Newsletters

SPRING NEWSLETTER 2003

ACCOLADES

It seems ages since I wrote the last newsletter. Life has been exceptionally busy and Clearview now has an international reputation. We blew the Aussies (and another 15 winegrowing countries) out of the water with our Reserve Chardonnay 2001 - which took the Top Fuller Bodied Dry White Table Wine Trophy at the Sydney International Wine Competition.

The 2002 Reserve Chardonnay has followed on:

• Top 10 placing in Cuisine Magazines July 03 Chardonnay tasting
• First Place at the Unofficial Top 10 competition at Havelock Wines & Spirits as voted by the public
• Gold and Top of Class Chardonnay at the recent Bragato Wine Awards finished this week on a real high

We are feeling pretty pleased - this has hastened the redevelopment of our Cellar Door Tasting room to now include only Trophies, Gold Medals and Top of Show awards - sorry but we just don’t (have room for) do Silver and Bronzes!! You may remember that it was getting a little overcrowded - and the ceiling was being contemplated for hanging space.

Bob Campbell, in the latest Centenary issue of Cuisine Magazine, named Clearview Chardonnay and Merlot in his NZ Top 100 Wines across all varieties and producers. Reuters Charity have for 2 years now, with input from top wine writers, judges and leading restaurateurs again named Clearview in their top 10 NZ wineries.

Our `Reserve quality’ red wine range now includes the ‘Old Olive Block’ (Cabernets predominant) and ‘Enigma’ (Merlot predominant). We are very excited the name Enigma has been registered in New Zealand. This new label won a Silver medal in its first showing at the International Wine Challenge in the UK (in the Olympic Judging system where only 1 gold medal is awarded). The Old Olive Block has also kept pace, scoring 92 points out of 100, and being placed in the top 10 NZ reds in Cuisine Magazine.

So there have been many changes to Clearview over the last 6 months: we spent some 12 months working on the new labels and they are being well received - even by the Clearview retro-diehard purists. The cutout `C’ for Clearview is also a wave - and a koru, for our export market which now includes the UK, USA, Australia and Japan. You will notice that we are in many new retail outlets - but you still won’t buy CLEARVIEW wines cheaper than here if we can help it. Unlike some others we are committed to our domestic supply first.

One could be almost tempted to relax for a week or two - but then we have the weather - number 1 quality contender.

VINEYARDS

Three wicked frosts ripped through Hawke’s Bay in October 2002 diminishing crop levels and 3 weeks of rain pre-harvest could have killed a somewhat smaller vintage. As usual we decided not to panic - the surviving grapes then had brilliant weather for the next 6 weeks. Unbelievable quality was found in the Gewurztraminer, Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Enigma and Olive Block. We were helped hugely by new vineyard plantings belonging to the Ward family - partners and friends. Some exceptional Merlot & Malbec from an exceptional vineyard well managed by David and Ted - in what was a hugely stressful vintage. Thank the heavens for our wonderful location and a continuing passion for wine and quality with the flexibility to take the risks in our own vineyards. I would like to acknowledge the special people that have brought the vineyards to this lofty position -

Grant Houston - vineyard manager of 16 years

Suzie Thorp - manager -winery, export & domestic sales

Bernie Kelly -cellar hand and site manager

Teumu Tientjes - grounds manager

THE RESTAURANT

No mention of Clearview is ever complete without acknowledging the restaurant. In 12 years of service to the public I have never seen such beautiful, creative and tasty dishes as we are seeing from the kitchen of Chef Kent Baddely with Aaron Clulow and Cindy Webster. From Labour weekend onwards we increase from 5 to 7 days per week - come and be blown away!

THE CELLAR DOOR

Geoff Wilson has moved on after 2 ½ brilliant years, the new incumbent is Amanda Currie who has a great hospitality background and is working on her masters in wine science in 2004.

HOME & AWAY

This year has seen us taking Clearview around the country and overseas a bit more. Geoff took the wines to Dunedin with a tasting at Munslows in May. We have presented our wines and new labels at both the Auckland and Wellington Food Shows as part of a Hawke’s Bay Wine Country promotion. We then met many of our trade customers at the NZ Wine Show in August. These are great opportunities for us to meet our customers and get that valuable direct feedback. Tim has also presented winemaker tastings for the Manawatu wine club, the Western Hills Wine Club in Upper Hutt, and the Taupo Wine Club.

Remember that we are open to opportunities to bring CLEARVIEW wines to private tastings, wine clubs and events if we can.

Overseas has seen Suzie & Helma in Sydney to collect our trophy at the Sydney International Wince Competition in March. Tim has recently attended a Sydney trade event and will be at the Decanter Fine Wine Encounter in London late November, at the invitation of this prestigious wine magazine.

