Awards & Accolades
PINOT NOIR
PINOT GRIS
SAUVIGNON BLANC
VIOGNIER
ROSE
RIESLING
CHARDONNAY
METHODE TRADITIONELLE
BORDEAUX REDS
PINOT NOIR
12,000 MILES PINOT NOIR 2011"This is a lovely soft, light, fruity pinot noir made with a portion of whole bunch maceration, which adds a soft explosion of fruit flavours; like the summer red pudding equivalent in a wine. " Joelle Thompson's, Dominion Post Wine Column, January 2011
12,000 MILES PINOT NOIR 2010
Bronze Medal New Zealand International Wine Show 2011
"...a wonderfully simple style of Pinot. None of the big, sweet fruit leaping out at you that you would get from Otago, just some bright fresh cherries and a little vegetal backbone to the aroma. The palate is fresh, well balanced and has a touch of sweet fruit coming through, but backed up by acid to keep it clean, an earthy element to give it structure and a bit of spice (white pepper maybe?) to jazz it up a touch! A delicious wine. 90pts" Peter Wood The Tasting Note February 2011
"Multi-clone mix including 5, 115, Abel and 10/5 from ‘Dakins Road', ‘Boyd' and ‘Biddeford' blocks destemmed, but with around 40% whole berries, fermented to 13.4% alc., the wine aged 10 months in French oak. Light ruby-red with youthful purple hues to the colour. This has a fresh, intense and moderately concentrated nose of dark cherry and red berry aromas with notes of spices and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, this has vibrant primary fruit flavours of juicy dark cherries with nuances of spices that unfold. Supple tannins provide supporting balance and soft textures while allowing the fruit to feature. The oaking is subtle with a faint resinous aspect, and the wine has a moderately long finish. Drink this approachable, fruit-featured wine with tuna, duck and mushroom dishes over the next 3-4+ years. 4 Stars 17.0-/20" Raymond Chan www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz August 2011
GLADSTONE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2009
Trophy, Best Pinot Noir, Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Competition 2010
Trophy, Best New World Pinot Noir, Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Competition 2010
Gold Medal Selections Mondiales des vins Canada 2011
Gold Medal New Zealand International Wine Show 2011
Silver Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2010
Silver Medal New Zealand International Wine Show 2010
Silver Medal Southern Hemisphere International Wine and Spirit Competition 2011
4 Stars Winestate Magazine
"I have not tried a better Pinot Noir from New Zealand in a long time and certainly not at this price. It is a touch fuller than it's little sister, with sweeter cherries and some tart raspberry coming off the nose. Plum with some savoury and spicy flavours emerge with an earthy element that is dark, yet not dominating. Christine has managed to embrace the spirit of Burgundy yet keep the wine definitely Kiwi. 96pts" Peter Wood The Tasting Note February 2011
"Aged for 11 months in French oak barrels, 25% new, the 2009 Pinot Noir offers a pale ruby-purple color and notes of warm cranberries, red currant and cherry compote over aromas of black pepper, cedar, cloves and violets. Full bodied and richly fruited in the mouth, it has a good backbone of crisp acid and medium level of grainy tannins, finishing long and a little warm, with the cedar poking through a bit. Drink it now to 2015." Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, October 2011.
"When you hear about a wine winning award after award overseas, you wonder how it will stack up when you taste it in its homeland amongst its peers. Well, it seems the gongs were justified. The wine in question came top in my book too – both in the initial tasting and again with the food that was put on the table." Sue Courtney, Wine of the Week, 8th August 2011. To hear the full review click here
"Lovely cherry and berry fruits here. Textured with some savoury, spicy complexity and a warm finish. Real elegance and good concentration of flavour. 92/100" www.wineanorak.com July 2011
"A beautiful drive from the southern tip of New Zealand's North Island and the city of Wellington brings you to Martinborough and the Wairarapa winemaking region. This lesser-known (although not deservedly) region is making some phenomenal Pinot Noirs like this one. A fantastic Pinot Noir that offers sweet, ripe raspberries, cherries, cedar and undertones of beet greens and pepper. The palate is silky, the fruit here is a bit darker and richer - there is plenty of coffee and spice flavours with hints of licorice. The finish is long and smooth - very impressive!"
Daenna Van Mulligen www.winediva.ca June 2011
"Another delicious vintage of pinot noir from the Wairarapa estate, this is silky and refined, with layers of tangy cherry fruit, savoury gamey strands, lifted rose-like florals and exotic spice." NZ Herald April 2011
"Grown in the northern Wairarapa, this is a substantial yet highly approachable red. Ruby-hued, it is mouthfilling and supple, with fresh, cherry and spice aromas and flavours, complex, savoury and supple. Drink now or cellar." Michael Cooper, NZ Listener Jan 2011
"Gladstone Vineyard Pinot Noir has had great success over the past several vintages, winning gold medals and trophies. The label can stand as an equal among the leaders from Martinborough if one wishes to make that comparison. Light ruby red with some garnet to the colour, this has an excellent, up-front, but elegant nose of ripe red fruits intermixed with florals and a savoury note. Quite classical in a Wairarapa style, the ripe, gamey, red fruitiness is well-supported by fine-grained, supple tannins that provide a silkiness of texture. Extremely drinkable now, this will develop over the next 4-6 years, during which it should merit a 5 star rating. 18.0+/20" Raymond Chan December 2010
"What a wine, Jim. I absolutely adore this wine. It's easy to see why this swoon inducing pinot is already winning trophies. I couldn't fault it..." Yvonne Lorkin on Afternoons with Jim Mora, Radio New Zealand, Friday 17 December 2010. To hear the full review, click here.
