Family EstatesOrganic Marlborough Albariño
Albariño is more commonly found in northwest Spain and Portugal, but it has found a new lease of life in the stony, free-draining alluvial soils of Marlborough. A lushly textured, pale, off-dry wine, produced from our organic certified Headwaters Vineyard in the Wairau Valley. Refreshing acidity and an exotic medley of wonderful stone fruit flavours, with ripe citrus, pear, melon offering hints of white spice on the palate.
Orange blossom, red apple and mineral elements. Inviting.
Distinct bursts of lime, lemon, mandarin and orange lead the lively and intense palate and persist throughout.. Also apple, slate and stone fruits noted. Rich and zesty with layers of texture and a persistent finish.
Distinct bursts of lime, lemon, mandarin and orange lead the lively and intense palate and persist throughout.. Also apple, slate and stone fruits noted. Rich and zesty with layers of texture and a persistent finish.
Albariño harvested by machine from our organic Headwaters vineyard was crushed and left in contact with skins for 12 hours. (This process enhances varietal character and structure on the wine). After clarification the juice was fermented with a combination of commercial and indigenous yeast species and then left in tank and barrel on lees for 4 months.
Fish and seafood of all kinds. Spicy dishes also can work well.
Jasmine and citrus with ginger and tropical notes. Perfumed and exotic.
Good volume and an array of citrus flavours, mandarin, tangelo and lemon curd with a light limey zing on the finish. Great texture and tropical notes also.
Good volume and an array of citrus flavours, mandarin, tangelo and lemon curd with a light limey zing on the finish. Great texture and tropical notes also.
Albariño harvested by machine from our Organic Headwaters vineyard was crushed and left in contact with skins for 12 hours. (This process enhances varietal character and structure on the wine). After clarification the juice was fermented with a combination of yeast species and then left in tank in on lees for 4 months. Fined with pea protein.
Fish and seafood of all kinds. Spicy dishes also can work well.
4.5 STARS - Michael Cooper, NZ Listener magazine, June 2024
"From albarino, the internationally fashionable Spanish variety, this organically certified wine is highly approachable. Estate-grown in the Wairau Valley, it was tank-fermented and aged on its yeast lees for four months. Made in a dry style, it is mouthfilling and has fresh, generous, peachy, slightly spicy flavours that are crisp, vigorous and lingering." - 4.5 STARS - Michael Cooper, NZ Listener magazine, June 2024
"From albarino, the internationally fashionable Spanish variety, this organically certified wine is highly approachable. Estate-grown in the Wairau Valley, it was tank-fermented and aged on its yeast lees for four months. Made in a dry style, it is mouthfilling and has fresh, generous, peachy, slightly spicy flavours that are crisp, vigorous and lingering." - 4.5 STARS - Michael Cooper, NZ Listener magazine, June 2024
Herbal notes with a limey perfume. Mineral and some tropical elements.
Soft on entry with lime, orange and lemon with spice. Good mid-palate weight and nice acid drive. Citrus blossom lingers on finish. Lively.
Soft on entry with lime, orange and lemon with spice. Good mid-palate weight and nice acid drive. Citrus blossom lingers on finish. Lively.
Albariño harvested by machine from our Organic Headwaters vineyard was crushed and left in contact with skins for 12 hours. (This process enhances varietal character and structure on the wine). After clarification the juice was fermented with a combination of yeast species and then left in tank in on lees for 4 months. Fined with pea protein.
Fish and seafood of all kinds. Spicy dishes also can work well.
Floral lime aromas overlays lemon and orange. Granny smith apples and garden herbs.
Juicy and driving but also lushly textured. Lots of ripe citrus with pear melon and white spice.
This seventh harvest of Albariño from our certified organic Headwaters Vineyard spent 12hrs soaking on skins prior to pressing. The juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures before being moved to old French oak barrels. Fermentation was halted just prior to dryness.
Fish and seafood of all kinds. Spicy dishes also can work well.
Sweet aromas of lychee, apricot and lime. Lifted and warm. Big savoury entry opens into sweeter flavours of nectarine, apricot pastries and lime. A mouth filling and powerful wine with exotic complex notes.
This is the 6th harvest of Albariño from our certified organic Headwaters Vineyard. The berries were pressed intact. The juice was fermented in large seasoned French oak casks with indigenous yeast and then underwent full malolactic fermentation. The wine was left to mature in barrel for 9 months. No animal product used - Vegan friendly.
Fish and seafood of all kinds. Spicy dishes also can work well.
Aromas of lime and orange blossom with rock melon and honeysuckle. Lots of spice. Sweet fruited entry which continues though the palate. Layered citrus, orange, lime and lemon with a touch if pineapple and gingerbread. Complexity builds with fresh herbs and almond-mealy notes. Very juicy finish.
