Hawksdrift

Description

Hawksdrift is a family-owned vineyard, located in the Dillons Point region of Marlborough. Murray and Robyn Butt were among the first to pioneer growing grapes in this area. Before they took their first steps into viticulture, in 1998, they farmed the land conventionally, growing crops and raising livestock. The Dillons Point area is in the East of Marlborough, near the sea coast. It lies close to sea level and has deep, fertile soils. Shelter from the Wither Hills range, contributes to a long, hot ripening season, meaning, the fruit is left to ripen when other, cooler areas have shut down. This long hang time develops fully ripened summer flavours in the fruitosure, making it one of the most prosperous locales of the region set to the production of ‘Vinho Verde’.Hand-picked fruit from vines 16 years old and fermented mainly by indigenous yeasts in seasoned French oak barriques to 13.8% alc., the wine aged 10 months in oak with 33% malolactic fermentation, undergoing batonnage.

TASTING NOTES

Bright, even straw-yellow colour with pale golden hues, lighter on the edge. The nose is elegantly concentrated and firm with good intensity of ripe green stonefruits, showing nectarines and gooseberries, along with balanced creamy and nutty barrel-ferment notes. This has good freshness to the aromatics. Dry to taste and medium-full bodied, the palate has rich and deep flavours of green stonefruits, with nectarines and gooseberries to the fore, unfolding fresh herb notes, melded with creamy, butty barrel elements and subtle smoky nuances.

FOOD PAIRINGS

Asian-style seafood dishes – oysters, scallops, crab, clams, lobster, prawns – any shellfish with zingy flavours or a citrus or garlic marinade or dressing.