ALT WINES
CLAY POT POTION – NUMBER 1: Sauvignon Blanc
The Elevator Pitch:
Sauvignon Blanc fermented and aged in a clay ceramic sphere.
Aim: To make a different take on Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that isn’t focused on the typical herbaceous characters and hard acidity.
Year: 2021
1 Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Dry | Straw Yellow | Notes of Grapefruit, Pineapple and Lime | Lush body | Juicy acidity | Long textural finish.
Label: Acrylic painting by Brad (the Winemaker)
Serving Suggestion: Chilled.
Aging Suggestion: 1-3+ years
Winemaking Chat: The Clay Ceramic sphere that this wine was made in resembles a Cauldron, hence the name – Clay Pot Potion. It differs from Terracotta, in that, Terracotta is a low fire clay, and Clay Cermic is a high fire clay. This results in wines which are more refined and vibrant, with good longevity.
The juice was a blend of 80% Awatere and 20% Waihopai, that was fermented with high solids to bring texture and produce a wine that develops grapefruit characters with time. Lees stirring was carried out every week during the 8-month aging in the Clayver.
May contain natural sediments such as yeast lees and tartrates.
#NonMagicalPotion
CLAY POT POTION – NUMBER 2: Chardonnay
The Elevator Pitch:
Chardonnay fermented and aged in a clay ceramic sphere.
Aim: To make a delicious unoaked Chardonnay that still has volume and complexity.
Year: 2021
1 Variety: Chardonnay
Dry |Pale yellow | Notes of lemon curd, buttered brioche, and almond | Lush body | Juicy acidity | Long textural finish
Label: Acrylic painting by Brad (the Winemaker)
Serving Suggestion: Lightly Chilled.
Aging Suggestion: 1-5+ years
Winemaking Chat: The Clay Ceramic sphere that this wine was made in resembles a Cauldron, hence the name – Clay Pot Potion. It differs from Terracotta, in that, Terracotta is a low fire clay, and Clay Cermic is a high fire clay. This results in wines which are more refined and vibrant, with good longevity.
The juice is from whole bunch pressed Mendoza Clone and was fermented with high solids to bring texture and produce a wine volume, texture and complexity. Lees stirring was carried out every week during the 8-month aging in the Clayver.
May contain natural sediments such as yeast lees and tartrates.
#NonMagicalPotion
CLAY POT POTION – NUMBER 3: Pinot Noir
The Elevator Pitch:
Pinot Noir fermented and aged in a clay ceramic sphere.
Aim: To make a luscious unoaked Pinot Noir that has vibrant aromatics, juicy acidity, and light tannins.
Year: 2021
1 Variety: Pinot Noir
Ruby red | Notes of Raspberry, cherry and boysenberry | Lush body, Juicy acidity and gentle tannins to finish.
Label: Acrylic painting by Brad (the Winemaker)
Serving Suggestion: Lightly Chilled or at room temperature.
Aging Suggestion: 1-5+ years
Winemaking Chat: The Clay Ceramic sphere that this wine was made in resembles a Cauldron, hence the name – Clay Pot Potion. It differs from Terracotta, in that, Terracotta is a low fire clay, and Clay Cermic is a high fire clay. This results in wines which are more refined and vibrant, with good longevity.
Clone 5 Pinot Noir spent a period of 3 weeks on skins to produce a wine with vibrant red fruit characters, and a lush, juicy palate with gentle tannins. The wine then spent 8 months aging in the Clayver.
May contain natural sediments such as yeast lees and tartrates.
#NonMagicalPotion
CLAY POT POTION – NUMBER 4: Rosé
The Elevator Pitch:
A Rosé fermented and aged in a clay ceramic sphere. This time, oak reclaimed from former Bourbon and Rum Barrels was used in during the winemaking process.
Aim: To make a delicious oaked Rosé that exhibits a balanced mix of the Clayver ferments of 2022.
Year: 2022
1 Variety: Pinot Noir
Dry | Pale Salmon pink | Notes of Raspberry, Peach, Rose petal and subtle vanilla | Lush body | Juicy acidity | Long textural finish.
Label: Acrylic and Airbrush painting by Brad (the Winemaker)
Serving Suggestion: Chilled.
Aging Suggestion: 1-5+ years
Winemaking Chat: The Clay Ceramic sphere that this wine was made in resembles a Cauldron, hence the name – Clay Pot Potion. It differs from Terracotta, in that, Terracotta is a low fire clay, and Clay Cermic is a high fire clay. This results in wines which are more refined and vibrant, with good longevity.
Two Clayvers of Pinot Noir juice were fermented with oak recovered from barrels previously used for Rum and Bourbon. This resulted in a rich, yet dry Rosé with pretty aromatics supported by a gentle oak influence, and a lush, textural palate. Lees stirring was carried out every week during the 8-month aging in the Clayver.
May contain natural sediments such as yeast lees and tartrates.
#NonMagicalPotion
ROSÉ 3-WAY
The Elevator Pitch:
3 Styles: Cold Ferment | Chardonnay Inspired Ferment | Carbonic Maceration
2 Varieties: Pinot Noir with a splash of Gewurztraminer.
Dry | Part Malolactic Fermentation | Subtle Oak
Watermelon Pink | Punchy yet Elegant Aromatics | Lush Body | Juicy Acidity
Label: Spray paint art by Brad (the Winemaker)
Serving Suggestion: Chilled.
Aging Suggestion: 1-3+ years
Winemaking Chat: The name of this wine came about due to the 3 different styles of wine which it is made from, which are different methods to traditional Rosé winemaking.
With Rosé having the potential be the perfect transition wine for white wine drinkers wanting to progress to red wine, the aim was to make a Rosé that sits halfway between white wine and red wine, as opposed to the current norm which sits closer to white wine.
This means moving away from a typical Rosé with its residual sugar and introducing some oak. Being dry, the wine would be lacking the volume of its sweeter counterparts. Therefore, Rosé 3-way was designed to have components that would make up for this and provide cushy volume and juicy acidity, in place of sweetness.
#Rosé3Way
WINTER SOLDIER:
WINTER ROSÉ – CHAPTER 3: RED MOON RISING
The Elevator Pitch:
2023: Pinot Noir Rosé | Skin fermented Pinot Noir | Carbonically macerated to skin fermented Gewurztraminer | Carbonically macerated Pinot Noir| Oak recovered from used Rum and Jim Beam barrels.
Dry | Malolactic Fermentation | Integrated oak
Mid Strawberry colour | Notes of raspberry, strawberry, melon and pineapple, supported by vanilla and spice | Rich, generous body | Piquant Acidity | Textural | Chalky tannins | A long spicy melon finish.
Label: Brush painted with spray paint by Brad (the Winemaker)
Serving Suggestion: Room temperature during winter.
Aging Suggestion: 1-3+ years
Winemaking Chat: Why isn’t there a Rosé for winter? Most Rosés are made as a refreshing summer drink with fruity aromatics, vibrant acidity and a touch of sweetness. What if there was a Rosé specifically made for the winter months?
Introducing: Winter Soldier – Winter Rosé
This is a winemaking journey to discover what works best as a Winter Rosé. Each year the Winter Soldier will be made in a different way… which way will be the best? Follow the journey of the Winter Soldier to find out.
The aim is to make a Rosé that has volume and texture, while maintaining the red fruit aromatics and introducing some lightly toasted oak notes.
The wine needs to be appropriately balanced for consumption at room temperature and be generous enough to be inviting on a cold winters evening.
#RoséWillSoldierOn #WinterRosé #RoséRevolution #RoomTempRosé