Unison Vineyards – Pinot Gris – ‘Bumble Bee’ 2021
£15.00
The Unison Vineyards – Pinot Gris – ‘Bumble Bee’ 2021 grapes were hand-picked by our team and they were so ripe that the bees were swarming all over the bunches and picking bins. The bees clearly thought they were perfect grapes so hopefully you enjoy this as much as they did!
Ripe pear and gentle baking spice aromas mingle with rose petals. Lush and velvety in the mouth with flavours of pears, apricots and cinnamon.”
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Unison 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 saigné
Tasting 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!
Unison 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 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 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*
Unison New Zealand Maestro Chardonnay Wine 2020
Hawke’s Bay was again blessed by wonderful grape growing conditions in 2020. Chardonnay is early ripening and can often fall foul of the first big rain event post summer so it was a relief to have good weather over period running up to harvest which ensured the crop was ripe with healthy bunches.
This wine is Maestro Jenny Dobson’s baby and is named after her. Jenny began learning her craft in Burgundy at Domaine Dujac (79-81) and then honed it further at Chateau Senejac (Bordeaux), Franklin Estate (Australia) and finally 10 years as winemaker at our neighbours Te Awa Farm before working at Unison. By combining all her skills and expertise she has a real passion for crafting a well balanced, elegant Chardonnay that will age gracefully. Unison Maestro Chardonnay is Reserved for good vintages and only 6 x 225L French Oak barriques are made one of which is new oak.
We sourced outstanding Chardonnay grapes grown in the neighbouring Bridge Pa triangle and picked under perfect conditions in mid March. After gentle pressing we fermented in French oak barrels using different yeast strains in each barrel to add to aromatic and textural complexity. The wine was aged on lees and some barrels went through malolactic fermentation in Spring. Lees were regularly stirred to enrich the texture and after 10 months the wine was taken out of barrel and bottling on site in February 2021. Bottle aged for further 2 years release March 2023.
Tasting Notes
Deep golden colour
Aromas and flavours of fresh ripe apricots, yellow peach, toasted almonds and hints of fresh cream, give complexity and intensity to the aromatics. The palate is rich with a velvety texture and packed with stonefruit, toasted nuts and a citrus finish. Enjoy this chardonnay in its youth, or cellar carefully for enjoyment over the next 3 years.
A “Goldilocks“ of chardonnays with a little of everything that is classic to the variety without any one note overpowering another. A perfect wine to drink and enjoy in many occasions and with a variety of fresh, medium textured and flavoured dishes.
Suggested dishes
Salad of fresh ripe Hawkes Bay nectarines, torn mozzarella, prosciutto, fresh basil, toasted hazelnuts, baby lettuce leaves sprinkled with a white wine vinaigrette.
Baked Citrus and Herb crusted monk fish with a hazelnut butter.
Unison New Zealand And Relax Wine 2022
…and Relax by Unison Red Wine 2022, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke’s Bay
Aromas and flavours of fresh black currant and raspberries, red plum flesh then layers of barrel flavours and baking spices. Taut, youthful, fresh, salivating and dry on the palate with flavours that mirror the bouquet. Tannins have a fine linear quality, a light dusty edge and offer a generous mouthfeel quality. Acidity carries the fruit and spices across the palate, adds a crispness and backbone to the wine. Well made and ready to drink form late 2023 through 2027+.
Raymond Chan Wine Reviews by Candice Chow
And Relax by Unison Vineyard Red Wine 2022, Hawke’s Bay 5*
Clear, dark ruby, lighter on the rim. The nose is vibrant and attractive with succulent blackberry, Doris plum, and a hint of floral and herb. Medium-light bodied, blackberry and Doris plum aromas fill the palate, along with sweet floral, sage, black pepper and a hint of meatiness. Supple tannins lightly dusted the palate with a silky texture. The succulent fruit remains the star of the show, supported by balanced acidity and a lingering finish.
