables us to create these amazing red wines.
Vintage 2020
After average winter rainfall, the soils were carrying adequate moisture going into the growing season. Spring was mild and flowering early. By December rainfall was lower than average, a trend that would continue. Temperatures in December/January were warm without excessively hot days. Late Jan and through Feb day time temperatures consistently reach into 30⁰ C, with cool night temperatures. This diurnal swing gave perfect conditions for ripening. Dry conditions continued through autumn and our grapes were picked in optimal health and maturity.
Winemaking – hand crafted with attention to detail.After a carefully monitored fermentation with daily manual working of the small vats, the new wine spent 3 weeks macerating on skins while the tannins and fruit evolved and developed. When a balance point was reached we “devatted” and basket pressed the grape skins. The new wine spent 19 months maturing in oak and is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It was bottled on the property in January 2022 with a further 7 months bottle aging on site before release
Tasting Note
The dense dark purple/red colour highlights the perfect ripeness of the 2020 vintage. Enticing complex aromas of dried dark plums with vanilla, red rose and freshly dried wild herbs.A round, silky entry leads into the flavour loaded palate where layers of
warm dark berry fruits, plums, spice and dried herb dance and mingle. The texture and concentration is maintained through the palate and fine tannins give structure and lingering moorish finish. Enjoy now or cellar through 2029. An amazing wine which is exceptional value for money.
Vegan Friendly -
£35.00Unison New Zealand Selection Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Wine 2016
Grown, fermented, matured and bottled at Unison Vineyard
62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot.
Unison Vineyard is a small Family Estate in the heart of the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing District in Hawkes Bay. Established in 1993, with densely planted vines that are carefully managed for low yield, ripeness and intense flavour. Our red wines are made from 100% Gimblett Gravels fruit grown in our own vineyard
Unison Selection is our Icon wine and from 2009 is always Cabernet Sauvignon dominant with Merlot. It is made from grapes selected from the best parts of the vineyard and crop thinned to a maximum of 12 bunches per vine. It is only made in vintages that are good.
Vintage 2016Vintage 2016 growing season can be summed up as good, but challengingly erratic. We experienced a cool start to the growing season with the growing degree running below average until mid-January. February was a scorcher, and permitted the ripening of all our grapes to move into the “normal window”. March and April had threats of rain, but on the whole, were fine and warm allowing us to pick healthy grapes in good conditions.
Winemaking
Gentle handling and attention to detail are the hallmarks of our winemaking. We handpick our grapes, then de-stem and lightly crush to just break their skins before they go into small, open topped fermenting vats.
The ferments are worked by hand plunging along with drain and returns to maximise gentle tannin extraction, and extended post ferment maceration allows us to achieve a balance between fruit intensity and tannin structure. After basket pressing the individual component varieties of the 2016 Selection went into barrel. The blend was put together in Spring 2017 and continued to matured in French oak barrels.Tasting Note
Bold, fragrant aromatics of sweet blackcurrants, crushed dried herbs layered with vanilla, cedar and cinnamon bark.
Bold and precise on the entry to the palate with sustained flavours of cassis, cocoa and graphite. Well knit, lacy tannins dance on the finish.
Elegant and fine, this wine will continue to develop complexity with careful cellaring. This wine will benefit from decanting while still young.
Review: Michael Cooper 5*