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Peacock Ridge

Peacock Ridge is home to Sally and Jon Ewer, as well as a handful of wood pigeons and, of course, wild peacocks. It's also home to four hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec vines that belay Jon's aspirations; this is an estate turning out wines with an accepted nod towards Bordeaux.

Peacock Ridge The vineyards are located on Waiheke Island, with views across Hauraki Gulf to Auckland, on New Zealand's north island. Recently planted on heavy clay soils, the vineyard's first vintage was 2002, and there were just two cuvées produced; a Merlot (with 15% other varieties) and a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend. The quality of the fruit, ensured through sustainable viticulture with minimal spraying and complete absence of insecticides, a green harvest, leaf thinning and manual picking, shows through in the finished product. The berries are destemmed, and following fermentation see the inside of hybrid barrels (American staves, French barrel-ends) for up to fourteen months.

The wines are impressive in their own right, although the achievement is even greater when one considers that until very recently many wine writers have regarded New Zealand as suitable for white varieties only; and that here we have a fledgling estate turning out showstoppers in the first vintage. This is certainly a producer to watch.

The Peacock Ridge wines are available in the UK through Hellion Wines, run by Jim Ledwith. Jim specialises in New Zealand and can be contacted on 07765 472263. (29/9/05)

Contact details:
Address: Waiheke Island
Telephone: +64 (0) 9 418 3588
Fax: +64 (0) 9 418 3588
Internet: www.peacockridge.co.nz

Peacock Ridge - Tasting Notes

The following wines were tasted in September 2005. Click to locate stockists.

Peacock Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Merlot Cabernet Franc 2002: Cabernet 70%, 10% each of the others. The Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested at 26.5º Brix (which is impressive). This dark, youthful looking wine takes an hour or two to open up, but its worth the wait. A lovely, aromatic nose of tar, minerals, turmeric and charcoal, with a delicate floral nuance and some ripe black forest fruits. In contrast it has a rather restrained palate, but with a lovely, dry, minerally, aloof presence. Nicely balanced, and approachable now with food, but will be even better with two or three years in the cellar. This is very good indeed. 17+/20

Peacock Ridge Reserve Merlot 2002: Includes 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec. Decanted for four hours, allowing some time for a little volatile acidity to blow off, and for this vibrant yet deeply hued wine to blossom. A restrained nose of damson fruit and fruitcake, and dark chocolate, with notes of tobacco leaf. Richly endowed wine, with a plush texture immediately apparent, although with a firm structure showing through the midpalate and on the finish. This is warm, ripe and masculine in style, with bramble fruit flavour. Ripe, firm tannic structure. Very good now with air, but I feel it would benefit from three to five years in the cellar. 17+/20