Martinborough is not known for Syrah, however in a good year with low yields it’s amazing what can be done. This wine shows deep purple hues with classic Hermitage notes of black pepper, violets and plums with underlying, idiosyncratic, Martinborough mineral nuances. The palate is medium to full bodied with flavours of cocoa, vanilla beans, and raisins. The wine finishes with higher acid and slightly green tannins that should mellow with age. Drink now to 2020.
About the Winery:
Coney Wines
Tim and Margaret Coney established the 16-acre Coney Vineyard in 1996 when they decided to “retire” from city life in the music business. The couple planted Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Syrah on the Dry River road sub-district of Martinborough. Tim had been looking after the winemaking since 2003, however daughter Lisa (a recent winemaking graduate) has since taken over wine duties. Margaret (Tim’s wife) also runs the successful restaurant (Trio Café) at the winery. They have become known for their Rieslings (there are 3) that range from bone dry to sweet, but are all equally delicious. Coney is one of the few producers to successfully produce Syrah in Martinborough, although not every year, but when they do, the results are impressive.
The Region:
Martinborough is one of the three main sub-regions (Gladstone and Masterton being the other two) in the Wairarapa region of the north island of New Zealand. Martinborough lies in a rain shadow between the Taraua and Rimutaka mountain ranges, making it the North Island’s driest spot. It has 4 distinct seasons, with warm days and crisp nights during the growing season. At 40 degrees south latitude it has 1130 growing degrees and a long growing season. However, it is prone to spring frosts, which necessitates the use of wind machines in some vineyards.
Martinborough produces less than 1% of New Zealand’s grape production yet attracts an enormous amount of attention mainly due to the high quality of it’s Pinot Noir. The area is interesting because the wineries are usually small and family owned. There are a large number (over 30) of wineries dedicated to producing high quality Pinot Noir and cool climate varieties from the unique alluvial gravels found throughout the area. The cute village of Martinborough has been transformed over the last 30 years (since vineyards came) into a trendy wine tourism hub, with excellent accommodation and fine restaurants. There are only a handful of wine regions in the world that can rightfully claim to make great Pinot Noir, but this is one of them.
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