MAIL ORDER WINES

I have great pleasure in presenting the following wines - every one is a gem from 3 exceptional vintages. All 12 bottle orders go in to win the following prize

PRIZE DRAW FOR 2 NIGHTS ACCOMMODATION & MEALS AT CLEARVIEW*

Be in to win 2 nights accommodation in the Clearview themed Room at Fairhall Boutique B&B. In addition you may dine for a brunch and lunch at Clearview and enjoy a personal tour with Tim. All orders of 12 bottles or more go in the draw to win this break away - how about Labour Weekend?

*Conditions apply - Transport is not included. This prize must be taken before the end of October. If this is not possible for the original winner a further draw will be made.

2002 Reserve Chardonnay

Hand harvested at 24-25 Brix, 40% of the grapes were given 6-10 hours skin contact, the rest were whole bunch pressed before the free run juice was fermented in new French (95%) and American (5%) oak. This is a huge wine with a luscious creamy texture, beautifully ripe tropical and stone-fruit characters and a back bone of toasty oak. Bottled in February 2003, cellar to 2007.

• Top 10 - Cuisine Magazine Top 10 NZ Chardonnay
• Best in Class & Gold Medal - 2003 Bragato Wine Awards
• Top 10 - 2003 Tri Nations Wine Awards (Australia, South Africa & NZ)

2002 Beachhead Chardonnay

A powerful wine,exhibiting many of the characters seen in the Reserve. The combination of tank and barrel fermen tat ion creates a fresh, tropical fruit driven wine, underpinned by warming, toasty oak. Bottled in December 2002, cellar to 2005.

• Silver - 2003 Liquorland Top 100
• Silver - 2003 NZ Wine Society Royal Easter Show

2003 Blush

This wine is delightfully fruity, an off-dry rose style enhanced with delicate hints of berry fruits and spicy melon. Ideal summer drinking enjoy as an aperitif. Bottled in August 2003, cellar to 2004.

2003 Gewurztraminer

Some of the best fruit that Tim has worked with, low cropping at ½ tonne to the acre - superb! This is a refreshing, off dry style balanced by varietal flavours of gingerbread, lychees and mangoes. An ideal match with Asian influenced cuisine. Bottled in August 2003, cellar to 2005.

2002 Semillon

Some of the best fruit that Tim has worked with, low cropping at ½ tonne to the acre - superb! This is a refreshing, off dry style balanced by varietal flavours of gingerbread, lychees and mangoes. An ideal match with Asian influenced cuisine. Bottled in December 2002, cellar to 2005.

• Silver - 2003 Liquorland Top 100

2002 Te Awanga Sauvignon Blanc

The vines were hand harvested on two separate occasions to ensure maximum fruit ripeness. Pressed as whole bunches for extra flavour extraction then fermented a second time to soften acidity and create extra complexity. Full, rounded, yet refreshing Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc showing a classic medley of citrus and topical fruits.

2002 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

Hand harvested ripe fruit at 24 brix. 100% barrel fermented with partial malolactic fermen tat ion. More mellow and complex than the traditional stainless steel fermented Sauvignons, this is a wine that will continue to develop with further cellaring. Bottled in December 2002, cellar to 2005.

• Silver - 2003 NZ Wine Society Royal Easter Show.

2001 Old Olive Block

This is our “Cabernets” predominant ‘Reserve’ label. Classic Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. The palate is generous, warm and spicy with complex flavours of cassis, and savoury cedar oak. A personal favourite of Suzie & Wendy in the restaurant! Bottled in October 2002, cellar to 2006.

• Top 10 - Cuisine Magazine Top 10 NZ Reds

2001 Enigma

This is our Merlot/Malbec predominant ‘Reserve’ label. >From the exceptional, but low-yielding 2001 vintage comes this seductive and sensuous red wine. A blend of 4 grape varieties, the flavours of plum, sweet spicy cassis, mint and earthy violets combine with long fine-grained tannins and sweet oak. Bottled in October 2002, cellar to 2008.

• Silver - 2003 International Wines & Spirits Competition
• Silver - 2003 NZ Wine Society Royal Easter Show

2002 Cape Kidnappers Cabernet Merlot

62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot grapes. A vibrant fruit driven, full bodied red. Hints of eucalypt and mint combine with blackberry, cassis and plums. This is a seriously good Cape Kidnappers offering. Bottled in August 2003, cellar to 2006.

2002 Cape Kidnappers Merlot

75% Merlot 17% Cabernet Franc & 8 % Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. A lively, fruit driven, medium bodied red. Very ripe grapes have resulted in an alcohol level of 14%, with an underlying acidity will enable this wine to develop well. Bottled in August 2003, cellar to 2006.

2001 Sea Red

The classic Clearview meal finisher, a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, late harvested for extra sweetness and raisin flavours. Pressed out, fermented then fortified to 18%. This fortified red wine has an initial sweetness that is followed by the complexity of alcohol and a tart red wine base. Bottled in June 2002, this wine will cellar indefinitely - but why wait, enjoy it now!