This is the 5th harvest of Albariño from our certified organic Headwaters Vineyard. It spent 12hrs soaking on skins prior to pressing. The juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks at controlled cool temperatures to capture the intense flavours and aromatic purity of the variety. Fermentation was halted just prior to dryness.
Fish and seafood of all kinds. Spicy dishes also can work well.
SILVER MEDAL - New Zealand Organic Wine Awards 2020
4 STARS - Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooper.co.nz
"Certified organic, the highly attractive 2019 vintage (4.5*) was estate-grown in the Headwaters Vineyard, near Renwick, in the Wairau Valley, tank-fermented and lees-aged for seven months. A dry style (3.7 grams/litre residual sugar), it is fresh and mouthfilling, with strong, lively fruit flavours, a slightly salty streak, finely balanced acidity and a lengthy finish. Offering great drinkability, it's a drink now or cellaring proposition."
4 STARS -Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooper.co.nz
4 STARS - Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooper.co.nz
"Certified organic, the highly attractive 2019 vintage (4.5*) was estate-grown in the Headwaters Vineyard, near Renwick, in the Wairau Valley, tank-fermented and lees-aged for seven months. A dry style (3.7 grams/litre residual sugar), it is fresh and mouthfilling, with strong, lively fruit flavours, a slightly salty streak, finely balanced acidity and a lengthy finish. Offering great drinkability, it's a drink now or cellaring proposition."
4 STARS -Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooper.co.nz
Sweetly perfumed and floral (apple blossom) aromas with lime and white stone-fruits. Big juicy entry with sweet citrus fruits and some tart apple notes. Nicely textured and lush mid-palate moving to spicy and lingering, mineral finish.
This is the 4th harvest of Albariño from our certified organic Headwaters Vineyard. It it spent time in cold soak prior to pressing. The juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks at controlled cool temperatures to capture the intense flavours and aromatic purity of the variety. Fermentation was halted prior to dryness to balance the refreshing acidity.
Fish and seafood of all kinds. Spicy dishes also can work well.
Lifted and pretty aromas, with sweet mandarin/ lemon notes and floral mineral elements. Juicy and sweet fruit entry, predominately tangelo, that moves into honey and lime through to the finish. Mouth-filling and beautifully textured. Great balance.
This is the 3rd harvest of Albariño fruit from our certified organic Headwaters Vineyard. It it spent time in cold soak prior to pressing. The juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks at controlled cool temperatures to capture the intense flavours and aromatic purity of the variety. Fermentation was halted prior to dryness to balance the refreshing acidity. Bottling took place soon after completion of ferment.
Fish and seafood of all kinds. Spicy dishes also can work well.
GOLD MEDAL - Global Organic Masters 2019
4 STARS - Michael Cooper, New Zealand Wines Buyer's Guide, www.michaelcooper.co.nz , May 2018
93 POINTS - Cameron Douglas MS, The Shout, Aug 2018 issue
91 POINTS - New World Wine Awards 2018
4 STARS - Raymond Chan www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, Apr 2018
"The vibrant, youthful 2017 vintage (4*) was estate-grown in the Headwaters Vineyard, near Renwick, in the Wairau Valley, tank-fermented and lees-aged for five months. Medium to full-bodied, it is invitingly scented, with strong, citrusy, slightly appley flavours, woven with mouth-watering acidity, a slightly minerally streak and a long, dryish (8 grams/litre residual sugar) finish. Certified organic."
4 STARS - Michael Cooper, New Zealand Wines Buyer's Guide, www.michaelcooper.co.nz , May 2018
"Varietal with white and yellow peach, red apple and lemon; a light saline layer and some wet stone mineral notes. Weighty, fruity and spicy with a white peach to citrus transition on the palate, some juicy fruit gum flavours and a floral note. Just dry, fleshy texture and balanced. A lovely example sure to please many who try."
93 POINTS - Cameron Douglas MS, The Shout, Aug 2018 issue
"Brilliant, light straw-yellow colour with pale golden hues, lighter on the rim. The nose is fresh and tightly bound, quite elegant in expression with delicately penetrating aromas of pure white florals along with subtle notes of citrus fruit, white stonefruits and minerals. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate has taut, but intense flavours of white stonefruits, white florals, and citrus fruit. The palate is brisk and racy with zesty acidity, with the wine showing excellent energy and drive. This flows along a very fine-textured line, carrying to a slim, but intense and sustained finish. This is an elegant, but intensely flavoured dry Albarino with stonefruit, floral and citrus fruit flavours on a zesty palate with drive and linearity."
