New Zealand white wine / Good Wine Online

A wonderful country. I spent a year in New Zealand and toured both north and south islands. Wine making is a relatively new venture in the land of the long white cloud. There were virtually no grapes planted on south island until the 1970s! And already cool climate Marlborough has given the world a completely new style of wine with it's sensational sauvignon blanc. Love it or hate it, there's no other wine in the world like it. The cooler climate of the south island is also ideal for pinot noir and they make some stunning examples. As all the vineyards are virtually new, it's the pioneering spirit of couples and families that has been the back bone of New Zealand wine, while the rest of the world was being dominated by corporate brands. If you want a truly oustanding wine go for one that is family owned. The ones I'm recommending are superb.

Morton Estates Winery

We are delighted to be working with John Coney of Morton Estates to bring his wines once again to the UK consumer. They are frankly sensational. Morton Estates are one of New Zealand's very best wine producers and are proudly independent, producing some of the finest wines in the world, confirmed by their impressive collection of international awards.

They own several of the best vineyards in Marlborough and Hawke's Bay, and they control every aspect of the wine making process from grape selection to bottle closure - a rare attribute these days. Their wines are listed at some of the finest hotels in the world including the Savoy and the Ritz in London, Tokyo American Club, Les Bookinistes in Paris, Montage in San Francisco and the Peak Cafe in Hong Kong. They have been invited to pour at the New York Wine Experience a remarkable three times - a feat reserved for the world's top 200 Chateaux.

Yet John's very down to earth and is genuinely thrilled to see his wine appreciated on it's own merits. I've never before met a wine maker who makes so many consistently good wines. I cannot recommend them enough.

Morton Estates Coniglio Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2002 75cl

Winner 'Best Worldwide Chardonnay over £10' for second year in succession at Decanter World Wine Awards.

This wine is only produced in execptional years when the conditions are just right for producing perfect fruit. The grapes for this wine are selected by hand, whole bunch pressed then fermented and matured on the lees in new French oak barriques. The result is a stunning wine of exceptional style and elegance, soft yet full in the mouth with supreme length. And the potential to age for years to come. Each bottle has an individual bottle number and comes with it's own gift box. This wine is frankly sensational.

Morton Estate Website
Price: £29.38 (Including VAT at 17.5% )

Sulphites:
Awards:	Decanter
John's Rating	95 Points

Quantity: Bottle(s)

Morton Estates Coniglio Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2002 75cl

Morton Estates Hawkes Bay White Label Chardonnay 2006 75cl

This is Morton's best known Chardonnay and one of their most successful wines, having received numerous accolades over the years. I personally believe it's a fantastic wine. Having been disappointed with other Hawke's Bay Chardonnays in the past I was really suprised just how good this wine is. Fermented and aged in French oak barriques, this wine has lovely fruit flavours with a creamy texture, similar to Champagne - without the bubbles of course. A well rounded palate, full in the mouth with persistent flavours and good length. Very enjoyable on it's own but will pair very well with poultry, fish and light meats. Highly recommended.

Morton Estate Website
Price: £8.23 (Including VAT at 17.5% )

Sulphites:
John's Rating

Quantity: Bottle(s)

Morton Estates Hawkes Bay White Label Chardonnay 2006 75cl

Morton Estates Hawkes Bay Black Label Chardonnay 2004 75cl

Bob Campbell 96/100 Gourmet Traveller Wine 2007.

Made from fruit from their Riverview vineyard, fermented in new French oak then aged for a further twelve months, again in French oak. This is a rich, full wine with intense fruit and a dry finish. Another great wine in a different style to the White Label Chardonnay above. This Black Label is a little fuller and richer suited to richer foods, or to savour on it's own.

Morton Estate Website
Price: £12.98 (Including VAT at 17.5% )

Sulphites:
Awards:	Bob Campbell
John's Rating

Quantity: Bottle(s)

Morton Estates Hawkes Bay Black Label Chardonnay 2004 75cl

Morton Estates Marlborough Black Label Sauvignon Black 2007 75cl

Aromas of passionfruit on the nose. Fermented in stainless steel to retain freshness, this wine has a rounded palate with a little more body than their White Label. It's also a little more subtle, structured and elegant with good balancing acidity and a long finish. Due to the extra body it pairs well with seafood cooked in butter or oil such as garlic king prawns or rich fish dishes.

Morton Estate Website
Price: £12.98 (Including VAT at 17.5% )

Sulphites:
John's Rating

Quantity: Bottle(s)

Morton Estates Marlborough Black Label Sauvignon Black 2007 75cl

Morton Estates Marlborough White Label Sauvignon Blanc 2007 75cl

Silver Medal Royal Easter Show 2008.

