En Primeur Reserve Chardonnay 2004

This is a special newsletter to all our Reserve Chardonnay fans & supporters, some of many years. In line with our historical ‘En Primeur’ release of our Reserve Chardonnay over the past 15 years, I present the 2004 for your perusal and purchase.  I removed this wine from barrel on the 15th of January and will bottle it at the end of February.  Our Reserve Chardonnay 2004 was available `En Primeur’ at Harvest Hawke’s Bay 2005 for $32 per bottle.  For the next 3 weeks you will have the chance to taste the wine unfiltered. It will be on general release at our cellar door for $35per bottle from Easter this year.  This is your chance to secure a case of this wine, freight free for $384*.   

This is a wine I am very proud of: Tim Turvey, Winemaker.

*This offer expires at Easter.

This wine continues the Clearview tradition of flavour and ripeness “arguably this country’s most concentrated example of this variety” Bob Campbell, MW. 

This year for the 2004 Reserve Chardonnay, we present a wine second to none in our 15 year history.  The grapes were hand harvested at 24-25 brix, then 40% of the grapes were given 6-10 hours skin contact whilst the rest were whole bunch pressed.  The free run juice was fermented in new French (95%) and American oak (5%) and then aged for 11 months with weekly stirring of the lees.  The result is our trademark Clearview Reserve Chardonnay; big, bold and luscious, with a beautiful creamy texture, rich, ripe tropical fruits and a backbone of toasty oak.  In the words of Michael Cooper “if a prize were awarded for New Zealand’s most power-packed chardonnay, Clearview Estate would romp in.  It’s a hedonistic delight”.

Greetings from the Restaurant

Well, we’re well into a fantastic summer with John Cornforth on board since December as our Head Chef.  Long summer days have brought record numbers of visitors to Hawke’s Bay enjoying our wineries, restaurants, food markets, beaches and numerous attractions.

The highlight for the restaurant is Clearview’s selection among the top 6 winery restaurants in New Zealand compiled by David Burton of the Dominion Post.  We also received our 5th Beef & Lamb award for 2005.

Sue Robinson leads an excellent front of house team and we are hosting many more weddings and functions with strong forward bookings.

We have improved our children's play area with shade and fencing, and the property is now so established with all our shade trees and the olive grove.  Some big weekends still to come so do call in.  The vines and grapes are superb and set for a great vintage for 2005.

All the best,       Helma van den Berg  

VIVO Bar and Restaurant celebrates 1 year

On March 1st we are celebrating VIVO’s first birthday at their fabulous Italian wine bar & restaurant in Wellington.  For the opening dinner last year, Tim Turvey, the winemaker here at Clearview Estate, went down to VIVO for an extravagant evening of Italian food and Clearview Library wines.

It was such a success that they have decided to do it again!  This year, Tim will not only be hosting the birthday party, but also taking John Cornforth, our Head Chef, to prepare a special menu to match Tim’s fantastic wines.  We will be raiding our cellar and taking our hugely popular Cabernet Franc, Reserve Chardonnay and a selection of rare, older Clearview wines.

If you would like to attend this event, please contact Gretchen or Greg on 04 384 6400 or e-mail vivo@vivowinebar.com.  This will be an excellent evening, so book early to avoid disappointment.  Tickets cost $140 and there are only 50 places available.

BE A WINEMAKER FOR THE DAY

Easter Monday 28th March 2005 - White Wine Workshop

Winemaker forAnzac Day Monday 25th April 2005 - Red Wine Workshop
10am to 2pm

Be at the winery at 10am dressed for grape picking and processing.  This is your chance to meet our winemaker Tim, and get involved with the process of wine making from vine to barrel.  18 months later you will receive a bottle of the wine that you helped to make.  These work shops are great fun and book out quickly, so contact us here at the winery for tickets on 06 875 0150 or e-mail wine@clearviewestate.co.nz.

$90 ticket includes lunch with the winemaker

$60 for the workshop only