Tag Archives: Hans Herzog Estate

What’s in the glass tonight May 14th – Rhône-style Blanc


Hans Herzog Mistral 2013

From the Cellar: Hans Herzog Mistral Marlborough 2013 – $$$

A classic Rhône blanc blend of Viognier, Marsanne and Rousanne from the organic artisanal Marlborough vineyard of Hans Herzog, bought from their cellar door. L and I visited them during a Graperide weekend a while back, and loved so many of their wines.

Green gold colour. 14% alc.

Complex melon and honeysuckle aromas, with honey, toffee, ripe apple and almond nougat. Delish.

Rich and smooth golden fruit to taste, and mouthfilling. There was a mineral backbone also, toffee and almond notes, mandarin orange, acidity through the mid-palate, some apple-pip, and finished sweet and long.

Outstanding 96 points.

 

What’s in the glass tonight October 17th – Pinot Gris


hans-herzog-pinot-gris-2015

From the Cellar: Hans Herzog Pinot Gris Marlborough 2015 – $$$

This wine comes from a long-established and committed artisan organic wine producer in Marlborough. The producer boasts 29 different grape varieties planted on the property. We enjoyed their cellar door hospitality on our last visit down south very much.

vineyard-herzog-sunset

Orange mandarin blush. 13.5% alc.

Light and savoury on nose, a little hesitant to open up. I coaxed aromas of melon, soft pear and Turkish delight from the glass. It hinted at funky, and ‘worked’.

To drink, I tasted light strawberries and baking spice, apple. A soft mouthfeel initially, with a good citrus line throughout. Medium length. Finished grassy.

An appealing Gris with an attractive colour in the glass. Although it wasn’t presented as such at their Cellar Door when we first tasted it, but this wine could well fall under the category of “orange wine”. If so, it would be my first…

89 points

A Visit to Hans Herzog Estate, Marlborough


Pool Room March 2016 2 Hans Herzog

On the way back to the ferry on the Sunday after the Graperide, L and I make a point of visiting at least one vineyard and winery. This year some good friends pointed us towards Hans Herzog.

The Hans Herzog Estate is a boutique vineyard near Renwick in the Wairau Valley, Marlborough. They produce some 3000 cases off 11.5Ha through the practices of sustainable winegrowing, hand picking and wild fermentation. They have a staggeringly long list of varieties planted in their vineyard:

Herzog

Red:  Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet-Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Montepulciano, Nebbiolo, Tempranillo, Barbera, Petit-Verdot, Saperavi, Lagrein, St Laurent, Zweigelt

White: Chardonnay, Viognier, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Arneis, Rousanne, Marsanne, Semillon, Gewürztraminer, Gruner Veltliner, Verdelho.

the-cellar-at-hans-herzog 2

In the beautiful tasting room L and I enjoyed their Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Arneis, Viognier, Tempranillo (yes!), Moltepulciano, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Merlot blend, I lost count what they poured for us. Very complex and beautiful wines. Not cheap, but special.

We bought a trio of bottles that impressed us. The restaurant on site looked fabulous too – we will defo visit there next time for lunch!

HH Mistral Viognier Marsanna Rousanne Marlborough 2013 – $$$ – Drink now – 2018

HH Pinot Gris Marlborough 2015 – $$$ – Drink now – 2018

HH Spirit of Marlborough Cab Merlot Marlborough 2006 – $$$+ – Drink now – 2026

(note the bottle of GR100VPN2015 that will be making the short walk to the Pool Room with these three beauties…)