Highfield Newsletters

    Pruning 2006

Kia ora all and greetings from Marlborough

 

It’s pruning time again. A period when those rugged vineyard folk whip out their shiny snips to prune, strip and tie down dormant vine shoots for the following season. So spare a thought for them and their toes at 7.30am in a –4°C frost. It takes great skill and experience to prune a grapevine well. Cuts have to be made in exactly the right place, while working quickly and constantly considering the effects of each cut on the following season.

 

 

New Release Pinot Noir
We have released the Highfield Pinot Noir 2004 for our New Zealand mail order customers. It is just what you need on these cold winter nights by a toasty fire.

 

“The grapes for the 2004 Pinot Noir were meticulously hand-picked from low yielding Marlborough vineyards, hand sorted and then de-stemmed into open-top tanks. The juice and berries were cold soaked for seven days to allow colour and tannin integration. The Pinot Noir then went through fermentation while lovingly being hand plunged every six hours. Maturation in French oak barriques followed and the wine was bottled twelve months later.

 

The 2004 is a fine and concentrated wine with great finesse. Warm blackberry and cherry flavours combine with a delightful fresh earthy character. It is reminiscent of the trophy winning 2002 vintage with its generous and full bodied structure together with fine silky tannins. The Pinot is a perfect complement to lamb, venison or smoked salmon. Enjoy!”

 

Alistair Soper

Winemaker

 
 

Recent Reviews

Highfield Botrytised Riesling 2003

90 Points and 4 Stars 

“Luscious honeyed wine showing plenty of botrytis character with subtle varietal flavours underneath. A very sweet, almost decadent style with some caramelised flavours beginning to emerge.”

Bob Campbell MW, Gourmet Traveller WINE

 

Elstree Cuvee Brut 1999

4 Stars 

“Only a few Marlborough bubblies can stand close comparison with Champagne (the real stuff). From one vintage to the next one of the region’s finest sparklings is Elstree. The 1999 is yeasty and complex, mature but still lively, with a dry, mouth-wateringly crisp finish”.

Michael Cooper, Cuisine Magazine

 

Profile - Tom Tenuwera
Tom Tenuwera is co-owner of Highfield Estate. He was born in Sri Lanka and spent much of his life in Bristol, Bath and the Middle East. In 1992 Tom and business partner, Shin Yokoi bought Highfield Estate. Tom had been coming to New Zealand for a while and enjoying the wines when he heard that Highfield was up for sale. What was actually purchased was a big corrugated iron warehouse and winery on a superb hill site. Much deliberation went on about what should be built on the hill and finally, with the assistance of at least one brilliant bottle of Louis Roderer Crystal, the decision to build the Tuscan inspired tower was made.

 

Tom is passionate about New Zealand wines “They are stunning. Things have absolutely changed, from about 1996 onwards. The growers and winemakers have found inspiration and are crafting some magnificent wines”. 

 

Tom now lives on his small Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc vineyard in the Brancott Valley. “Marlborough is a great place to live. It’s quite a contrast to Bath, but it’s relaxed and beautiful. I love it here”.  

 

  

Nature and the Noir

Celebrated Canterbury artist Rae West is exhibiting at Highfield Estate this July. Her pieces are rich and dark, often featuring birds and New Zealand’s native botanicals. Check out her website www.raewest.co.nz. The exhibition opening is a mid-winter degustation dinner complete with Highfield wines at Highfield Estate on Friday 7 July at 6.30pm. Bookings are essential at the all inclusive cost of $70.00 per person.
Tel: 03 572 9244 ext: 8

 

 

Highfield Restaurant
Get cosy by the Highfield fire and enjoy something special from the new winter menu. Slowly Braised Duck Leg Confit, Moroccan Lamb or the delicious Mussel Seafood Chowder should be enough to entice. The restaurant will be closed for kitchen renovations from 24 - 28 July.

 


Penthouse Apartment Winner
In the last Field Notes newsletter, we ran a Highfield penthouse promotion.  Congratulations to Annemaree Deed from Wellington who was the lucky winner of one night's accommodation at the Highfield penthouse apartment.

 

 

12 Bottle Case Offer

Every 12 bottle case purchased before Friday 30 June will receive a Highfield Estate embroidered long sleeve polo shirt usually valued at $55.00. Let us know your size on the order form. 

 

 

All the very best

 

Naomi and the team at Highfield Estate


Mail Order:

Within New Zealand:
To order wines from our latest vintage fill out our ONLINE ORDER FORM and submit your order or PRINT out our lastest ORDER FORM and send to HIGHFIELD ESTATE via the options offered below:

  • 1) Post: Highfield Estate Winery, Brookby Rd, RD2, Blenheim
  • 2) Fax: (03) 572 9257

Please Note: Delivery free anywhere in New Zealand for six bottles or more.

Rest of World:
Contact Highfield Estate at naomi@highfield.co.nz

Highfield Estate Winery, Brookby Rd, RD2, Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand
Tel. +64 (3) 572 9244 Fax. +64 (3) 572 9257 Email. naomi@highfield.co.nz