"Gladstone Vineyard are well-known for their elegantly framed complex Pinots. This 2009 offering is an outstanding wine with the usual poise and complexity together with extra richness and density, displaying dark cherry, spice, dried herb and subtle savoury mushroom characters on the nose. The palate is succulent and velvety with excellent mid palate weight and beautifully polished tannins. At its best: now to 2016. 5 Stars 94/100" www.wineorbit.co.nz
"Subtle forest floor aromas are overtaken by the sweet, ripe fruit in the palate. There are also some interesting spicy notes and well integrated tannins and balanced oak. Fulsome and well made. 4 Stars" www.tizwine.com
Wine Diva, Daenna Van Mulligen talks about her recent trip to New Zealand and what she learnt about the country, its people and the flourishing wine industry, including Gladstone Vineyard Pinot Noir. 13 May 2011:
12,000 MILES PINOT NOIR 2009
Gold Medal Royal Easter Show 2011
Top 100 and Blue-Gold Medal Sydney International Wine Competition 2010
Silver Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2010
Silver Medal New Zealand International Wine Show 2010
4.5 Stars Winestate Magazine
"Nicely aromatic with savoury, spicy notes and cherry fruit. The palate has appealing red berry and cherry fruit with some spiciness and a lively finish, together with subtle green notes. An elegant style. 91/100" www.wineanorak.com July 2011
"Ripe and fragrant, the bouquet displays red/black cherry, plum and spice characters with a touch of savoury mushroom. The palate is elegantly fruited and textured with a smooth mouthfeel and gentle tannins. A pleasing Pinot with excellent varietal expression. At its best: now to 2013. 4 Stars 87/100" www.wineorbit.co.nz
"...sweet, spicy fruit on the nose and a more savoury, plummy style in the palate. This style is complimented by chalky tannins and a healthy acidity to create a bold, full bodied wine that works especially well with food. 4 Stars Best Buy" www.tizwine.com
Gold Medal New Zealand International Wine Show 2010
Gold Medal International Wine Challenge London 2010
Silver Medal Royal Easter Wine Show 2010
Silver Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2009
4 Stars, Cuisine Magazine November 2009
4 Stars Winestate Magazine May 2010
"Lovely, smoky bacon and vegetal character. Soft, quivering mid palate. Lots of fruit delivery and lovely tannins. Excellent expression of Pinot." International Wine Challenge judges May 2010
"Immediately appealing supple spiced cherry fruit, florals and nuances of chocolate are underpinned by an attractive freshness and complex lingering notes of mineral and toasty roasted spice in this intense and well-structured pinot from another good Gladstone estate." NZ Herald Viva Magazine April 2010
"Dense, fruity wine with Black Doris plum, violet and spicy oak flavours. Rich, mouth-filling Pinot Noir with an impressively lingering finish. Serious wine with potential. Four Stars." Bob Campbell 2009
“Gladstone’s cellar door is always worth a visit, especially with releases like this coming onstream. Perfumed and intense, it wowed the panel, especially Kate Radburnd who thought it “seamless”. “The acidity gives it spice and lift,” noted John Belsham. ” Cuisine Magazine November 2009
"Also delicious, the 2008 Pinot Noir, a great balance between pure red berry fruit and serious structure - very well priced also" Amy Wislocki, Decanter 22 January 2010
"The 2008 Pinot Noir is a gorgeous follow-on from the multi-gold winning 2006 release. Made from fruit from Gladstone Vineyard’s own blocks at Dakins Road and Bideford (plus a small amount from Te Muna Road!), this was cold soaked and fermented with 20% whole berries to 14.2% alc, the wine was aged for 10 months in 30% new French oak. The result is an elegantly sized wine with soft ruby colour, and a beautifully ethereal nose of florals, black and red fruits and spicy fragrances. The wine is lush and supple, and nuances of flavour unfold in the glass. The tannins are refined and there is sufficient structure to enable 6-8 years cellaring." Raymond Chan, Regional Wines and Spirits March 2010
"Finely scented, the 2008 vintage (4 stars) was hand-picked at Gladstone and matured for 10 months in French oak casks (30 per cent new.) A graceful, elegant rather than powerful style, it is intensely varietal, with vibrant, cherryish flavours, hints of herbs and spices, fresh acidity and supple tannins. Showing good, savoury complexity, it’s a drink-now or cellaring proposition." Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines 2011
12,000 MILES PINOT NOIR 2008
Silver Medal New Zealand International Wine Show 2009
4 Stars and Best Buy wine Tizwine.com August 2010
"...Gladstone’s 12,000 Miles Pinot Noir 2008 ($24.95) is all cherries and bacon on the nose, with a nostalgic hint of raisin packet. Beautifully weighted. Superb food wine. While fresh, it has enough structure to hold its own against any meal. We had it with an antipasto plate of rocket, boccocini, prosciutto and a liberal pour of picual olive oil." Capital Times Wine of the week, July 2009
GLADSTONE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2007
Wairarapa Pinot Noir Trophy and Gold Medal International Wine Challenge London 2009
Gold Medal New Zealand International Wine Competition 2008
Silver Medal Royal Easter Wine Show 2009
Silver Medal Liquorland Top 100 2008
Silver Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2008
"17/20. Drink 2008-10. Rich and round and a hint of coffee - good luscious fruit on the mid palate. Gladstone is a very serious producer, clearly."
Jancis Robson, Tasting Lea and Sandeman, London October, 2008
"Lovely vivid, fresh, pure sappy berry and cherry fruit nose. Great purity. Sweet, pure, fresh cherry fruit palate with real richness and depth. This is brilliant. 93/100"
wineanorak.com
12,000 MILES PINOT NOIR 2007
Gold Medal Liquorland Top 100 Competition 2008
Silver Medal Mondial du Pinot Noir Switzerland 2008
Silver Medal Air NZ Wine Awards NZ
GLADSTONE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2006
Gold Medal Mondial du Pinot Noir Switzerland 2007
Gold Medal Royal Easter Show 2008
"Still on sale, the 2006 vintage is the best yet. Matured for 10 months in French oak barriques, it is floral and sweet-fruited, with very good depth of cherry, plum and spice flavours. Full-bodied and moderately firm, it shows good intensity and structure, and is drinking well now." Michael Cooper June 2010
12,000 MILES PINOT NOIR 2006
"Given its price, this was perhaps surprisingly THE Pinot of the tasting. Its distinctive feature was its silky quality which combines beautifully with its ripe fruit and plummy savoury flavours. It is pure, ripe and has a wonderful finish." 5 Stars and Top Buy wine Tizwine.com
GLADSTONE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2005
Gold Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2006
Silver Award Mondial du Pinot Noir Switzerland 2006
Silver Medal Wine Style Asia Awards Singapore 2006
GLADSTONE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2004
Blue-Gold Award Sydney International Wine Competition 2006
4.5 Stars Winestate Magazine 2005
AVATAR PINOT NOIR 2003
4 Stars Winestate Magazine 2004
Bronze Medal Bragato Wine Awards 2004
GLADSTONE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2003
Bronze Medal International Wine Challenge 2004
PINOT GRIS
12,000 MILES PINOT GRIS 2011
"Very pale-straw yellow with youthful pale green hues to the colour. Quite delicate in aroma, this shows lifted pears, perfumes and fresh fermentation esters on the nose. Dry and medium-weighted on palate, the palate shows subtle lifted pear, white florals and elements of spice. The wine flows with good line and fine, smooth textures, but has good tension and freshness from the acidity. Match with Asian and Middle Eastern seafood and poultry dishes over the next 2-3 years. Fruit from the ‘Boyd', ‘Dakins Road' and ‘Winery' blocks stainless-steel fermented to 13.2% alc. and 3.53 g/L rs, the wine spending 2 months on lees. 16.0/20" Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz August 2011
GLADSTONE VINEYARD PINOT GRIS 2010
Silver Medal New Zealand International Wine Show 2011
Silver Medal Royal Easter Show 2011
Silver Medal Southern Hemisphere Wine and Spirit Competition 2011
"Some dried apricots, rose petals and pear shoot up your nose but it is the palate that pleased me the most. It starts off with a bit of weight to the body, a tiny amount of sweetness with melon pith flavours and some white pepper. You start to think 'oh no, it is going to be fat', but then the acid feeds in wonderfully to a nutty, minerally and beautifully clean finish. This is a really good wine, precise and perfect. 93pts" Peter Wood The Tasting Note February 2011
"15% of the 2010 Pinot Gris was barrel fermented in older French oak and aged for 4 months in oak. It displays pronounced notes of ripe apricots and poached pears with hints of spiced apple slices and clover honey. Full bodied and dry with a touch of residual sugar (6 grams per liter), it fills the mouth with spiced pear and apple flavors, finishing long. Drinking now, it should remain good through 2013." Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, October 2011
"A lovely pure expression of the variety displaying pear, white peach and floral characters on the nose. The palate is focused and pristine with elegant texture and well balanced acidity. A beautifully balanced and poised wine showing pleasing flavours. At its best: now to 2013. 86/100 4 stars." Sam Kim, www.wineorbit.co.nz May 2011
"Nicely textured with some herbal notes. Grapey and lively with good acidity and a fresh finish, with a hint of sweetness. 90/100" www.wineanorak.com July 2011
GLADSTONE VINEYARD PINOT GRIS 2009
Bronze Medal Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Competition 2010
"This has to be cropped low (2.5–3 kg per vine) to get concentration of flavour. Attractive, rounded and grapey with some lovely herb and pear notes. Still fresh despite the richness. 90/100" www.wineanorak.com July 2011
"...these [Gladstone Vineyard] wines were the stars of the day for me, particularly the 2009 Pinot Gris (juicy, pear flavours, with structure)" Amy Wislocki, Decanter 22 January 2010
"Full-bodied, distinctly Alsace-style pinot gris, invitingly perfumed, with ripe stonefruit and spice flavours, rich and rounded. Already delicious. 4.5 Stars." Michael Cooper, Listener June 12 2010
"This Pinot Gris, one of New Zealand’s best, is a more exuberant wine – spicy and floral with succulent, peachy fruit, a gentle nutty flavour and citrus freshness." Joanna Simon, Wine of the Week Joanna Simon on wine and food, 20 August 2010
"A truly dry Pinot Gris with delicate tree fruit flavours showing an attractive savoury edge from contact with the yeast lees. A restrained and attractive food wine. 85/100" Bob Campbell Bobwinereviews.com 2010
"The 2009 vintage (4½ stars) is one of the finest yet. Grown in the northern Wairarapa, it was hand-picked and mostly fermented and lees-aged in tanks, but 30 per cent of the blend was fermented and matured in old French barrels. Beautifully scented, it is rich and finely textured, with concentrated stonefruit and spice flavours, complexity from the subtle oak handling and a deliciously smooth, dry finish (4.6 grams/litre of residual sugar). It’s already drinking well." Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines 2011
