Tasting Notes:
Clayvin Single Vineyard Chardonnay. This is an intense and complex Chardonnay offering ripe peaches, honey and cashews with brioche nuance. It shares its terroir with both savoury and mineral flavour. On the palate it has a satiny texture which is complemented by a lively acid backbone, its finishing with lingering honey notes.
Food:
Lobster, herb roast chicken or pork. Pan seared scallops with cauliflower puree and truffle oil.
Region/Producer:
Every glass of New Zealand wine is a world of pure discovery.
Extending 1,600km (1000 miles) from sub-tropical Northland (36° S) to the world’s most southerly grape growing region Central Otago (47° S). New Zealand’s unique maritime climate, long sunshine hours, soil structure, and the can-do attitude Kiwis are famous for, combine to make this an extraordinary place to make wine.
New Zealand wine is distinctive for its purity, vibrancy and intensity. Long ripening periods – a result of cool temperatures – allow flavour development whilst retaining fresh acidity. A balance for which New Zealand wines are renowned.
Giesen winery lies at the very top of the South Island in Marlborough, New Zealand. A place where nature speaks for itself and wines need minimal handling, Marlborough’s cool climate wines deliver a uniquely fresh experience. Expect purity and intense flavour, set around impressive aroma, distinctive fruit and appealing, balanced acidity.
Climate is crucial to the character of Marlborough. High sunlight hours, cool nights, and sea breezes influence the fruit almost as much as the soil. Most of the soils in the valley floor were laid down within the last 24,000 years. Carved and eroded by glaciers in the high country and carried down to the coast by snow melt rivers. The composition of these free-draining alluvial soils varies across the region. Influenced by the proximity to riverbeds and exposure to wind resulting in a myriad of soil types.
Clayvin is a living tribute to Marlborough’s viticultural history. Certified organic and planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah, this incredible site features 30-year-old vines. Dense clay soil, high-density plantings, and receives the utmost care and attention befitting of our prized vineyard.
Vineyard: Clayvin Single Vineyard Chardonnay
Traditional vineyards grow approximately 2,000 vines per hectare where Clayvin farms a whopping 5,000 per hectare!
This high density planting means the vines put their energy into survival rather than vegetative growth. Roots push down through the soil for nutrients which in turn controls vigour. Ensuring more of the vine’s energy goes towards fruiting rather than leaf growth. Upon reaching the clay these roots are able to access and unlock its rich store of iron and magnesium – qualities reflected in the great structure of the final wine.
Clay depth and composition varies across the vineyard, allowing different varieties to be grown and giving blocks of the same variety different flavour profiles. The Clayvin soils, coupled with high density planting means the vines are low yielding, resulting in wines of great concentration and richness.
All Clayvin vines are hand picked and tended with support from a specially imported Italian Geier ‘Crawler’ which takes care of vine weeding, crop spraying and trimming. Weighing just over a tonne, and with a width of 1.1m, the crawler has less downward pressure than a human footprint. This special machine supports their minimal compaction philosophy for their high density, organic vineyards.
For more information about the producer: https://giesen.co.nz/
