It’s been another golden month for Marlborough Wine (MWL) – or should this one be notable for stars for its reds?
First, its Toi Toi’s Pinot Noir Clutha 2020 was awarded a gold medal in the New World Wine Awards. That’s no mean feat being among the top 50 of hundreds of value wines across so many varietals.
Now, up the spectrum, it has launched it’s Toi Toi Gimblett Gravels 2019 Reserve Syrah to a 5-star, 93 points review by Wine Orbit’s Sam Kim.
“It’s splendidly ripe and enticing with Black Doris plum, dark cherry, clove and hazelnut characters on the nose. The palate displays excellent fruit weight and flow, beautifully complemented by velvety texture and fine-grained tannins, finishing long and delectably appealing,” Kim writes.
For Kevin and Sara Joyce, who established Marlborough Wine in 2006, the accolades are a salve to what’s been a tough time through COVID and some trying weather.
“We always focus on producing top grape varietals from the best regions,” Kevin Joyce says.
“All our wines are made to enjoy with friends and family, but from time to time we do one that is set to please the sophisticated palate. We set out to do that with our first limited production Gimblett Gravels Syrah.”
For Tim Adams, the 5-star review is music to the ears of a winemaker that likes to gently nourish grapes through the winemaking process.
“I like to let the fruit speak for itself with minimum intervention,” Adams says. “The more you do, the more you take away.
“We sourced great fruit from a great vineyard and, while I don’t have a preconceived end point, I set out to make a Reserve quality wine using my experience and techniques to develop its maximum potential.”
Toi Toi’s Syrah grapes were sourced from Gimblett Road Vineyard in the Hawke’s Bay, from which Syrah is world-renown. The inherent stony character of the area makes it hard to grow large amounts of fruit resulting in lower yields of about six tonnes per hectare.
Adams says the 2019 season was wet up till Christmas followed by a hot January with temperatures 3.5C warmer than usual and a dry February and March. The conditions, coupled with fruit thinning, made for excellent ripe fruit for harvesting mid-April.
The fruit was inoculated and then, during fermentation, gentle daily pumping over the skins helped extract a soft, complex structure. The young wine was left to sit on skins for another 10-14 days to soften and integrate the tannins, perfecting the texture before being pressed.
Finally, it was matured in French oak barrels for 12 months, for a bright, fruit-driven and complex flavour.
Toi Toi Hawke’s Bay Gimblett Gravels Reserve Syrah 2019 is available in limited numbers to the trade.
Contact mike@toitoiwines.co.nz to purchase.
For more information contact:
Kevin Joyce
Principal
Marlborough Wine Ltd (Toi Toi Wines)
Mob:+64 21 935 849
E: kevin@toitoiwines.co.nz
www.toitoiwines.co.nz
Sauvignon – 94 pts Anthony Dias Blue and Golds galore
Pinot Gris – Gold – Sydney International and Bragato Awards
Riesling – Trophy – NZIWS and Gold Outstanding 5 years – IWSC
Pinot Noir- 94 pts – San Francisco Intl.
Chardonnay – Gold – Royal Easter Show
Sara’s Rose – Wine of Show -WSWA 2018
About Marlborough Wine Ltd www.mwl.co.nz
Marlborough Wine Ltd is the home Toi Toi Wines and a variety of other labels, each with its own varietal collection. As one of New Zealand’s long-established winemakers, it is also an investment vehicle for those interested in being part of New Zealand’s wine industry as it continues to grow toward NZ$2 billion in exports (NZ$1.92 in the year to June 30 2020) and explore the opportunities inherent in a new trade agreement with the United Kingdom.