12,000 MILES PINOT GRIS 2009
Silver Medal New Zealand International Wine Show 2010
Silver New Zealand International Wine Show 2009
Bronze International Wine Show, UK 2009
Bronze Medal Royal Easter Wine Show 2009
"Developing well, the 2008 vintage was mostly fermented and lees-aged for five months in tanks, but 30 per cent of the blend was barrel-fermented. It's a fleshy wine with ripe stonefruit and spice aromas and flavours, a slightly creamy texture, good richness and a smooth, dryish finish (4.9 grams/litre of residual sugar)." Michael Cooper, June 2010
12,000 MILES PINOT GRIS 2008
Highly Commended, Sydney International Wine Competition 2009
GLADSTONE VINEYARD PINOT GRIS 2007
Bronze Medal International Wine Challenge London 2009
GLADSTONE VINEYARD PINOT GRIS 2006
Bronze Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2006
GLADSTONE VINEYARD PINOT GRIS 2002
Bronze Medal Royal Easter Show 2003
Top of Class Winewise Small Vignerons Wine Awards 2003
Seal of Approval International Wine Challenge London 2002
GLADSTONE VINEYARD PINOT GRIS 2000
Silver Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2000
SAUVIGNON BLANC
GLADSTONE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011
Bronze Medal New Zealand International Wine Show 2011
Bronze Medal Southern Hemisphere International Wine and Spirit Competition 2011
"...There is some attractive fruit - melon, mango and lime - coming off the nose and the palate has a bit of weight with melon pith and gooseberry coming through. It is very well made but the acid comes to the fore just a touch. It needs the time and it will be great. 90pts at least!" Peter Wood The Tasting Note February 2011
"... made using riper fruit picked from older blocks. There’s also more lees influence, and a portion has been fermented in barrels and blended into the final wine. It’s almost floral on the nose, with a mealy nuance, a very textural palate and savoury notes on the finish." Rebecca Taylor Capital Times 28th September 2011
"Very pale straw colour with youthful green hues, this has a very fine and tightly bound nose, somewhat shy at present, showing delicately pungent passionfruit and mineral aromas with good intensity, lift and cut. Dry on palate, steely gooseberry and passionfruit flavours are lifted by fermentation esters. There is good depth and a tight core to the wine, and youthful acid raciness provides brightness. A fine textural thread leads to a dry finish. This will develop more richness over the summer months and be a match with shellfish, salads and vegetables over the next 2-3 years. Fruit from the ‘Dakins Road', ‘Carters' and ‘Winery' blocks stainless-steel fermented at different temperatures to 13.9% alc. and dryness, the wine kept on lees." 17.5/20 Raymond Chan www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz September 2011
12,000 MILES SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011
Bronze Medal New Zealand International Wine Show 2011
"...green apple aromas, some subtle lime and a tiny amount of elderflower. On the palate, there is a balance of minerals, citrus and some crisp apple once again. With well balanced acidity this is a wine that Marlborough lovers will hate but Sancerre devotees should gobble up. Very tasty. 89pts" Peter Wood The Tasting Note February 2011
"This northern Wairarapa white puts the ‘F’ in fresh and succeeds as a lighter than usual sauvignon blanc for those times when a bright vibrant white is wanted for freshness as much as fruity flavours."Joelle Thompson Dominion Post Wine Column, January 2011
"The 12 000 Miles range is built around an easy drinking philosophy where the wines are crafted to be fruit forward, expressive and just as enjoyable with or without food. This shows plenty of aromatics and tropical notes on the nose, but these are underpinned by pungency. It’s actually quite broad in the mouth (from a bit of lees influence) with friendly acidity." Rebecca Taylor Capital Times 28th September 2011
"Very pale-straw yellow with hues of green, pale on edge. This has a fresh, elegant nose with moderate depth and intensity, showing clear-cut English gooseberry and garden herb aromas. Dry to taste, this is tightly bound with a core of gooseberry, herb and green apple fruit flavours alongside crisp, zesty and slippery acidity. While a little restrained in expression at present, there is good weight and vinosity. Fruit from the estate ‘Carters' and ‘Boyd' vineyards cool-fermented to 13.8% alc. and dryness, the wine given some lees stirring. Serve with Mediterranean cuisine over the next 2+ years. 16.5/20" Raymond Chan www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz August 2011
GLADSTONE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2010
Gold Medal Selections Mondiales des vins Canada 2011
"Very fine, grassy, mineral nose. Fresh and aromatic with some riper notes. The palate is fresh with some green pepper and real minerality. Distinctive, linear style. 90/100" www.wineanorak.com July 2011
GLADSTONE VINEYARD SOPHIE'S CHOICE 2010
" It’s as yellow as its Golden Retriever namesake. The late Sophie spent 14 years chasing birds, eating the grapes which fell from the crusher and bludging food from customers in the café. She’s much missed but this wine will leave a lasting impression. Smooth, creamy mango, dried herbs and green tea aromas followed by deliciously complex flavours of marzipan, white peach and toasted nuts lead to a lovely, textural finish." 