This is a superb traditional Marlborough Sauvignon. Bags of citrus flavours, well balanced with just the right acidity to cleanse the palate. Really good length too. This is a very enjoyable bottle of wine.

Morton Estate Website
Price: £8.23 (Including VAT at 17.5% )

Sulphites:
Awards:	RES
John's Rating

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Morton Estates Marlborough White Label Sauvignon Blanc 2007 75cl

Morton Estates Marlborough Stonecreek Sauvignon Black 2007 75cl

Silver Medal Royal Easter Show 2008.

A single vineyard Sauvignon, the 2007 fruit was optimum quality. This is a showcase wine for Marlborough Sauvignon with plenty of gooseberry fruit and grassy aromas. Intense fruit on the nose with delicate structured fruit on the palate and persistent flavour. Ideally suited to seafood or to savour on it's own.

Morton Estate Website
Price: £9.22 (Including VAT at 17.5% )

Sulphites:
John's Rating

Quantity: Bottle(s)

Morton Estates Marlborough Stonecreek Sauvignon Black 2007 75cl

Morton Estates Hawkes Bay White Label Pinot Grigio 2007 75cl

Silver New World Wine Awards 2007. Silver San Francisco Wine Awards 2006.

The grapes for this wine come from their Kinross vineyard, harvested at optimum maturity then fermented in stainless steel. An enticing nose of tropical fruit, unusual for a Pinot Grigio as most of the European versions, tend to be aromatically challenged! This wine has more body than you'd first expect from the nose, due in part to it's maturation in French oak. Packed with flavour with just the right body and mouth feel, with a long lingering floral finish. This wine is fantastic. I realise New Zealand isn't famous for Pinot Grigio but you really should give this wine a try, it's absolutely delicious. Pair with fish or poultry or just enjoy on it's own.

Morton Estate Website
Price: £8.23 (Including VAT at 17.5% )

Sulphites:
Awards:	NWWA
John's Rating	90 Points

Quantity: Bottle(s)

Morton Estates Hawkes Bay White Label Pinot Grigio 2007 75cl

Walnut Block Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 75cl

13.5% abv. A fantastic wine from a small family estate. The wine is made by Nigel and Clyde Sowman from a small block of vines in their parents' vineyard. It has a walnut tree in the middle - hence the name, and produces the best fruit in the entire vineyard. Clyde worked at the wine department in Harrods for a time and this inspired him to return to New Zealand to 'make the best Sauvignon possible' in Marlborough. They pay enormous attention to detail and hand pick all the grapes. Terry, their father, tells me they even ear mark specific vines or even individual bunches of grapes for this wine. Although they haven't applied for certification, the vineyards are managed organically as this produces the best results. We're delighted to be able to offer this wine for sale as it reflects our own personal preference for top quality wines made with passion, not just for profit.

Great nose of typical gooseberry fruit followed by strong gooseberry flavours in the mouth. Crisp and fresh, and very, very long. This is a superb example of Marlborough Sauvignon. Delicious. Check out

Walnut Block Website
Price: £10.56 (Including VAT at 17.5% )

Sulphites:
John's Rating	85 Points

Quantity: Bottle(s)

Walnut Block Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 75cl

Blicks Lane Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 75cl

Wine Spectator 90 points & 'Best Value Wine'. 13% abv. This is the entry level Sauvignon from Clyde and Nigel Sowman (see Walnut Block above). Very floral nose, reminiscent of pear drops! Pear drop like flavours too, as opposed to the traditional gooseberry. I found it a little too perfumed and sweetly flavoured for my taste, but if you like this style it's pretty good.
Price: £8.21 (Including VAT at 17.5% )

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John's Rating

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Blicks Lane Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 75cl

Mount Cass Waipara Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2006 75cl

13.5% abv. An excellent Sauvignon from the emerging Waipara Valley in Canterbury, south of Marlborough. The vineyards enjoy their own unique mesoclimate, sheltered by Mount Cass, producing a wine with intense floral aromas and great fruit on the palate, cut by balancing acidity to leave a crisp finish with good length.
Price: £8.81 (Including VAT at 17.5% )

Sulphites:
John's Rating

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Mount Cass Waipara Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2006 75cl

Alan McCorkindale Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2006 75cl

13.5% abv. Alan was the winemaker at Cloudy Bay before leaving to start his own winery. His Sauv Blanc is fantastic. Really floral nose and intense fruit on the palate. Well balanced with a very long finish. One of the very best Marlborough Sauvignons I have ever tasted and at half the price of Cloudy Bay! Superb.
Price: £9.11 (Including VAT at 17.5% )

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John's Rating

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Alan McCorkindale Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2006 75cl

Alan McCorkindale Chardonnay 2004 75cl Price: £9.48 (Including VAT at 17.5% )	Quantity: