Heron's Flight Matakana New Zealand - a recent tasting

Phil Parker takes wine tours around Auckland New Zealand

HERON’S FLIGHT


Established 1988 by David Hoskins (ex Philadelphia USA) and his partner Mary Evans, with plantings of Chardonnay and Merlot. In 1994 the Italian Chianti grape – Sangiovese Grosso was planted. David and Mary have pulled al the other varieties out and now Sangiovese is the dominant grape from Heron’s Flight’s 15 acre vineyard, with production at about 1,000 cases per year. David produces about 700 cases of another red Italian grape variety - Dolcetto which comes from the Piedmonte region in northern Italy. Very little wine sold other than over the counter or mail list, but they do have an agent in UK.

Recently Heron’s Flight has formed a joint company with Runner Duck wines of Matakana and features their wines in the tasting flight.

Also – Heron’s Flight’s new restaurant and cellar tasting facility produce jams, chutneys and relishes, plus Sangiovese and Dolcetto non-alcoholic fruit juices.

2007 RUNNER DUCK RED Spicy and savoury blended red, with pot pourri aromas and soft tannins.

2007 RUNNER DUCK SYRAH Black pepper aromas, savoury and soft, with black olive and cherry palate and a hint of almond.

2008 DOLCETTO Gamey, with a ripe fruity palate of black berry fruit flavours.

2005 SANGIOVESE Heron’s Flight’s premium red wine. Full bodied, and soft from a good vintage. With spicy/herbal/pot pourri aromas and ripe flavours of roast venison, cherries and black berries, with mild tannins.

2008 IL ROSSO An Italian style food wine, vinted from the same Sangiovese grapes. Rich, with flavours of game meats, black berry and dried fruits.

SANGIOVESE Juice Unfermented pure grape juice, bursting with flavour and natural sweetness.

DOLCETTO Juice Unfermented pure grape juice. Dryer than the Sangiovese, with an interesting aroma of dry grass – or hay .