2011 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 2011 is consistent with previous vintages: perfumed mineral notes with a white peach/nectarine fruit background. Dry, with a core of vibrant acidity balanced by ripe fruit and great length of flavour.
Awards and Reviews
5 Stars – Michael Cooper
5 Stars – Raymond Chan, October 2011
5 Stars – Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Jan 2012
5 Stars – John Saker
Highlighted in “Metro Magazine 100 Wines of Summer”
2009 Valli Gibbston Vineyard Pinot Noir
Winemaker Grant Taylor describes this 2009 as “quintessential Gibbston” and possibly his best Pinot Noir to date. Highly perfumed with layers of aromatics, sweet earth, and dried herb spiciness, hints of floral violet and red fruits. Concentrated with long silky texture and flavours wrapped around a bright acid core, balanced by very fine ripe tannins. Consistency through palate, length and perfect balance define this wine.
Awards and Reviews
5 Stars – Raymond Chan, October 2011
5 Stars – John Saker
91-93 Points – Stephen Tanzer, September 2011
4 1/2 Stars – Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
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
2009 Valli Bannockburn Vineyard Pinot Noir
Ripe dark plum fruit, with all sorts of other notes adding complexity: roasted coffee, nutmeg, cola and much more. Very beguiling aromatically. This wine has Bannockburn’s sweet concentrated fruit, framed, and given structure by integrated ripe tannin and acid. It is all about power with restraint.
Awards and Reviews
Gold Medal – Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2011
5 Stars – Raymond Chan, October 2011
92+ Points – Stephen Tanzer, September 2011
5 Stars, 94 Points – Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, January 2012
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
2008 Valli Row 36 Pinot Noir Magnum
To ensure the best fruit possible the Valli estate vineyard in Gibbston has been planted with true North-South orientation, guaranteeing equal sun exposure and perfect uniformity of ripeness.
Consequently the vineyard is diamond-shaped, with shorter rows on the sides and the longest in the middle. This longest row is number 36, also called the 'thinking row' because when working in it there is more time for the mind to wander and come up with ideas. (It can be a very dangerous row.)
For harvest 2007 I had the help of Josselin de Gesincourt (New Zealand Sommelier of the Year, 2007). While picking row 36, Josselin decided it should be made separately, bottled in magnums and labelled 'Row 36'. However from a winemaking and wine quality point of view this was not practical.
Joss was not to be dissuaded. Wanting to get on with harvest, an agreement was reached, I would make the wines (after all I am the winemaker), but before blending he would get to taste every barrel. If his favourite barrel was the same as mine it would be bottled separately in magnums and labelled 'Row 36'.
Thinking that would be the end, and that all would be forgotten, I was in for two surprises. First, Joss turned up 10 months later to taste (and my best efforts to sabotage his memory only ended up with a seriously depleted cellar). And second, when we each revealed our favourite barrel, secretly written down after tasting over 30, we had both selected the same one!
So 'Row 36' was born. It is simply the very best single barrel from the 2008 vintage.
2011 Valli Dolce Vita Late Harvest Riesling
Dolce Vita: Italian for the "Sweet Life". If making wine in Central Otago is not the sweet life, then I don't know what is. A dessert style with ripe stone fruit, dried apricot and honeysuckle aromatics. Sweet flavour laden front palate with a counter point of refreshing acidity, which carries the fruit flavours creating great length and balance.
Awards and Reviews
5 Stars – Michael Cooper
5 Stars – Raymond Chan, October 2011
5 Stars – Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, January 2012
5 Stars – Bob Campbell, November 2011