This red wine is fresh, juicy and fun with soft, supple tannin and a moreish finish. Match with a lamb burger and char siu over the next 3 years. Made from Syrah from the Gimblett Gravels, fermented in stainless steel with many whole berries, pressed off after fermentation early with a basket press, and racked a few times over a few months to keep off settling lees and provide aeration. 12.4% alc. 18.5/20 pts (93 pts) Mar 2023
This will appear in Top 30 Wines Under $30 published mid April 23
Michael Cooper
Unison … and Relax (2022)
The highly drinkable, debut 2022 vintage (4*) is designed to be served at ambient temperature or chilled, as a ‘nouveau wine, ready for summer’ From Syrah grown in the Gimblett Gravels, Hawke’s Bay, it is deep ruby, with a floral, spicy bouquet. Medium to full- bodied, with excellent depth of plummy, spicy flavour, supple tannins and a smooth, lingering finish, it’ s already drinking well.
Details
Type: Red Wines
Variety: Branded and Other Red Wines
Vintage: 2022
Overall Rating for All Vintages Tasted: ★★★★ – 4 Stars
Unison 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 Note
Bold 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.
Unison New Zealand Symphony Syrah 2016
Grown, fermented, matured and bottled at Unison Vineyard
Vintage 2016
Unison Symphony Syrah is the ultimate Syrah of each vintage. We carefully make this wine from our oldest vines in the vineyard and by using small batch ferments with different yeasts together with multiple French and American Oak producers barrels helps us create complexity. Careful blending of our batches gives us our Symphony as each batch played its part.
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 batches of 2016 Syrah went into a mix of French and American barrels for the next 20 months. 25% of the barrels were new. The wine was bottled on the property in March 2018 and laid down to rest until its release December 2021
Tasting Note
Spice and berry fruit abound on the nose with aromas of blueberry and cranberry highlighted with five spice, vanilla and sweet leather.
Intense dark berry fruit flavours are wound around a dense core of dark spicy chocolate, with fine, lifted, supple tannins giving depth and structure.
Layered with flavours, Symphony Syrah glides over the palate with a bold and graceful balance between its fruit, acid and tannin.
Enjoy now (or cellar) with game meats, lamb or dark chocolate desserts.
Unison New Zealand Syrah Rocks Wine 2019
Grown, fermented, matured and bottled at Unison Vineyard
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
Vintage 2019
The start of the 2019 growing season was wet and cool, but this season will be remembered for the glorious last 3 months of fine warm dry weather allowing grapes to be picked in ideal conditions. Disease pressure was low; grapes were ripe with good flavour concentration and excellent sugar and acid balance.
Winemaking – hand crafted with attention to detail.
Fermented in small open topped vats, with daily manual working our ferments are carefully monitored to express the best of our vineyard. Our new wines macerate with their skins for up to three weeks after fermentation while we map the development and evolution of the fruit and tannin. When a balance point is reached we “devat” and basket pressed the grape skins. Syrah Rocks spent 20 months maturing in oak and was bottled on the property in Feb 2021.
Further maturation in bottle for a further 18 months before release Sept 2022
Tasting Note
Each swirl of the glass brings another layer of aromatics to add to the distinctive varietal Syrah aromas. Dark berry fruits, purple flowers and warm baking spices mingle with dried herbs and warm rocky earth notes.
Juicy and fleshy, with a silky texture and layers of flavour that develop as the wine dances boldly across the palate. Refreshing blueberries and black berry fruit flavours along with violets,
lavender and old rose give depth and complexity to the flavour profile.
Balanced, approachable and distinctive. Enjoy Rocks Syrah 2019 today, or cellar with care and enjoy over the next 5 years. The wine is very food friendly and will pair well with many cuisines, try with Asian and Indian food too! Vegan Friendly.
Unison Snazzy Sauvignon Blanc
“In true Unison fashion this wine is certainly not a mass produced NZ Sauvignon Blanc with just a tad over 1000 bottles produced! This has enabled us to craft a slightly different style of Sauvignon Blanc which we think is a very Snazzy, hope you agree.
Layers of gooseberry, passionfruit and crushed herbs jump out of the glass. In the mouth an explosion of lime zest, gooseberry and passionfruit linger with a freshness on the finish.”