Jurassic Ridge

Jurassic Ridge Montepulciano 2009 gets a special mention in despatches – read more…..!

lance — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 11:25:36 +0000

2009 Jurassic Ridge Montepulciano – 18.5/20 points (5 stars). Good ruby and velvet, some carmine. Bouquet is simply beautiful Montepulciano, fragrant, darkly floral, intensely berried, slightly spicy, but unlike so many of the wines from this grape’s homeland, this one is perfectly clean. Palate is soft, rich and velvety, the oak in good new world proportion, the flavours long and dry. This is benchmark Montepulciano, a grape which is doing exceptionally well on Waiheke Island…… Cellar 5-12 maybe 15 years. Geoff Kelly Wine Reviews, November 2012.

Attention All UK Jurassic Ridge Wine Club Members!!

lance — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 11:15:19 +0000

You will be pleased to know that some of our Jurassic Ridge wines are now available in the UK in time for Christmas! Our importer – John Lang Leisure, based in Conwy, North Wales distributes across the UK including internet sales. Go to their website at www.goodwineonline.com to check it out. In addition, as a special introductory offer, you may well be offered a free bottle of our single Vineyard, Jurassic Terrace, Waihopai Valley, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010 when purchasing any six bottles of Jurassic Ridge red wines from John Lang. Check it out!

Montepulciano 2009

lance — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:05:49 +0000

JURASSIC RIDGE MONTEPULCIANO 2009 to be released today!!! If you have never tried this great grape then you will be in for a pleasant surprise. Mosey on down to the cellar door and you might get a taste!

Jurassic Ridge Pinot Grigio Blush 2010

lance — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:58:21 +0000

Sold out today! The very last case went to Wales. Watch this spot for the new 2011 release - an Italian-style blush wine – peach-coloured, dry and minerally, grown, produced and bottled on estate. Dry, crisp and refreshing and ideal with green-lipped mussels or oysters, it has nuances of Nashi pear, citrus, apples and spice and is similar but fuller bodied than the 2009. It will be available ONLY from the cellar door, online shop or International email orders.

In the press!

lance — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:46:49 +0000

“……..The third winery won our top prize and our money. This was a very small winery called Jurassic Ridge. The name comes not from the movie but from the owner who is an English geologist.* He likes to discuss the age of the rock upon which the island sits on and how it was formed. This unusual terroir immediately conjures up images of large dinosaurs but he tells me that nothing lived at this time except small invertebrates.** His wife is an Italian urologist*** who is very involved in the business when not checking out other liquids. They also grow olives and have their own olive press, which creates a wonderful olive oil, now proudly conveyed back to the USA to be consumed by friends and family.” The wines were the best I tasted on the island with the winner being a Montepulciano, which is not grown anywhere else on Waiheke.**** The tasting was impressive and took me back to Italy and the hands of the Italian wife were definitely involved in creating this wonderful robust red”. ***** excerpt from “Thumbs Up – Down Under” by Jon Porter 1 November 2009. FOR THE FULL ARTICLE go to www.drinkeatlove.com/2009/11/thumbs-up-down-under-by-jon-porter.html

NB However, some ever so slight corrections are required for the hilarious bits above ………*Actually a Kiwi neurologist! **Nope – thats not the case – its just that our Jurassic alpine greywackes are not macrofossiliferous – there is a rich diversity of Jurassic life forms in other rocks of this period of course; ***Nope – she is also a neurologist who unfortunately has no time to dabble in fluids of any sort, but did want to partake of our favourite Italian wine! ****No again – there is a very good one from Obsidian winery – this variety suits the island which is why we grow it! *****The Winemaker’s comment – no comment!!

