2008 Valli Gibbston Vineyard Pinot Noir
“...Good example of Gibbston Pinot shows amazingly seductive perfume and elegant mouthfeel, and this beauty shows just that. The nose is ripe and fragrant displaying red/black cherry, spice, mushroom and a touch of dried herb characters. It’s beautifully fruited on the palate showing silky texture and grainy tannins, flavours are seamlessly fused and shows excellent poise and balance.
Awards and Reviews
93 Points, 5 Stars – Sam Kim, Wine Orbit July 2010
4 Stars Winestate, November - December 2010
Gold Medal, London International Wine Competition
91 Points, Wine Enthusiast, May 2010
2008 Valli Bannockburn Vineyard Pinot Noir
Perfumed, ripe plum fruit, mocha and toffee notes. Rich ripe dense fruit,
up front power layered with complex spice from barrels and use
of whole bunches.
Awards and Reviews
Gold Medal – 2010 International Wine Show
Gold Medal – 2010 Air New Zealand Wine Awards
Gold Medal – 2010 Tri-Nations Wine Challenge
5 Stars - Winestate, November - December 2010
93 Points, 5 Stars – Sam Kim, Wine Orbit July 2010
93 Points, 5 Stars – Bob Campbell, Master of Wine
Wine Enthusiast May 2010 Editors Choice
Top Rated 2008 NZ Pinot Noir, Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine, March 2010
2010 Valli Old Vine Riesling
This wine has been produced from some of the South Islands oldest grape vines,
(planted near Alexandra in 1981).
Of all New Zealand’s grape growing regions Alexandra has the greatest diurnal temperature range, perfect for Riesling, the hot days mean the fruit fully ripens while the cool nights help retain its acidity. The Valli Old Vine Riesling style is consistent with previous vintages, aromatically very perfumed; white peach and ripe stone fruits, with a hint of clean dusty crushed rock, (the minerality associated with this variety).
It is a dry Riesling, with the acidly being balanced by a core of concentrated ripe fruit and depth of flavour only old vines and low cropping levels can achieve.
As only one hectare of these old vines exists, production is very limited with less than 400 cases made annually. The philosophy behind the Riesling is the same as for all Valli wines; show a sense of place, work well with food and have the ability to age and improve over time, we expect it to be alive and well in 10 years so well worth cellaring and watching evolve.Awards and Reviews
Highlighted in 100 Must-try New Zealand Wines, Michael Cooper
4 Stars – Bob Campbell, Master of Wine
4 Stars – Otago Daily Times, April 2010
2008 Valli Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir
The Waitaki Valley in North Otago is New Zealand’s newest, and one of its most exciting wine
producing regions.
The soils, like those of Burgundy are limestone based and like the more limestone rich parts of Burgundy the Waitaki Valley produces quite ethereal Pinot Noirs.
The renowned American Wine writer Steven Tanzer has described them as having the “delicacy and weightlessness that comes from limestone rich soils”. We couldn’t agree more and often use the term “lightness of being” in relation to the best Waitaki Pinots as there is serious substance to them yet they are light and lively on the palate. They have amazingly perfumed aromatics; talc, crushed limestone, dried herb, spice and red berry fruit. Often not picked till mid May the grapes benefit from a long “hang time” before harvest producing wines with very fine, ripe integrated tannins and incredible length of flavour.
Valli has been producing wines from the Waitaki since 2004, we have seen a consistency in style and sense of place across all vintages indicating it has what’s needed to be recognized as one of the world’s great wine regions.