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Clearview Estate was the featured winery at
Tairua’s March Wine Club at Shells. I had been
looking forward to revisiting their fine wines and
hearing about news from their vineyard since their
last visit in 2013.
I love a buttery chard, and I could tell with my first
sip two years ago that so did Tim
Turvey, co-
owner of
Clearview Estate. It’s no wonder they are known as
NZ’s classic producer of a full-bodied chardonnay.
So you might imagine how devastated I was when I
realised (the day after) I had noted the revised date
incorrectly and had missed it. When I heard they
would be in Thames, I immediately made a booking
with Karl at GBD (in the historic Junction Hotel). It
was well worth the drive!
Tim could not make it this trip, but Clearview Estate
was well represented by the much prettier half of
the team, Lisa Clarke. She kept us engaged with her
extensive knowledge of wines and entertained with
all her fun ‘Tim stories’. (Better be there to defend
yourself next time, Tim!)
Lisa was bubbling over with enthusiasm about the
new winemaker on board, Matt Kirby. “What a great
new asset he is to Clearview Estate”, she said. Tim
oversees the vineyard and will be working closely
with Matt to create those legendary, much awarded
wines. Trained as a chef with a love of Chardonnay,
Syrah and Cabernet (as well as good beer), he’s sure
to have brought an expert palate as well.
Coming in at the top for me will always be the 5 star
rated Reserve Chardonnay – ‘clearly’ my all-time
favourite. They describe it well as “big, bold and
luscious with loads of stone fruit characters and a
delicious creamy caramel nose. Well integrated oak
with a balanced yet complex palate.” I look forward
to celebrating each issue going to press by toasting
with at least one glass!
This visit Lisa introduced me to their Beachhead
Chardonnay, called its ‘stable mate’, and I must say
I was impressed. It received a 4.5 star rating with
Winestate. It exhibits many of the characteristics
found in the Reserve at an attractive price point
(which means I can enjoy it more often!).
Long, cold, dark nights can only mean three
things – time to stoke the fire, put a tasty
lamb roast in the oven and then sit back in
your favourite chair savouring the best silky
Pinot Noirs from around the country! Winter
needn’t be such a bad thing after all!
There has always been huge debate among
Pinot lovers as to what region makes the
best drop, and, as with most wine, climate
and soil types are important, but possibly
most importantly with Pinot, is vine age.
There is a wee saying in wine circles that
“the older the vines, the better the wines”.
Martinborough has the oldest plantings of
Pinot in New Zealand, but not surprisingly,
its old foes Central Otago and Marlborough
(plums v cherries) battle for the top 10 rated
wines with five from each region being
awarded 5 star gold medals, with all
wines selected from the stunning
2013 vintage.
Here at Golddiggers Tairua, we
are showcasing 4 of these top
rated wines, with Central’s ultra
consistent Rockburn Winery lining
up for its second top ten rating in
consecutive years, testament to
the winery’s philosophy of minimal
handling of the fruit from harvest
to the bottle.
Terra Sancta Estate has enjoyed
Pinot success previously with
both their Estate and Mysterious
Diggings labels winning gold. This year their
Bannockburn Shingle Beach Pinot enhances
their reputation as fine Pinot producers
earning the stable yet another gold. (Their
funky label is a great talking point too!)
In similar fashion to Rockburn Winery,
Charcoal Gully Sallys Pinch Pinot has
also earned the label its second gold in
consecutive years, with this wine also picking
up a “Best Buy” accolade, and at $28.99 a
bottle, it just goes to show that you don’t
have to pay the earth for a good quality
Central Pinot!
Rounding out our selection of the Top
10 Wines, is Jules Taylor’s offering from
Marlborough with the judges calling this
Pinot “exuberant and approachable”. This
wine also attracted a “Best Buy” and it’s
easy to see why with its fruity perfume and
oak seasoning.
Like most red wines, Pinots benefit from
cellaring (up to 10 years), taking on a more
savoury quality with age, with tannins
softening considerably and giving rise to
forest floor mushroomy/barnyard aromas, with
a loss of its youthful colour vibrancy. Yum!!
Never decanted a red wine before pouring
it into your glass? Taking time to do this will
open up the wine so you can enjoy all this
variety has to offer. Pouring the wine into an
empty jug and then back into the bottle will
do the trick nicely!
Cheers!
A ‘Clear’ favourite
Lisa Clarke and
Tim Turvey of
Clearview Estate
Winery
WWW.COROMANDELLIFE.CO.NZ39
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by Gary Barker
Manager of Golddiggers in Tairua
Cold Beer // Wine // Spirits
RTDs //Non-Alcoholic
Coming in at the top
for me will always
be the 5 star rated
Reserve Chardonnay
– ‘clearly’ my all-
time favourite.
-TD
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