Yvonne Lorkin, yvonnelorkin.com December 2011
"Made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, barrel fermented and aged in French oak for 11 months, the 2010 Sophies’ Choice gives notes of tomato leaves and green apple juice over hints of capsicum, fresh peaches and grass. Full bodied and relatively rich in the mouth, it has a good line of crisp acidity cutting through the green flavors, finishing long and creamy. It’s well made, if a slightly unorthodox style. Drink it now through 2013." Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, October 2011
"This limited release barrel fermented and barrel aged sauvignon blanc from a boutique Wairarapa vineyard deserves both its reserve status and price tag. A seductive textural weight in the mouth with soft toasted nut and passionfruit flavours, a touch of oak spice and just enough ripe acidity to make your mouth water for more, this wine will make you smile." Neil Hodgson Nelson Mail October 2011
"... this has had the most work done to it, and has been 100% barrel fermented, it has the broadest texture of the three and quite a different flavour profile. It’s quite creamy, with lemon curd and stonefruit flavours and cashew nuts. This is a very food versatile wine." Rebecca Taylor Capital Times September 2011
"A wine named in tribute to the Kernohans' golden retriever ‘Sophie'. Fruit from 25 y.o. vines from the ‘Winery Block' WBP and fully-fermented in French oak to 14.7% alc., the wine aged 10 months in oak with lees stirring. Bright, pale golden-straw colour with a light edge, this has a full, solid and complex bouquet of ripe nectarine fruit aromas with savoury, smoky oak, quite concentrated and brooding. Dry and full-bodied, this features rich flavours of nectarines and herbs interwoven with subtle seasoned oak characters along with toastiness on the palate. Mouth-filling with rounded textures, there is excellent acid poise providing balance to the fruit depth. The finish is moderately sustained, with notes of herbs and nuts showing. A complex and flavoursome, sensitively handled, oak-influenced wine. Serve with grilled seafood, poultry and pork dishes over the next 3-4+ years. 150 cases made." 18.0-/20 Raymond Chan www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz September 2011
GLADSTONE VINEYARD SOPHIE'S CHOICE 2009
4½ stars Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines 2011
"Rich, nutty, peachy and lively with some nicely integrated oak. Bold and distinctive with nice richness and intensity. 90/100" www.wineanorak.com July 2011
"Rich and concentrated barrel fermented Sauvignon Blanc with lush, ripe melon, tropical fruit and tree fruit flavours plus an influence of nutty oak. Big and quite gutsy white with character. 86/100 4 stars." Bob Campbell www.bobswinereviews.com June 2011
"The debut 2009 vintage is based on 24 year-old vines in the northern Wairarapa. Fermented and matured for 10 months in French oak barrels, it’s still youthful. Weighty, complex and creamy-textured, it is fleshy, with concentrated, ripe, tropical fruit flavours seasoned with toasty oak and a finely textured, rounded finish. Drink 2011-12." Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines 2011
"Bright straw-yellow colour with light golden hues, this has a powerful and concentrated bouquet of smoky, toasty, nutty, quality oak with fresh herb nuances in the background. Rich, powerfully flavoured and showing sensual textures from the barrel-ferment, the toasty, smoky, bacon-like oak dominates, but sweet herb and tropical fruit notes are underlying the palate, and in support is good acidity providing a fresh line of tension. The mid and back palate show much more integration and the amalgam of oak and fruit suggests good development and emergence of the fruit over the next 3-4 years. Serve with firm-textured seafood, especially paua, and pork dishes. 4 Stars 17.5+/20" Raymond Chan www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz
GLADSTONE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009
Silver Medal Concours Mondial du Sauvignon France June 2010
Bronze Medal Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Competition 2010
4 Stars Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines 2011
"Another grown-up wine, with rounded, confident flavours of apricot, plum, greengage and rhubarb, and an undercurrent of clay-like minerality." Simon Woods Drinking Outside the Box blog August 2010
"It's tightly framed and restrained in style, displaying lime zest, grapefruit and gentle herbaceous characters on the nose. The palate is taut and racy with firm acidity and a lingering crisp finish. An elegant expression of Sauvignon with lovely fine texture and a lengthy finish. At its best: now to 2013. 86/100, 4 Stars." Sam Kim, Wine Orbit January 2011
“Apart from the fish curry, the best thing we tasted all evening was a 2009 sauvignon blanc from Gladstone Vineyard, bursting with tropical fruit flavours, but also with an interesting minerality, and of course plenty of acid to cut through that rich Indian food. But, Namastey being BYO, I’d brought along the bottle myself.” David Burton, The Dominion Post 5 June 2010
