Winemakers: Dermot Mc Collum & Dr Alan Limmer (consultant)
Region: Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Stonecroft
Stonecroft is a genuine boutique winery, which is family owned and operated. The first vineyard site was purchased in 1982, with
the intention of producing fruit to provide the foundation of high quality wines. Grapes are fro the Mere Road Vineyard and our
Tokarahi Vineyard at Roy's Hill. Maximum effort has gone into selecting the sites and developing the vineyards to produce high
quality fruit. Both vineyards are planted in very stony, free draining soil in two of Hawke's Bay's best viticultural sites (This area
is knowm as Gimblett Gravels). Consequently the wine styles in general are full bodied, soft, intensely fruity wines.
2009 Sauvignon Blanc
Beautiful scented, almost floral nose of tropical fruits, mango and a touch of lychee with a dash of capsicum. Nicely weighted frest clean palate, good balance with a nice fresh fine lingering acidity. As usual, this fruit is from the TeMata Woodthorpe vineyard.
2008 Syrah
Dark ruby red, lovely dense fragrant bouquet of violets and dark fruits. Lovely rounded textured palate, dense, balanced and fine grained spicey finish. I think this will be one of our best from an otherwise slightly difficult year.
2006 Syrah
Very deep dense red. Very fine fresh nose laced with white pepper aroma's , dark berry fruit and gentle background sweetness. Fine and densely flavoured, with spice and black berry fruit, even a hint of anise. Tannins are rich, lingering and dry. 8/10 Outstanding Sommnet.com
Stonecroft changed ownership on 1 June 2010. The new owners are Dermot McCollum and Andria Monin.
They will continue harvesting grapes at low yields and at optimum ripeness levels in order to achieve high quality fruit, which will be vinified using the traditional methods currently employed. They are committed to using organic methods and the current viticultural practices make this a natural next step, as the vineyards have been managed using a careful but non-interventionist approach. Dr. Alan Limmer has agreed to take on a consultancy role to provide us with the benefit of his extensive expertise in the wine industry.
HOME OF NEW ZEALANDS OLDEST SYRAH VINES (1984)
2009 Sauvignon Blanc
Beautiful scented, almost floral nose of tropical fruits, mango and a touch of lychee with a dash of capsicum. Nicely weighted frest clean palate, good balance with a nice fresh fine lingering acidity. As usual, this fruit is from the TeMata Woodthorpe vineyard.
2008 Syrah
Dark ruby red, lovely dense fragrant bouquet of violets and dark fruits. Lovely rounded textured palate, dense, balanced and fine grained spicey finish. I think this will be one of our best from an otherwise slightly difficult year.
2006 Syrah
Very deep dense red. Very fine fresh nose laced with white pepper aroma's , dark berry fruit and gentle background sweetness. Fine and densely flavoured, with spice and black berry fruit, even a hint of anise. Tannins are rich, lingering and dry. 8/10 Outstanding Sommnet.com
Stonecroft changed ownership on 1 June 2010. The new owners are Dermot McCollum and Andria Monin.
They will continue harvesting grapes at low yields and at optimum ripeness levels in order to achieve high quality fruit, which will be vinified using the traditional methods currently employed. They are committed to using organic methods and the current viticultural practices make this a natural next step, as the vineyards have been managed using a careful but non-interventionist approach. Dr. Alan Limmer has agreed to take on a consultancy role to provide us with the benefit of his extensive expertise in the wine industry.
HOME OF NEW ZEALANDS OLDEST SYRAH VINES (1984)