New Zealand has a particular ability to make aromatic wines like no other. The long summer days and the river strewn gravels contribute to the terroir of this enigmatic land. Dusky Sounds wines epitomise New Zealand’s unique personality. Strong varietal characters, lifted, pungent aromatics, along with clean and inviting flavours.

Dusky Sounds Malborough Sauvignon Blanc

It is the cold, slow and gentle fermentation (12 C) that yields the intense aromas of this delicious wine.  A concentrated and complex wine with powerful passionfruit and white current, and underlying grapefruit and mineral notes. The wine is pleasingly rich and powerful with a well balanced acidity that leads to a long lingering finish.

“Fresh, tangy…” (2008 vintage)
“Fresh, tangy wine with aromatic grassy/lemon grass flavours. Balanced Sauvignon Blanc with soft acidity and an attractive lightness…”
Bob Campbell MW, BobsWineReviews.com

2 Blue Gold Awards (2008 vintage) - Sydney International Wine Competition 2009
3 Silver Medals (2008 vintage) - International Wine and Spirit Competition 2008

Dusky Sounds Waipara Riesling

3 Silver Medals (2008 vintage) - International Wine and Spirit Competition 2008

Dusky Sounds Gisborne Chardonnay

Best of Class (2007 vintage) – Pacific Rim International Wine Competition 2008

Munamuna wines from Marlborough.  Munamuna, meaning ‘to be secret’ or ‘covert’ in New Zealand’s native Maori tongue, is fitting for their wines. Munamuna feel anything worth having is worth protecting, and were they to reveal the location of the vineyards sourced for Munamuna, competition would force their prices higher significantly. High security fencing in the heart of some of Marlborough’s greatest vineyards has spurred rumours for years, but rumours are rarely true. The last person who new of their source tried to on-sell this information to their competitors and was last seen on a small fishing boat talking on a satellite phone in one of the local inlets. What they can tell you is the fruit used in their wine is from the Marlborough region or they couldn’t put it on the label. Please enjoy, but don’t tell anyone.

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Tim and Judy Finn planted their first vines in 1978 on a gentle north facing slope above the Moutere Valley.  The Moutere Hills at the top of the South Island are one of New Zealand’s sunniest spots, but the gravely clay soils retain just enough moisture to support grapevines through the dry summer months without the need for irrigation. Closely planted, low cropped vines combine with Tim Finn’s sympathetic winemaking to create wines of balance, texture and length, and above all, individuality.

Independent sommeliers Dan Sims and Ben Edwards take a tour of New Zealand’s North and South Island Pinot Noirs, featuring Neudorf Vineyards’ 2008 ‘Moutere’ Pinot Noir:

Neudorf Vineyards

Oz Clarke’s Best Producers in New Zealand 2010 for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc
Oz Clarke

Greatest Wine Producer in New Zealand for 2009
Tom Stevenson, Wine Guide, 2009

Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand Accredited Winery
Neudorf were instrumental in helping establish the Sustainable Winegrowing NZ scheme.
www.nzwine.com/swnz

“There aren’t many winemakers of whom you can say that they never make a bad wine, but Judy and Tim Finn are in this small elite group.”
Antony Rose, The Independent, UK, 2009

“Neudorf Chardonnay put Nelson on the quality map 20 years ago and continues to rate as New Zealand’s best.”
Decanter, UK, March, 2008

“Neudorf is undoubtedly one of the leading wineries in New Zealand.”
Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

Neudorf Vineyards ‘Moutere’ Chardonnay

Top new white release and 97/100 points (2008 vintage)
Australian Gourmet Traveller WINE, June/July 2010

5/5 stars (2008 vintage)
“Rich, intense and complex wine with strong stone fruit, grapefruit, mineral, nutty lees and classy oak flavours. Powerful wine that once again leads the pack. The best vintages of this label will continue to give pleasure after a decade in the bottle.”
Bob Campbell MW

