Misha and Andy Wilkinson

On a beautiful Summers day in Auckland I attended a trade tasting at The Grove restaurant. The tasting was all about Misha’s Vineyard wines. Over the course of the next two hours we were to be entertained, not only by Misha herself, but also by her winemaker and co owner Andy, the new darlings of Central Otago wine.

The setting is stunning and the food complimentary to the wines. Wine isn’t all about what’s inside the bottle and there’s no better marketer in the New Zealand wine industry than Misha. From label design to the choice of venue to release their new wines, everything is taken into consideration.

Misha and Andy Wilkinson ply their marketing/PR trade backgrounds to great effect. They lived in Singapore and are marketing where they know best, Asia. Over the last 4 years they have traveled relentlessly across Asia, to show their wines and gather some traction for a relatively new brand.

Roasted duck breast with croustillant of leg and fig

These days Misha’s Vineyard brand is recognised, and they are a year ahead of schedule on their 10 year plan. Few new New Zealand wineries are able to say that these days.  These guys are a thoroughbred in the making. With great temperament but focused and knows what it needs to do to be a winner. Fine and delicately structured, they sit comfortably in the stable complimenting one another.

This isn’t a short term venture for Misha and her team, but more a gallop down 90 mile beach.

The wines are made by one of New Zealand’s best winemakers Olly Masters, ex Ata Rangi (one of New Zealand’s premier Pinot Noir producers). Today we’re tasting wines from 2008, 2009, and the most recent vintage of 2011.

Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Gewürztraminer from Misha's Vineyard

Misha’s Vineyard ‘Dress Circle’ Pinot Gris 2011: Astounding fruit freshness. Light in colour but rich in aroma of Nashi pear. Tight on the palate. Good varietal expression and a great example of New Zealand Pinot Gris. Cellar for the next 4 years.

90 Points
RRP $28

Misha’s Vineyard ‘Dress Circle’ Pinot Gris 2008: Age has been kind to this wine. A developed nose and slightly darker in the glass. It’s a simply beautiful, perfectly balanced wine. Ready to drink now.

91 points
RRP $NA

Misha’s Vineyard ‘The Gallery’ Gewurztraminer 2011: A great expression of New Zealand Gewurztraminer, combining exotic fragrances with rich ripe fruit. Beautifully floral, but you know it will deliver more in the next 3 years. Balanced and well made.

90 Points
RRP $32

Misha’s Vineyard ‘The Gallery’ Gewurztraminer 2008: Very little difference in colour from the new vintage. Oily on the palate and a fine first vintage from this new vineyard. Great potential for subsequent releases and shows the direction they are heading.

86 Points
RRP $NA

Misha’s Vineyard ‘Limelight’ Riesling 2011: This is a ripe wine, bursting with lemon sherbet, raspberry and overtones of peach. The citrus fruit lingers whilst the sweetness is the balancing act.

91 Points
RRP $29

Misha’s Vineyard ‘Limelight’ Riesling 2008: Slight aged colour around the gills, but still has a youthful glint in its eye. More muted on the nose, but with hints of delicate white flowers and pear. Subtleness is also noticeable on the palate. Good example if not a little tired.

86 Points
RRP $NA

The High Note and Verismo Pinot Noir

Misha’s Vineyard ‘The High Note’ Pinot Noir 2009: Sweet smell of ripe blackcurrant coulis, and a little alcohol. Lighter in colour to previous vintages. Hint of bramble and greeness on the palate. Structure is the key here. Despite it being a little hot on the palate, for me, it displays good winemaking. Less oak than previous vintages show off the fresh fruit. I feel this wine will age gracefully over the next 6 years.

89 Points
RRP $48

Misha’s Vineyard ‘The High Note’ Pinot Noir 2008: Dark plum colour, dense cherry nose with oak. Round, fleshy and smooth tannin, with beautiful sweetness to balance. Solid wine from Central Otago, and Misha’s Vineyards first vintage.

87 Points
RRP $48

Misha’s Vineyard ‘Verismo’ Pinot Noir 2009: The verismo is a barrel selection of Misha’s Pinot Noir. They have dialed back the use of new oak since the previous vintage. Light plum. Scented with blueberries and a variety of red fruit. Very well balanced. Exotic and generous. A real statement of intent. Cellar for next 8-10 years.

92 Points
RRP $63

Misha’s Vineyard ‘Verismo’ Pinot Noir 2008: A muscly Pinot noir. Burgeoning use of oak that now shows through. Freshly ground sweet coffee bean perfume with hints of black fruit and savoury characters. Intense, and powerful fruit are slightly dominated with oak. Very drinkable now.

90 Points
RRP $63

All wines are under screwcap and grapes are from own vineyards.