Not Just a Savalanche- Neal Martin

Wine Advocate -USA. April 2008

Not Just a Savalanche- Neal Martin

Wine Advocate - ERobert Parker.Com
Neal Martin
"TerraVin is a boutique winery established by Mike Eaton who purchased his first 3.2-hectares of vines in 1998 with another 6.8-hectares planned in the future. The vineyard is based in the Omaka Valley on a north-facing slope with clay-rich soil that naturally reduces vigor, reduced further by high density planting of 5,000 vines/ha. Mike, himself, has almost unparalleled experience of vineyard management in Marlborough, having planted the area-s first vines as a general laborer for Montana Wines at their Brancott vineyard in the 1970s. When I visited, he had just sold part of the vineyard to Spy Valley so that he could focus on Pinot Noir and Bordeaux varieties. These are full-bodied, beautifully hand-crafted wines with superb complexity and subtlety and are well worth seeking out, particularly his stunning reds."

2005 Hillside Pinot Noir
93/100
Just 500 cases of the 2005 Hillside Pinot Noir are produced, a selection of best barrels with fruit from the center of the gentle, north-facing slope, hand-picked, destemmed and then matured for 17 months in barrel using 45% new oak before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. It has a complex brambly nose with a subtle hint of sloes which is followed by a medium-bodied palate with silky tannins and a sensuous, red-berried finish. Very pure and natural, this excellent Pinot should drink well over 8-10 years

2006 Hillside Pinot Noir
93/100
The 2006 Hillside Pinot Noir employs a little more new oak (55%) and is even better with a tight, feminine, again, brambly nose, tighter structure than the 2005, more tension with understated ripe black cherries, raspberry and wild strawberries vying for attention on the satin-textured finish. Again it should offer pleasure over the next decade.

“J” 2005
94/100
The economically titled 2005 -J- is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Malbec, cropped at 600 grams/vine, matured for 18 months using 60% new French oak. It delivers a striking, savory, chocolate-tinged nose that explodes from the glass accompanied by a silky smooth palate with ambitions towards Pomerol despite the predominance of Cabernet. Sensuous on the furry, cocoa-infused finish, this is a compelling wine although a paltry 65 cases were produced. It should evolve over 10-15 years

“J” 2006
92/100
The same for the 2006 -J- with a distinctive earthy nose, slightly stalky with a touch of tar. The palate has more austerity than the 2005, quite masculine with dark chocolate and a touch of garrigue. A complex, intellectual wine, it deserves 3-4 years ageing in bottle.

Noble Sauvignon 2006
93/100
The 1,800 half-bottles of the as yet unnamed 2006 -Noble Affected- Sauvignon is a case of Divine intervention, its genesis in nitrogen-rich rain that fell on the 4 hectares vineyard in the Upper Brancott Valley during a series of thunderstorms, precipitating the onset of botrytis. A gorgeous, Sauternes-like nose leads to a viscous palate tinged with apricot, honey and fresh fig with hints of treacle and lemon curd towards the unctuous finish.

2005 Pinot Noir
90/100
The excellent 2005 Pinot Noir is more enticing with its gorgeous brambly nose and fruit driven palate with very ripe tannins and a mellow, refined, toasty finish. Good length and harmony, Mike Eaton could have pushed this too much and prudently refrained from doing so. Drink over 3-5 years.

2006 Sauvignon Semillon
90/100
The 2006 Sauvignon/Semillon displays a pungent nose of gooseberry, cut grass, a little asparagus and earth that I find attractive, the palate very intense with vibrant gooseberry and lime flavors leading to a very herbaceous finish. If you love Sauvignon Blanc, you will adore this and if not, then avoid! But personally I admire its unashamed typicity.

Terravin Pinot Gris 2007
89/100
The 2007 Pinot Gris brims with joie-de-vivre on the nose with scents of nectarine, passion fruit and star fruit although it suffers a lacks of definition, the palate perhaps just a little overdone with a multi-faceted personality: spice, beeswax, guava, passion fruit - almost as if too much is going on. Still, this is an engaging wine, full of personality.

Te Ahu 2006
87/100
The 2006 Te Ahu Sauvignon/Semillon is sourced from 13- to 15-year-old vines (50% each variety), whole-bunch pressed and co-fermented in 500-liter barrels. A little muted on the nose with a spicy/grassy palate and moderate length.

back