"Sweet herbs and freshly squeezed grapefruit flavours, nice easy style, softer and more food friendly than most, good palate weight and a long crisp finish." Vinote Wine Blog August 2010
"...delicate orange blossom, lemon juice, fresh herb and white peach aromas. Crisp, dry, medium bodied, it has just a bit more mid-palate weight than the 12,000 Miles label and the finish is long. Drink it now to 2012. 87/100" www.erobertparker.com
"The 2009 vintage was harvested in the northern Wairarapa and mostly handled in tanks; 5 percent of the blend was fermented and matured in French oak barrels. Ripely scented, it is mouthfilling and crisp, with fresh, ripe passionfruit, pineapple and lime flavours, showing good vigour and richness, and a finely balanced, lingering, dry finish." Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines 2011
12,000 MILES SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009
"...a solid, well priced effort offering a moderate intensity of lemon juice, straw and lemongrass aromas. Crisp, bone dry, medium bodied, there’s a good amount of flavor concentration and a medium-long finish. Drink it now. 86/100" www.erobertparker.com
GLADSTONE VINEYARD SOPHIE'S CHOICE 2008
"This is an oaked Sauvignon Blanc. Deep yellow colour. Nice rich wine with smooth texture on the palate as well as some nuttiness. Very stylish, with a smooth, rounded fruity character. 90/100" www.wineanorak.com July 2011
"The wine has a lovely texture and intriguing flavours including white flowers, wet chalk minerality and a solid fruit core contributing to a longer finish. 4 stars."
Cameron Douglas, Hospitality Magazine, May 2010
"Sophie’s Choice Sauvignon Blanc 2008 ($33) is 100% barrel-fermented and aged for 11 months in French oak. The experience is all pineapple and banana up front, then at the back of the tongue feijoa with a hint of ginger, with the rich creamy texture imparted by oak. Named after the family’s retriever, she’s a frisky drop, with long acids kicking in to make this the perfect accompaniment with duck and cumin soup. If you like chardonnay, you’ll love this." Capital Times, July 2009
GLADSTONE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008
"The complex and delicate bouquet displays green herb, cream and nutty characters. The palate is beautifully weighted and rounded with rich texture, bright acidity and an expansive finish. A very stylish and impressive Sauvignon with extra dimension. At its best: now to 2011. Excellent quality showing high level of concentration and balance. 90/100 4.5 stars." Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, September 2009
GLADSTONE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2007
"16/20. Drink 2008-09. Particularly firm, dry Sauvignon with far more minerality than most New Zealand Sauvignon. Solid and muscular. "
Jancis Robson, Tasting Lea and Sandeman, London October, 2008
"More serious than many of the attractive Marlborough sauvignons, this hints of green fruits and melon, is textural and intense, with a lovely balance and crisp, dry finish. 4/5 Stars."
Otago Daily Times, April 2009
GLADSTONE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2006
4 Stars Cuisine Magazine Jan-Feb 2007
GLADSTONE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2004
Bronze Medal Liquorland Top 100 2004
Bronze Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2004
Bronze Medal International Aromatic Wine Competition Canterbury 2004
GLADSTONE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2003
Bronze Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2003
Bronze Medal International Wine and Spirits Competition London 2004
Seal of Approval International Wine Challenge London 2004
GLADSTONE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2002
Bronze Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2002
4 Stars Winestate Magazine 2003
Seal of Approval International Wine Challenge London 2003
GLADSTONE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2001
Bronze Medal Liquorland Top 100 2001
Bronze Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2001
Bronze Medal Royal Easter Show 2001
GLADSTONE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 2000
Bronze Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2000
GLADSTONE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 1999
Gold Medal Royal Easter Wine Show 2000
Cuisine Magazine 4 Star Wine 1999
GLADSTONE VINEYARD FUMÉ BLANC 1998
Silver Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 1998
GLADSTONE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 1997
Bronze Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 1997
GLADSTONE VINEYARD FUMÉ BLANC 1997
Bronze Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 1997
Silver Medal Liquorland Easter Show 1998
GLADSTONE VINEYARD SAUVIGNON BLANC 1996
Gold Medal Liquorland Easter Show 1997
Bronze Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 1996
4 Stars Cuisine Magazine 1996
GLADSTONE VINEYARD FUME BLANC 1996
Bronze Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 1996
Bronze Medal Liquorland Easter Show 1997
5 Stars and Top Ten Sauvignon Blanc Cuisine Magazine December 1996
VIOGNIER