Trophy (Top Chardonnay) and Best White Wine (2007 vintage)
Invitation only competition to judge the best wines from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa
Tri Nations Wine Challenge 2009

97/100 points (2007 vintage)
“This wine cements Neudorf’s reputation as this country’s finest Chardonnay maker”
“It is intense, complex and seductive. Creamy–textured palate and flavours that span hazelnut, grapefruit, brioche, mineral and classy spicy oak.”
Bob Campbell MW, Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine, March 2009

“The Finns make some of my favourite New Zealand wines… I drink Judy and Tim’s wines with enormous pleasure on a regular basis… I will toast their next 25 years the next time I pull the cork on a bottle of Moutere Chardonnay.”
Tim Atkin MW, The Observer, UK

“It’s a bold statement to say Neudorf makes New Zealand’s best Chardonnays but I’ve seen them perform with distinction in blind tastings against good vintages of Bâtard- Montrachet from top producers.”
Bob Campbell MW

“Moutere Chardonnay would fool many into thinking it was a fine, white Burgundy”
“When grapes are turned into wine by winemakers as talented as Tim Finn, the results can be spectacular. His Moutere Chardonnay would fool many into thinking it was a fine, white Burgundy (it is priced as one, deservedly).”
Jancis Robinson MW, UK

Neudorf Vineyards ‘Moutere’ Pinot Noir

Equal top red release and 95/100 points (2008 vintage)
Australian Gourmet Traveller WINE, June/July 2010

“That’s a delicious wine.” (2008 vintage)
Dan Sims, The Wine Guide, Cheers TV Episode #8, Crikey.com.au, June 2010

5/5 stars (2008 vintage)
“Dense, powerful and yet supremely elegant wine with an appealing mix of floral, red cherry, Oriental spice and spicy oak flavours. Complex wine that needs decanting to fully expose its range of flavours. Will cellar well.”
Bob Campbell MW

“one of the most Burgundian Pinots outside Burgundy”
Jancis Robinson MW, Financial Times, UK, 2009

“There is none more elegant than Neudorf Moutere Pinot Noir”
“There is none more elegant than Neudorf Moutere Pinot Noir; the dedicated and passionate owners Tim and Judy Finn coaxing the essence and metaphysical “pinosity” out of Pinot Noir, the Antipodean equivalent of Chamboille- Musigny, and currently my favourite wine of this style in the Southern Hemisphere.”
Curtis Marsh, Hong Kong Standard

Neudorf Vineyards ‘Moutere’ Riesling

“Moutere Riesling continues to drop jaws”
“Neudorf Vineyards is one of the most exciting white wine producers in New Zealand. Neudorf Moutere Riesling continues to drop jaws with a mind blowing combination of purity, sweetness and acidity.”
Matt Skinner, World Top 100 Wines 2010

2 Gold Medals and 2nd place for ‘Best Riesling’ (2007 vintage)
Invitation only competition to judge the best wines from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa
Tri Nations Wine Challenge 2009

Neudorf Vineyards ‘Home Vineyard’ Pinot Noir

5/5 stars (2006 vintage)
Cuisine Magazine, NZ, Annual Pinot Noir Tasting

18.5/20 points (2006 vintage)
“…a little more shy; the fruit spectrum is darker; blueberry, doris plum and morello cherry yet still retaining a lovely floral lift. A bigger, fuller wine with density and weight. Oak is there to support the fruit, giving a faint cinnamon and nutmeg background, but its influence is subtle. A multi layered wine, that changes and evolves in the glass.”
Jane Skilton MW, Independent Wine Monthly, NZ, June 2009

Neudorf Vineyards ‘Tom’s Block’ Pinot Noir

“Drop dead gorgeous” (2008 vintage)
“One of New Zealand’s best value examples of Pinot Noir is Neudorf’s Tom’s Block 08. Oodles of flavour, a drop dead gorgeous texture and a slightly rustic edge to help it stand out in a crowd. My wine match for the Christmas turkey.”
Bob Campbell MW, Air NZ Magazine, Dec 2009