“……….to Jurassic Ridge and Lance (a former neurologist and amateur geologist) who now has a winery and does most of the work by himself. Single grape type in a bottle is his philosophy – stunning attention to detail creates some stunning wines – we bought some!!! excerpt from “Annenige on tour! Waiheke Wine”, 8th December 2009. FOR THE FULL ARTICLE go to www.getjealous.com

“How many of us have been seduced by a gorgeous label, and an enticing description on a wine bottle, only to be left wanting by its contents? Living on, or visiting, Waiheke Island, you never more than 10-15 minutes from a cellar door so this scenario can be avoided. My obsession about trying new wines is equally met, on this island, by people that are driven to make them. Standing in the place where the vines are grown staring at those garnet and citrine orbs full of potential panacea, you can forget the huge labour that goes into this business. At harvest time it is a battle with the weather to get these precious vessels into tank or barrel at the peak time before nature does them more harm than good. At the cellar door you can learn so much more about the wine and the passion that brought it into being. This week’s wine match was made by one of these brave people who turned hr dream into reality. Lance Blumhardt of Jurassic Ridge spent his precious time with me explaining his wines and the vagaries of his vineyard site, where they pride themselves on their single vineyard varietals and sustainable practices. The Jurassic Rridge Cabernet franc ‘08 has a soft sweet herbaceous edge and finds a soul mate in the delicious olive Mediterranean tart. The ripe fruit flesh of this wine is a compliment to the fresh harvest vegetables and together they lead you down the garden path. There we find the soft notes in the wine of violets and lavender. The saltiness of the capers, olives, and feta balance nicely with the tannic structure and stylish oak of this generous inky cabernet franc. This wine had no fining and minimal filtration, which can strip out some of the finer aromas, and is a true representation of where it is grown. Jurassic Ridge’s cellar door is open 7 days from 11-4pm . They also produce Pinot Grigio, Syrah, Syrah Rose and their trophy winning Montepulciano. They are one driveway along from the Mudbrick in Church Bay. Church Bay was also named Hangaura which means ‘to make red’ so it is fitting that red wine is being made here. It can also mean to make red the sky, so as the sun goes down this is the perfect time to drink this wine. To sip perchance to dream….” Linda’s Column Gulf News 31 March 2011.

Jurassic Ridge Syrah 2008

lance — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:49:03 +0000

Our 100% Syrah 2008 from a great Waiheke vintage struck Gold at the 2011 Bragato Wine Awards in Auckland this August.

Jurassic Ridge Syrah Rose 2010

lance — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:53:15 +0000

The first edition (2009) was gold medal rated. The 2010 is absolute bottled terroir – the most frequent remark is ‘Wow – that’s different!’ Despite being made exactly the same as the 2009 in every detail it is uniquely individual and certainly different and probably never to be repeated! Find out why from our wine notes below. Now available ONLY from the cellar door, online shop, email order or a crafty restaurant or two. You will need to be quick…….

A big, boldly coloured, ‘serious’ rose with attitude and intense varietal fruit and spice. The difference is due to something the winemaker cannot control – thank goodness – the weather. The 2010 season was the dryest in Auckland since records started more than 100 years ago. The result was fruit with intense concentration and very thick skins with plentiful tannins.

This wine has an amazing biphasic effect on the palate starting with intense sweet fruit and finishing with those smooth drying tannins – equally at home with smoked ham or tiramasu! A real all-rounder! One taster in the cellar door remarked – ‘Its like having two different wines in your mouth at the same time’! Be quick as this unique wine is selling out fast and may never be repeated….. unless there is an even dryer vintage coming……….

Jurassic Ridge Cabernet Franc 2008

lance — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:45:15 +0000

A 100% pure varietal Cabernet Franc produced from two clones grown sustainably in our estate vineyard above Church Bay on Waiheke Island. Intense red berry fruit (raspberries and cherries) on the bouquet and palate are mixed with characteristic varietal floral and spicey notes (‘violets and lavender’) which linger into a long dark chocolate finish on smooth well structured tannins. Great by itself or with starters and a perfect match with lamb, game and spicey Asian dishes.

Montepulciano 2008 wins Gold and Trophy!

lance — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:29:02 +0000

At the prestigious Bragato Wine Awards 2010, our 2008 vintage Montepulciano – which many of you are now enjoying, or cellaring – was awarded a Gold Medal and Champion Wine of its class. It has now virtually sold out apart from one or two library bottles (available at the cellar door by special negotiation) but the 2009 may be even better and has just been bottled. Watch this spot for the new release as it will certainly sell fast!

Syrah Rose 2009

lance — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:27:18 +0000

Our 5 star gold-medal rated Syrah Rose 2009 (Wine Buyers Guide to NZ Wines, 2010 by Michael Cooper) has now sold out. Watch this space for release of the 2010 … more→