4 STARS -Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, Apr 2018
4 STARS - Michael Cooper, New Zealand Wines Buyer's Guide, www.michaelcooper.co.nz , May 2018
93 POINTS - Cameron Douglas MS, The Shout, Aug 2018 issue
91 POINTS - New World Wine Awards 2018
4 STARS - Raymond Chan www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, Apr 2018
"The vibrant, youthful 2017 vintage (4*) was estate-grown in the Headwaters Vineyard, near Renwick, in the Wairau Valley, tank-fermented and lees-aged for five months. Medium to full-bodied, it is invitingly scented, with strong, citrusy, slightly appley flavours, woven with mouth-watering acidity, a slightly minerally streak and a long, dryish (8 grams/litre residual sugar) finish. Certified organic."
4 STARS - Michael Cooper, New Zealand Wines Buyer's Guide, www.michaelcooper.co.nz , May 2018
"Varietal with white and yellow peach, red apple and lemon; a light saline layer and some wet stone mineral notes. Weighty, fruity and spicy with a white peach to citrus transition on the palate, some juicy fruit gum flavours and a floral note. Just dry, fleshy texture and balanced. A lovely example sure to please many who try."
93 POINTS - Cameron Douglas MS, The Shout, Aug 2018 issue
"Brilliant, light straw-yellow colour with pale golden hues, lighter on the rim. The nose is fresh and tightly bound, quite elegant in expression with delicately penetrating aromas of pure white florals along with subtle notes of citrus fruit, white stonefruits and minerals. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate has taut, but intense flavours of white stonefruits, white florals, and citrus fruit. The palate is brisk and racy with zesty acidity, with the wine showing excellent energy and drive. This flows along a very fine-textured line, carrying to a slim, but intense and sustained finish. This is an elegant, but intensely flavoured dry Albarino with stonefruit, floral and citrus fruit flavours on a zesty palate with drive and linearity."
4 STARS -Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, Apr 2018
A floral lift with lime zest and clover honey. Fresh and juicy sweet , grapefruit and lingering spice/mineral finish.
This is the 2nd harvest of Albariño fruit from our certified organic Headwaters Vineyard. It it spent time in cold soak prior to pressing. The juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks at controlled cool temperatures to capture the intense flavours and aromatic purity of the variety. Fermentation was halted prior to dryness to balance the refreshing acidity. Bottling took place soon after completion of ferment.
Fish and seafood of all kinds. Spicy dishes also can work well.
4 STARS - Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, April 2017
4 STARS - Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooper.co.nz, May 2017
"Brilliant light straw colour with slight green hues, pale edged. The nose is elegantly presented with gently growing volume, unfolding exotic white and yellow florals with white stone-fruit and citrus fruit aromas, along with herb interest. The aromatics are attractively detailed. Dry to taste and medium-full bodied, the palate is vibrant and lively with aromatic fruit flavours of citrus and stone-fruits entwined with exotic florals and hints of spice. The fruit shows with richness and succulence, balanced by fine phenolic textures and refreshing, brisk acidity. This has a concentrated core and line that carries to a lingering floral finish. This is a subtly rich-fruited dry Albariño with citrus, stone-fruit and floral flavours on a fine-featured, crisp palate."
4 STARS - Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, April 2017
"The lively 2016 vintage (4*) was estate-grown in the Headwaters vineyard, on the north side of the Wairau Valley, hand-harvested from organically certified vines, tank-fermented and bottled young. Full-bodied and vibrantly fruity, it is drinking well in its youth, with strong, fresh, citrusy, slightly spicy flavours, crisp, dryish (5 .2 grams/litre residual sugar) and lingering."
4 STARS - Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooper.co.nz, May 2017
4 STARS - Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooper.co.nz, May 2017
"Brilliant light straw colour with slight green hues, pale edged. The nose is elegantly presented with gently growing volume, unfolding exotic white and yellow florals with white stone-fruit and citrus fruit aromas, along with herb interest. The aromatics are attractively detailed. Dry to taste and medium-full bodied, the palate is vibrant and lively with aromatic fruit flavours of citrus and stone-fruits entwined with exotic florals and hints of spice. The fruit shows with richness and succulence, balanced by fine phenolic textures and refreshing, brisk acidity. This has a concentrated core and line that carries to a lingering floral finish. This is a subtly rich-fruited dry Albariño with citrus, stone-fruit and floral flavours on a fine-featured, crisp palate."
4 STARS - Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, April 2017
"The lively 2016 vintage (4*) was estate-grown in the Headwaters vineyard, on the north side of the Wairau Valley, hand-harvested from organically certified vines, tank-fermented and bottled young. Full-bodied and vibrantly fruity, it is drinking well in its youth, with strong, fresh, citrusy, slightly spicy flavours, crisp, dryish (5 .2 grams/litre residual sugar) and lingering."
4 STARS - Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooper.co.nz, May 2017
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