Neudorf Vineyards ‘Nelson’ Chardonnay

5/5 stars (2008 vintage)
“Once again leads the pack”
“Rich, intense and complex wine with strong stone fruit, grapefruit, mineral, nutty lees and classy oak flavours. Powerful wine that once again leads the pack. The best vintages of this label will continue to give pleasure after a decade in the bottle.”
Bob Campbell MW

Neudorf Vineyards ‘Nelson’ Sauvignon Blanc

4/5 stars (2009 vintage)
“Classy rather than showy”
“Delicately aromatic Sauvignon Blanc in a restrained bone-dry style. Wild herbs, capsicum and mineral flavours. Racy acidity makes this a particularly good food wine. Classy rather than showy Sauvignon.”
Bob Campbell MW

MORE VIDEOS ABOUT NEUDORF VINEYARDS…

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The Darling was conceived in 2007 by Chris Darling and teaming up with Bart Arnst in 2008, it came to fruition. By selecting vineyards of high quality Chris and Bart aim to produce a number of different and interesting wines. These wines will show vineyard expression and regionality. Ultimately sourced from organic grapes. Together, Chris and Bart have 30 years wine industry experience which produces a great platform to make great wine.

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The Waipara Valley is now the fastest growing wine region in New Zealand and Waipara Hills with its 800 acres of Waipara vineyards and impressive new 2500 tonne winery and restaurant complex is now the largest producer in the region and one of the few remaining “family owned” New Zealand wine companies with scale.

In less than 10 years, Waipara Hills have received more than 200 awards – proof they are living up to their self-imposed high standards.

Waipara Hills ‘Soul of the South’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

3 Gold Medals (2009 vintage) – Liquourland Top 100 Awards 2010 (NZ), New Zealand International Wine Show 2009 and New Zealand Royal Easter Wine Show 2010

Blue Gold Award (2009 vintage) - Sydney International Wine Competition 2010

4.5/5 stars (2009 vintage) - Cuisine Magazine (NZ), Dec 2009

(2009 vintage)
“A very elegant style, with notes of blackcurrant leaf and stone fruits. The full flavoured and quite complex palate is supported by a zesty acidity and lots of lime juice on the finish.”
Decanter Magazine, UK, March 2010

Waipara Hills ‘Southern Cross Selection’ Central Otago Pinot Noir

Trophy, Fairfax Media Champion Open Red Wine (2008 vintage) - Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2009

2 Gold Medals (2008 vintage) - New Zealand International Wine Show 2009 and International Wine Challenge 2010, London

“…richly flavoured, silky in texture, fine and persistent. (…)” (2008 vintage)
“From the southern tip of New Zealand’s South Island comes this delicious pinot grom Waipara Hills where a blend of clones, rootstocks and fairly high density planting has produced a lush Central Otago pinot with an intense nose of dark cherries, red fruits, spice, smoke and brambles.  The palate is richly flavoured, silky in texture, fine and persistent.  Seven months in oak – only 30 per cent of which was new – makes for a pleasant surprise.  Drink it with salt-baked salmon and lentils.”
Matt Skinner, Matt Skinner’s Wine Guide 2011

(2008 vintage)
“Wild Pinot Noir just as one would expect from the South Island. Vibrant juicy red cherries on the nose and a whiff of wild thyme. Soft succulent entry, briary then alive and refreshing, lots of lovely little red fruits and fine dusty tannins that give the wine real length. New Zealand Pinot Noir for the world.”
Air New Zealand Awards Dinner 2009

Waipara Hills ‘Soul of the South’ Waipara Pinot Gris

Blue Gold (2008 vintage) - Sydney International Wine Competition 2010

Waipara Hills ‘Soul of the South’ Waipara Pinot Noir

(2008 vintage)
“Aromas of cherries and wild herbs precede berry and tamarillo fruit with spicy, savoury tendencies. The tannins are rounded and the acidity firm.”
TiZwine, 2009