The Supernatural 2020

The nose is on the burnished, oxidative, spicy and earthy side of fruit, think heritage apples, nashi pears, those old-fashioned Guerlain perfumes with now-banned compounds which smell at once airy/dry and smoky/sweet. On the palate, there is certainly no lack of fruit, but it sits further towards the back of the palate, and is denser – tempered by wildly untamed acidity which whips across the tongue.

The vineyard is truly an amazing site for viticulture, situated in the Tuki Tuki Hills in Hawke’s Bay on a north-facing hillside with slopes up to 30 degrees. Soils are Kidnappers Group lime-rich clay, with volcanic influence. The site has proven pedigree being in proximity to and on similar soils, slope and aspect as Te Mata Coleraine, one of New Zealand’s most accoladed vineyards. Over 90% of New Zealand’s vineyards are on flat land which generally means alluvial gravel soils, making this hillside site an unusual soil type of great interest.

Harvest is by machine using a Pellenc selective head harvester which ensures a high quality of fruit while excluding all other materials. Six hours soaking on skins before gentle pressing. Settled overnight at 15°C before racking off heavy lees. Fermented with indigenous yeast at cool temperatures. Extensive lees contact and stirring for 12 months. Prepared for bottling with a minimal sulphur addition. Unfined.