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Brancott® and Stoneleigh® celebrate New Vintages from Marlborough, New Zealand
The 2008 Vintage Heralds the Quintessential Quality of New Zealand
Purchase, N.Y. (November 6, 2008) – New Zealand wineries Stoneleigh® and Brancott® celebrate the year’s new harvest with the release of their new vintages. This fall marks the release of the 2008 Sauvignon Blanc vintages, including Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Brancott Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Brancott Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Brancott Letter Series “B” Sauvignon Blanc 2008 and the Brancott Terroir Series – Brancott Conders Forest Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Brancott Festival Block Sauvignon Blanc 2008 and Brancott Rail Bridge Sauvignon Blanc 2008.
Winemakers at both Brancott and Stoneleigh appraise 2008 as a hallmark vintage. Above average year-round temperatures and an exceptionally sunny flowering period in late November and December resulted in optimal fruit and a bountiful harvest. “We’re very excited to release the 2008 Sauvignon Blanc,” says Brancott’s regional winemaker Patrick Materman. “The flavors are bold, ripe and zesty, exactly what you’d expect from a classic Brancott Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc – a true Kiwi icon.” Stoneleigh winemaker Jamie Marfell adds, “Bunch numbers were lower than usual but the berries were more highly concentrated and yielded maximum flavor potential.”
Marlborough has proven to be one of the world’s best places to grow Sauvignon Blanc. According to Materman, “We have incredible resources – we’re now producing Sauvignon Blanc in the three main sub-appellations of Marlborough to harness the unique terroir of each region. With new vineyards coming into full production and near-perfect growing conditions, this year’s harvest from Marlborough has produced an outstanding vintage.”
Also joining this year’s new vintage wines are Brancott Letter Series “T” Pinot Noir 2007 and Stoneleigh Pinot Noir 2007. Both vintages benefited from warm growing seasons and careful crop management. Materman continues, “New Zealand is not the first country that comes to mind when thinking of this finicky and high maintenance grape, but its cool, maritime climate is producing outstanding vintages displaying classic characteristics – delicate silky tannins, red berry fruit flavors with a spicy complexity.” He adds, “Our Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc defined a new style of wine and I expect that our Pinot Noir will be the next new world benchmark wine.”
Brancott Vineyards
Brancott planted the first modern day vineyards in Marlborough and created the original vintage of what was to become New Zealand’s signature wine – Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. As Brancott approaches its 30th vintage, Brancott offers wine lovers a selection of distinctive varietal wines. Alongside the latest, refined vintages of those early benchmark wines are exquisitely crafted expressions of New Zealand’s top wine styles, as well as bold new wines that showcase subtle variations between and even within regions:
Brancott Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (srp $13), long considered the hallmark New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, is sourced from fruit harvested across the Marlborough region and displays classic green pepper and gooseberry flavors. Brancott Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (srp $18), is sourced from Wairau and Awatere Valleys and displays notable aromas of fresh herb and a concentration of stone fruit flavors. Brancott Letter Series “B” Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (srp $28) is sourced exclusively from very select parcels in the Awatere Valley within the Brancott Estate and represents the finest epression of Marlborough’s most iconic varietal.
The Brancott Terroir Series presents limited release wines that use one varietal from different areas in Marlborough to showcase the influence terroir has on the wine. Sometimes these sites are only a few kilometers apart, but the differences are strikingly obvious in the wine. Brancott Conders Forest 2008 (srp $26) is a product of the Rapaura area, known for young, free-draining soil and also for having the warmest temperatures in the region. These conditions result in the refreshing tropical notes in the wine. The palate has a sweet, ripe fruit approach and excellent length. Brancott Festival Block 2008 (srp $26) is sourced from one of the oldest blocks in the Brancott Valley, which is also one of the pioneering Sauvignon Blanc vineyards in Marlborough. This textural, flavorsome wine expresses aromas of nectarine and lemongrass, and carries a palate that melds concentrated white peach and green pepper with olive oil and citrus notes. Brancott Rail Bridge 2008 (srp $26) originates in a vineyard which runs alongside the Awatere River; this coastal location gives rise to the wine’s distinctive aromas, including tomato leaf and nettles, as well as freshly cut pineapple with hints of passion fruit. The area’s good soil structure leads to a rich, weighty palate showing red and green pepper, stone fruit and a crisp, fresh acidity.
Brancott Pinot Noir is grown mainly in Marlborough, Otago, Waipara and Wairarapa and can be cellared for up to five or six years. Brancott Reserve Pinot Noir 2006 (srp $21) shows fragrant ripe cherry and spice, accentuated with rich plum and savory highlights. Brancott Letter Series “T” Pinot Noir 2007 (srp $32) has sweet, ripe plum and cherry fruit flavors with a silky chocolate finish.
Stoneleigh Vineyards
Stoneleigh’s vineyards are covered with smooth “sun-stones,” which reflect heat to speed the ripening process by day, while cool nights maintain intense fruit flavors. This unique terroir produces premium wine with vibrant fruit intensity. Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (srp $16) displays ripe grapefruit and passion fruit flavors supported by an excellent mineral complexity and fresh acidity. Stoneleigh Pinot Noir 2007 (srp $16) has a fragrant bouquet of black cherry, raspberry and red plums overlaid with hints of savory spices. The wine is soft and supple with a lingering fruit sweetness balanced by fine, integrated tannins.
Winemakers from both Brancott and Stoneleigh are excited to share the best of New Zealand wine with the world in 2008. “We strive to make each vintage even better than the last,” says Patrick Materman, Brancott’s regional winemaker. “The quality of the wine just keeps getting better and today Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is enjoyed in over 30 countries worldwide.”
About Pernod Ricard USA
Pernod Ricard USA is the premium spirits and wine company in the U.S., and the largest subsidiary of Paris, France-based Pernod Ricard SA. In July, 2008, Pernod Ricard completed the acquisition of the iconic ABSOLUT® Vodka brand from the V&S Group, and Pernod Ricard USA is now the second-leading company in the U.S. by sales value.
In addition to ABSOLUT®, Pernod Ricard USA’s leading brands include such prestigious spirits as The Glenlivet® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Chivas Regal® Scotch Whisky, Jameson® Irish Whiskey, Wild Turkey® Bourbon, Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin®, Beefeater® Gin, Plymouth™ Gin, Martell® Cognac, Malibu® flavored Rum, Kahlúa® Liqueur, Hiram Walker® Liqueurs, Pernod® and Ricard®; such superior wines as Jacob's Creek® and Brancott Estate®; and such exquisite champagnes and sparkling wines as Perrier-Jouët® Champagne, G.H. Mumm™ Champagne and Mumm Napa® sparkling wines.
The company is based in Purchase, New York, and has roughly 1,000 employees across the country.
Pernod Ricard USA urges all adults to consume its products responsibly and has an active campaign to promote responsible drinking. For more information on this, please visit: www.acceptresponsibility.org.