Vineyard Notes
No Sulphur Added / Green Tea Tannin Extract / Certified Organic / Single Vineyard / Vegan
The grapes for this wine came from a small parcel of vines on our certified-organic Woolshed vineyard on the Loveblock Farm, in the Lower Dashwood sub-region of Marborough’s Awatere Valley. The soil type is predominately aged alluvial loams containing some silt loam over stone. Dependent on vigour, the vines are pruned to two or three canes and trained in a normal vertical shoot position. Harvest occurred in the month of March. No sulphur was added in the vineyard. Use of regenerative growth, manure and horn on the vineyard is employed to promote balanced, fertile soil, biodiversity and healthy grape growth in order to produce wine without the use of chemical pesticides, fungicides or additives of any kind.
Vinification
Here at Loveblock, we always make wine with lower levels of added sulphur, and TEE explores the elimination of added sulphur to wine (the traditional wine preservative). Oenological tannins are commonly used in the winemaking process to perform various functions. We found that the tannin extracted from green tea leaves (Camelia sinesis) also provides powerful protection against oxidation and spoilage as a natural antioxidant. Every time the juice/wine was exposed to oxygen (i.e. every time it was moved), 5 mg/L of green tea extract (tannin) (Ti Premium® SG produced by Enologica Vason S.p.A.) was added.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Pale straw with a hint of green and gold.
Aroma: This wine has lifted aromas of mandarin zest, quince, yellow peach, sweet basil, gooseberry, white pepper and distinct wet stone minerality, with structured herbal notes.
Palate: The palate is elegant, with juicy mandarin, earthy cumin, sweet basil and ripe yellow star fruit (carambola). Layered and textured, the wine is clean and fresh with flavours of ripe pineapple and a mild tannin note sitting over a layer of umami.
Food match: A perfect match with fatty fried food, pork belly, roast chicken, Vietnamese cuisine, seafood or a funky cheese.
Cellar: Unknown.
Organic status: Certified organic – BioGro #5266.
Vegan status: Vegan friendly.
AnalysisAlcohol 12.5% |
Winemaker: Kim Crawford
Tasted: October 2022 |
Vineyard Notes
No Sulphur Added / Green Tea Tannin Extract / Certified Organic / Single Vineyard / Vegan
The grapes for this wine came from a small parcel of vines on our certified-organic Woolshed vineyard on the Loveblock Farm, in the Lower Dashwood sub-region of Marborough’s Awatere Valley. The soil type is predominately aged alluvial loams containing some silt loam over stone. Dependent on vigour, the vines are pruned to two or three canes and trained in a normal vertical shoot position. Harvest occurred in the month of March. No sulphur was used in the vineyard. Use of regenerative growth, manure and horn on the vineyard is employed to promote balanced, fertile soil, biodiversity and healthy grape growth in order to produce wine without the use of chemical pesticides, fungicides or additives of any kind.
Vinification
Here at Loveblock, we always make wine with lower levels of added sulphur, and TEE explores the elimination of added sulphur to wine (the traditional wine preservative). Oenological tannins are commonly used in the winemaking process to perform various functions. We found that the tannin extracted from green tea leaves (Camelia sinesis) also provides powerful protection against oxidation and spoilage as a natural antioxidant. Every time the juice/wine was exposed to oxygen (i.e. every time it was moved), green tea extract (tannin) was added. After machine harvesting in Marlborough’s cool autumn mornings, the grapes were immediately pressed, floated and inoculated with an organic yeast..
Tasting Notes
Colour: Pale straw with a hint of green and gold.
Aroma: This wine has lifted aromas of mandarin zest, quince, yellow peach, sweet basil, gooseberry, white pepper and distinct wet stone minerality, with structured herbal notes.
Palate: The palate is elegant, with juicy mandarin, earthy cumin, sweet basil and ripe yellow star fruit (carambola). Layered and textured, the wine is clean and fresh with flavours of ripe pineapple and a mild tannin note sitting over a layer of umami.
Food match: A perfect match with fatty fried food, pork belly, roast chicken, Vietnamese cuisine, seafood or a funky cheese.
Cellar: Unknown.
Organic status: Certified organic – BioGro #5266.
Vegan status: Vegan friendly.
AnalysisAlcohol 13.0% |
Winemaker: Kim Crawford
Tasted: October 2021 |
Vineyard Notes
No Sulphur Added / Certified Organic / Single Vineyard / Vegan
The grapes for this wine came from a small parcel of vines on our certified-organic Woolshed vineyard on the Loveblock Farm, in the Lower Dashwood sub-region of Marborough’s Awatere Valley. The soil type is predominately aged alluvial loams containing some silt loam over stone. Dependent on vigour, the vines are pruned to two or three canes and trained in a normal vertical shoot position. Harvest occurred in the month of April. No sulphur or ascorbic acid were used in the vineyard. Use of regenerative growth, manure and horn on the vineyard is employed to promote balanced, fertile soil, biodiversity and healthy grape growth in order to produce wine without the use of chemical pesticides, fungicides or additives of any kind.
