Methode Traditionnelle

Chardonnay

Sauvignon Blanc

Aromatic

Dessert Wine

Rose

Red Wine
 

Villa Maria Methode Traditionelle NV

When having a celebration, a sparkling wine or Methode Traditionelle is the obvious choice for most people. The bubbly nature of the wine seems to encapsulate thoughts of fun and enjoyment and while imported French Champagne is beyond the pockets of many New Zealanders, New Zealand is capable of producing some very good Methode Traditionelle wines at more affordable prices.

Although our most popular and biggest brand of Methode Traditionelle comes from Gisborne, Marlborough has an excellent climate for producing quality Methode Traditionelle wines, and there are various makers of this type of wine in various regions from Auckland to Central Otago. To make their wine, Villa Maria has sourced fruit from three regions, with the lion’s share being Pinot Noir from the Keltern vineyard in Hawke's Bay. Marlborough fruit also has a major input, with 32% of fruit being Chardonnay grapes grown at the picturesque Seddon Vineyard. The remaining 6% of fruit is Pinot Noir from Ihumatoa in Auckland.

The Ihumatoa vineyard is a unique site, being home to Villa Maria’s state of the art winery and located in a sheltered volcanic basin. The Seddon vineyard is situated on the southern banks of the rugged Awatere River in Marlborough, while the Keltern Vineyard in Hawke's Bay is established on alluvial soils bordering the Ngaruroro River, east of Maraekakaho. All the vineyards had careful canopy and yield management to promote early ripening specially for Methode Traditionelle production.

If you are wondering, NV stands for non-vintage, although the base wine dates back to 2003 and was aged for three years on yeast lees. It was fermented in stainless steel tanks and seasoned lightgrain French oak barrels. It has been a patient wait for Villa Maria before they bottled it in 2008.

The first thing you will notice about this wine is that it is sealed in a crown seal to prevent cork taint. The wine has a complex palate of citrus, with toasty notes provided by the seasoned lightgrain French oak barrels, leading to a creamy, fresh palate and an elegant, dry finish with the hint of mousse.

It is drinking well now, but is in short supply and only available at Villa Maria’s cellar door and Glengarry’s if you want to try it.

© Stephen Clark (reviewed 22/2/2010)
 

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