Exciting new beginnings
for Moutere Hills
October 25, 2007
Article from the Nelson Daily Mail- Neil Hodgson, Wine Writer
A little more than a year ago the couple who had invested a big chunk of their life savings into buying Moutere Hills Vineyard saw their dreams go up in smoke when the winery, cafe and a full year's production was destroyed by fire.
The local wine industry gathered around to offer support and while there was not a lot people could do, the support offered showed them that the wine industry is a caring one. Fortunately they were fully insured so could get on with the job of rebuilding.
Twelve months on they have a spanking new winery and cafe. Under the guidance of winemaker Jasper Raats and calling on John's skills as an architect John and Ali Tocker have recreated the rustic rural ambience of the old building but have taken the opportunity to improve the overall complex. The winery is not longer crammed into a small area at the back of the cafe, it is a stand-alone purpose-built facility while the cafe has expanded seating on the deck, a bright new kitchen with a lot more space and the same country feel.
Along with a new winery Moutere Hills has also launched a new look label and a second label intended to make the most of the fruit grown in the vineyards that may lack the intensity to make it into the Moutere Hills lineup.
The design of the Hopsbarn label reflects the unique architecture that hop drying kilns bring to rural Nelson. The label looks great but what are the wines like?
Hopsbarn 2007 Rose ($20) is made from merlot and cabernet franc grapes grown to produce a rose wine. Some winemakers take fruit that is not really up to the mark and turn it into a rose but in recent times some winemakers are setting out to make a rose wine and grow the grapes accordingly. The result in this case is a wine with a red salmon colour, soft creamy berryfruit aromas and a mouthfeel that is elegant. Made in a dry style this is fantastic with food - bring on summer picnics.
Hopsbarn 2007 White is a blended white wine based on chardonnay fruit combined with sauvignon blanc and pinot gris fruit to make an enticing, easy drinking summer wine. Soft peach and firm mineral aromas are reflected in the flavours along with a twist of spice from the pinot gris. Sauvignon blanc adds freshness and I can assure you I will be drinking plenty of this over the coming summer months.
Hopsbarn 2007 Dry Red ($28) is a wine that catches you by surprise - you will be surprised how quickly it evaporates in the glass. Blackcurrant and strawberry flavours are soft and ripe making it smooth and approachable early. This doesn't pretend to be a serious wine but an alcohol level of about 12.5 percent means you can enjoy a few glasses of this around the barbecue without too much trouble at all. For me it has better structure and is a lot more elegant than some of those cheap Aussie reds.
Stepping up in quality a little is the Moutere Hills range of wines. The 2007 Sauvignon Blanc ($26) is bursting with ripe gooseberry aromas. Made from very ripe fruit the flavours in the mouth have delightful intensity with just the right amount of acid to light up the taste buds on your tongue making you want just one more glass please. Winemaker Jasper thinks Nelson can cut a niche in the sauvignon blanc market for this riper style of wine and I tend to agree, this style has a drinkability factor missing from more harsh acid styles.
Moutere Hills 2007 Pinot Gris is also made in a drier style. The focus here is on texture as well as flavour so the elegant pear flavours are tied to a soft mineral backbone. Long, slow pressing of the fruit has resulted in a wine that has a touch of spice and a hint of toastiness while some lees stirring adds a seductive mouthfeel.
Take some time out of your weekend and visit Moutere Hills in Sunrise Valley. Not only are the wines great but cafe - owners Fiona and Grant Bryan are producing some outstanding food. They have designed a tasting menu using great produce to match the wines. Lunch on the deck, great food, great wine - just bring some friends.
Wine speak: Creamy refers to both the texture of a wine in the mouth and flavours imparted by malolactic fermentation, often referred to as buttery or sometimes cheesy.
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