Neudorf Road, Upper Moutere, Nelson
www.neudorf.co.nz
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