GLADSTONE VINEYARD VIOGNIER 2010Bronze Medal New Zealand International Wine Show 2011
"Fresh, bright and lively with some pear varietal character as well as herby notes. An attractive style with some greenness. 90/100" www.wineanorak.com July 2011
"This wine shows the hallmark Viognier richness, showing gently lifted aromas of stonefruit, citrus and floral. The palate is medium-full and beautifully ripe with silky texture and a refreshing finish. A youthful wine showing early charm and drinkability. At its best: now to 2013. 87/100 4 stars." Sam Kim, www.wineorbit.co.nz May 2011
GLADSTONE VINEYARD VIOGNIER 2009
Bronze Medal Royal Easter Wine Show 2010
"Fragrant and full-bodied, with excellent depth of ripe tropical- and citrus-fruit flavours and a slightly creamy texture. Richly varietal wine for drinking now or cellaring. 4.5 stars." Michael Cooper, Listener, June 12 2010
GLADSTONE VINEYARD VIOGNIER 2008
Silver Medal Royal Easter Wine Show 2009
5 Stars and Top Ten Viognier Cuisine Magazine May 2009
“A wave of floral perfume ushers in a flavour fruit salad of nashi pear, quince and guava. This wine from Christine and David Kernohan’s Wairarapa haven was a hedonistic, concentrated delight.” Cuisine Magazine May 2009
"Not so much a wine to have with honeyed things, but to enjoy afterward by itself. There is an ambrosia-like quality to this richly scented, opulent Wairarapa wine." John Saker, Sunday Star Times 9 August 2009
"There's a lot going on here in this viognier ... blood orange, guava, jasmine and orange blossom ... rich velvety texture and mouth-filling oiliness and strong hints of roasted hazlenuts. All this mirage of flavours and its just gorgeous ... it's not all sweetness, it's got this nutty complexity and it just rounds everything out." John Hawkesby, Radio New Zealand, April 2009 - matched with Wild Duck and Diced Roasted Pumpkin and Kumura Salad.
ROSE
GLADSTONE VINEYARD ROSE 2011
"...We know about the quality of wine produced in that region so it is no surprise Gladstone has delivered a luscious salmon pink rose that is simply charming – elegant, sweet, fruit with a touch of creaminess and a long mouth-watering finish. Just enjoy it by itself late on a Saturday afternoon, maybe with some pate and cheese." Neil Hodgson Nelson Mail October 2011
"Bright, light pink colour with depth and youthful, pale-purple hues. This is soft and gently full on the nose with aromas of red berry fruits, melons, confectionary and musk. Dry to taste and full-bodied, the palate has rich, sweet, succulently ripe, mouthfilling fruit flavours of strawberry and melons with red berry fruits. Though soft-textured and round, there is good acid freshness and slipperiness adding to the brightness of the fruit. Attractive fruit nuances show on the medium-length, dry finish. Made from Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec fruit from the ‘Dakins Road' block, left on skins for 12 hours and cool-fermented to 13.5% alc. and 2.77 g/L rs. A succulent and juicy rosé to match with antipasto and white meat courses over the next 2 years." 18.0/20
Raymond Chan www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz September 2011
GLADSTONE VINEYARD ROSE 2010
Silver Medal Royal Easter Wine Show 2011
GLADSTONE VINEYARD ROSE 2009
4.5 Stars Wine Orbit Magazine March 2010
"A blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec. Nice salmon pink colour. Dry, quite rich and spicy with a bit of complexity. Rich, broad and balanced. 89/100" www.wineanorak.com July 2011
"A most appealing rosé made from Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec, displaying strawberry and red cherry characters with a hint of floral lift. The palate is generously flavoured and finely textured with well harmonised acidity and a lingering juicy finish. A dry style (4.5 g/l) yet the wine flows beautifully with a lovely plush mouthfeel. At its best: now to 2012." Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, March 2010
"From a winery and an area that are producing some very smart wines. This is one of them. Cabernet franc, merlot and malbec blended into a delicious summer-berried, stroll in the garden wine that's soft and refreshing." Warren Barton's Top 100 Christmas Wine Guide 2009
GLADSTONE VINEYARD ROSE 2008
Gold Medal Wine for Asia Awards 2008
RIESLING
GLADSTONE VINEYARD RIESLING 2010
Bronze Medal New Zealand International Wine Show 2011
Bronze Medal Royal Easter Wine Show 2011
"They don’t make much of this because it is such a hard sell. Taut, fresh and limey with bright mineral notes. Crisp and intense with some brightness. A lively, steely style. 89/100" www.wineanorak.com July 2011
"This is an outstanding wine and a wonderful example of purity in a dry style. Very pale straw colour with youthful green hues showing, this has a startling intensity of vibrant, pure, lime-like aromatics expressed with elegance. Very dry on palate with 1.5 g/L rs, this is an extremely stylish wine with perfect body at 12.3% alc., archetype lime and mineral flavours, beautiful line and length through the palate. It is tightly focussed, and has refreshing acidity. The mouthfeel is very fine, considering the fruit depth. This will develop well over the next 6-8 years. Made from 24 y.o. vines from the Winery Block at Gladstone. 18.5+/20" Raymond Chan, December 2010
