Ceccherini Cristiano

9.4

Selection of small and super lignified bunches.
This selection wants to honor David Herd founder and winemaker of Auntsfield site in 1892. He had been making wine till 1905 and then his son-in-law kept his legacy until the 1931.
Then probhitionism came in NZ and all the vines were displanted at Auntsfield till the Cowley family arrived and put everything in place.
The story is that the Cowleys have a bottle of old fortified Muscat made by David Herd(born in Rutherglen) in his last year of work at the property in 1905 and every barrel of this wine his blessed with a teaspoon of that syrup..."so that we can lick the spoon" Ben says.
The wine is an explosion of flavors, tasters say that blindly is hard to say it is a pinot noir.
It is rich, complex and literally explodes in every direction in your mouth.
Hard to explain, an experience you have to go through yourself.
Extensive persistence on the palate.
1500 bottle only made in the best vintages obviously. — 15 days ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.3

100% Abel clone
2100 bottles produced
More blueberry and a violet floral which i personally love
It took a while to soften up the tannin but it did and it just finishes smooth after few hours being open.
Very interesting, very good, very enjoyable, very long finish.
A wine that sticks in your head — 15 days ago

Big Wave Dave

9.0

Decent rendition. A touch sweet on the front, but honest. — 3 years ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.3

Only 1500 bottles produced.
A parcel quite unique of the vineyard where bunches retained a higher acidity.
Berries are smaller, but never split.
This juice in production can bear quite a bit of new oak that still you can't feel in the final wine.
At Auntsfield they don't do malolactic fermentation with Chardy.
They naturally have creamy, textural wine from the site giving the richness.
This is an amazing expression of Marlborough Chardonnay; clay soil makes the difference.
Long and stunning. — 15 days ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.1

Barrel fermented version
2100 bottles produced.
Fruit are from a specific rocky parcel where acidity is a little higher.
The wine is in great balance with the oak.
The oak is supporting
Making the wine a bit softer, ageworthy and fuller. But the grape are showing fantastic.
This can age a bit in bottle too. — 15 days ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.0

No malo is a thing for the Cowley brothers.
This chardonnay is ready for enjoyment.
Great palate, balance.
Good weight and fairly long.
Soil in Auntsfield is mainly clay which makes the wines more powerful and we can see through the whole range.
Great value chardy — 15 days ago

Frank Kuo

9.4

Nice bubbly light gold color. Nose of bright fresh green apple, toasty nuts, salty minerals, subtle oaky note, banana, and a touch of pineapple. Taste of distinct refined salty minerals, ripe mango banana note, and bitterness like almonds. Aftertaste of slight zest from grapefruit, lingering minerals, and nutty notes .The salty mineral and banana flavor are definitely showing from this beautiful wine from New Zealand. — 9 years ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.1

Specific parcel of the South Oak vineyard that has finally after 15 years of working organically been also certified organic.
Here skin of the grapes are a bit thicker and that reflects in the wine finding a bit more texture and oilness.
This sauvignon blanc reminds of a European wine more than a Marlborough SB, you could call Fiano, Verdicchio or Friulano if you were in Italy.
A wine to pair food exceptionally.
White meat or fat fish like a barra or a sword fish.
Quite long too — 15 days ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.1

The nose has changed drastically during my day on the road showing this wine
It started with a pure, pristine raspberry fruit which slowly left room for a bit of blueberry.
Iron and gunpowder came out too later in the day. Spices too.
Lovely palate with a good freshness and medium body. Soft long finish. 2022 was a fairly cold vintage for them. It reminds me a bit stylistically of some Macedon Range pinot noir from Victoria. — 15 days ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.0

Racy, zesty, mineral.
Quite an unusual Marlborough sauvignon blanc
Auntsfield only makes Single vineyard wines, handpicked, wild fermented and very expressive — 15 days ago