Vinification
The antioxidant properties of green tea (Camelia sinesis) have been known for centuries in China and Japan. These properties are being rediscovered in fields such as medicine and beauty, and we are now exploring the use of green tea in the preservation of wine. Every time the juice/wine was exposed to oxygen (i.e. every time it was moved), a small amount of green tea powder was added. 33% of the grapes were handpicked, whole bunch pressed to tank and settled for 3 hours, then racked to barrels. 66% were machine harvested, destemmed, pressed to stainless steel tanks and floated.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Pale straw with a hint of green and gold.
Aroma: This wine displays lifted aromas of ripe bruised apple, orange zest and ruby red grapefruit, followed by a vibrant, green-edged herbaceous layer and some earthy cumin tones.
Palate: The palate is elegant, with juicy Golden Delicious apple and mandarin complemented by fresh acidity and a mild tannin note. Layered and textured, the wine has notes of saffron, fennel, sweet orange and spices, with a lingering minerality on the finish.
Food match: Goats’ cheese, oysters, seafood, pasta and chicken.
Cellar: Unknown.
Organic status: Certified organic – BioGro #5266.
Vegan status: Vegan friendly.
Awards
Cameron Douglas MS: 91 Points
Bob Campbell MW: 4 Stars
AnalysisAlcohol 13.5% |
Winemaker: Kim Crawford
Tasted: September 2020 |
Vineyard Notes
No Sulphur Added / Certified Organic / Single Vineyard / Vegan
The grapes for this wine came from a small parcel of vines on our certified-organic Woolshed vineyard on the Loveblock Farm, in the Lower Dashwood sub-region of Marborough’s Awatere Valley. The soil type is predominately aged alluvial loams containing some silt loam over stone. Dependent on vigour, the vines are pruned to two or three canes and trained in a normal vertical shoot position. Harvest occurred in the month of April. No sulphur or ascorbic acid were used in the vineyard. Use of regenerative growth, manure and horn on the vineyard is employed to promote balanced, fertile soil, biodiversity and healthy grape growth in order to produce wine without the use of chemical pesticides, fungicides or additives of any kind.
Vinification
The antioxidant properties of green tea (Camelia sinesis) have been known for centuries in China and Japan. These properties are being rediscovered in fields such as medicine and beauty, and we are now exploring the use of green tea in the preservation of wine. Every time the juice/wine was exposed to oxygen (i.e. every time it was moved), a small amount of green tea powder was added. 100% of the grapes were machine harvested, destemmed, pressed to stainless steel tanks and floated and inoculated with organic yeast.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Pale straw with a hint of green and gold.
Aroma: This wine displays lifted aromas of lemon verbena, saffron, orange peel and ruby red grapefruit, followed by a vibrant, green-edged herbaceous layer and some earthy cumin tones.
Palate: The palate is elegant, with juicy white peach and citrus complemented by fresh acidity and a mild tannin note. Layered and textured, the wine has a crisp, lingering minerality on the finish.
Food match: Goats’ cheese, oysters, seafood, pasta and chicken.
Cellar: Unknown.
Organic status: Certified organic – BioGro #5266.
Vegan status: Vegan friendly.
Awards
Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews: 5 Stars
Cameron Douglas MS: 92 Points
Rupert Joy, Decanter: 91 Points
Bob Campbell MW: 4 Stars
Winestate Marlborough Tasting (March/April 2020): 3.5 Stars
AnalysisAlcohol 13.5% |
Winemaker: Kim Crawford
Tasted: August 2019 |
Vineyard Notes
No Added Sulphur / Certified Sustainable / Single Vineyard / Vegan
Relatively unique in Marlborough, the grapes for this wine were sourced entirely from our family-owned vineyard in Lower Dashwood, Marlborough. Here the soils are alluvial silt over stone and we manage the vines according to organic winegrowing practices. Organic management decreases the vigour of the vines, reducing berry size and hence overall yields. The grapes were harvested in March yielding seven tonnes per hectare.
Vinification
At Loveblock we are charged with making low-sulphur wines and are always looking for alternative antioxidants. In 2018, a small parcel of vines was selected for a winemaking trial whereby a powdered green tea product was used as the sole preserving agent. Every time the juice was moved, 5 mg/l of this green tea compound was added. Apart from this, the handling of the grapes, juice and wine were as per normal. During the bottling process the wine picked up some dissolved Oxygen, so is showing the effects of a little oxidative pinking that can be seen in its almost rosé-like colour.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Slightly pink, almost rosé like.
Aroma: Aromas of apricot, saffron, orange peel and grapefruit. An herbaceous, distinctively Sauvignon Blanc layer is followed by earthy tones and a hint of bruised apple.
Palate: The palate is elegant, just dry and quite fruity. A mild tannin note adds complexity and richness. Layered and textured, the wine has a lingering minerality on the finish.
Food match: Goats’ cheese, oysters, seafood, pasta and chicken.
Cellar: Unknown. Once opened, best consumed in the same sitting.
Sustainable status: Sustainably grown – SWNZ accredited.
Vegan status: Vegan friendly.
Awards
Mark Henderson, Otago Daily Times: Excellent
Natalie MacLean: 91 Points
Cameron Douglas MS: 86 Points
Winestate Marlborough Tasting (March/April 2019): 3.5 Stars
Bob Campbell MW: Bronze
AnalysisAlcohol 12.8% |
Winemaker: Kim Crawford
Tasted: July 2018 |