GLADSTONE VINEYARD RIESLING 2003
4 Stars Winestate Magazine 2004
Silver Medal International Aromatic Wine Competition Canterbury 2004
Bronze Medal Liquorland Top 100 2004
GLADSTONE VINEYARD RIESLING 1998
Silver Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 1998
Bronze Medal International Wine and Spirit Competition London 1999
GLADSTONE VINEYARD RIESLING 1997
Bronze Medal Liquorland Easter Show 1998
CHARDONNAY
GLADSTONE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2001
Bronze Medal Liquorland Top 100 2002
Bronze Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2002
GLADSTONE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 1999
Gold Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2000
Bronze Medal Royal Easter Show 2000
METHODE TRADITIONELLE
GLADSTONE VINEYARD BUBBLES METHODE TRADITIONELLE NV
"...a well made, easy drinking wine. Although yeasty on the nose, a clean and refreshing palate of lemon and warm toasty fruit follows. The balanced acidity lends this fizz as a perfect accompaniment to a warm Summer day. 3 Stars" www.tizwine.com
BORDEAUX REDS
GLADSTONE VINEYARD AULD ALLIANCE 2010
"Blended of 50% Merlot, 25 % Cabernet Franc and 25% Malbec and aged for 11 months in 85% French and 15% American oak, the 2010 Auld Alliance gives a deep garnet-purple color and aromas of warm plums, mulberries and blackberry preserves over spice cake and plum pudding. Full bodied and richly fruited in the mouth, it has a medium to firm level of rounded tannins and very crisp acid to support, finishing long with lingering fruit cake notes. Approachable now, it should cellar to 2017." Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, October 2011
12,000 MILES CABERNET FRANC MERLOT MALBEC 2009
"Carterton winemaker Christine Kernohan named this wine in honour of her Scottish homeland. And, yes, it is a surprise to see this particular red blend emerge from the Wairarapa - which is better known for pinot noir than for the more challenging classic Bordeaux grapes trio of cabernet franc, malbec and merlot. And yet these red grapes combine deliciously to make this smooth textured red with its flavours of wild berry." Joelle Thompson's Top Ten Low Cost Reds, Herald on Sunday 22 May 2010
GLADSTONE VINEYARD AULD ALLIANCE 2008
"I don't know if it was because I saw the McLeod tartan on the label or because of the name of the wine but my tasting note contained many Scottish ingredients! Firstly brambles - lots of brambles - followed by a savoury, slightly black pepper and meaty aroma that could only be described as haggis, and then some cloves and a little treacle element. The palate had pipe tobacco, some coffee and blueberries, followed by a vegetal, almost raw cabbage element. Now I know these flavours and aromas don't sound that appealing when bundled all together but this wine was delicious. A massive nod towards the new world with its powerful fruit but by using Cabernet Franc she gets the vegetal structure that you want from a Bordeaux blend in the old world. A lovely bottle of wine. 92pts" Peter Wood The Tasting Note February 2011
"Lovely open sweet berry fruits with nice depth and a savoury spiciness. Quite an elegant style with good depth. 90/100" www.wineanorak.com July 2011
Bronze Medal Royal Easter Show 2009
"A blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec. Lovely minerally, chalky, focused red and black fruits nose, with a hint of pepper. The palate is ripe but fresh with lovely spicy notes and gravelly depth. 93/100" www.wineanorak.com July 2011
"This was immensely drinkable, fruit forward with dark berry and mocha flavours." Amy Wislocki, Decanter 22 January 2010
'"The premier Bordeaux-style from this Wairarapa winery can be light and leafy, but the 2006 vintage is the best yet. A blend of Cabernet Franc (55 per cent), Merlot (25 per cent) and Malbec (20 per cent), it was matured for a year in French (95 per cent) and American oak casks. It's a full-coloured, fleshy wine with generous, plummy flavours, oak complexity and a smooth, rich finish." Michael Cooper June 2010
GLADSTONE VINEYARD AULD ALLIANCE 2003
Silver Medal Wine Style Asia Awards 2005
Silver Medal Bragato Wine Awards 2005
Bronze Medal Bragato Wine Awards 2004
GLADSTONE VINEYARD RESERVE MERLOT 2001
Bronze Medal Liquorland Top 100 2002
GLADSTONE VINEYARD MERLOT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2001
Bronze Medal Royal Easter Show 2003
GLADSTONE VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON MERLOT 1999
Bronze Medal Royal Easter Show 2002
GLADSTONE VINEYARD RESERVE MERLOT 1998
4 Stars Wine Star Magazine 1999
4 Stars Cuisine Magazine 1999
Bronze Medal Liquorland Top 100 1999
GLADSTONE VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON MERLOT 1998
Silver Medal Liquorland Top 100 2000
4 Stars Cuisine Magazine 2000
GLADSTONE VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON MERLOT 1995
Bronze Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 1996
Bronze Medal Liquorland Easter Show 1997
4 Stars Cuisine Magazine 1996
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