ARA WINE TO BE LAUNCHED IN UK
Two new listings for Ara have arrived at Morrisons: Pathway Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.
Ara means ‘pathway’ in Maori and the single vineyard site at Ara in Marlborough is blazing its own trail with Sauvignons that spend 6 months on their lees and wines with an elegant, minerally style.
The Ara story is all about the land and the vineyard. The unique plot is an ancient, raised river terrace and a naturally defined zone marked out by rivers on 3 sides and steep hills on the 4th. There are 424 ha planted to vine, on soils similar to those found in parts of Bordeaux and the Rhône Valley and the area is one of the sunniest and driest in New Zealand. These characteristics, combined with the vision of French trained viticulturist, Dr Damian Martin, are what make Ara wines different. Damian saw the potential for top quality fruit from this exceptional site and implemented a system of close planting and reduced yields to emphasise the refinement and structure of a more Old World style.
Both wines will be open for tasting at 20 Morrison’s stores up and down the country during April.
2009* Pathway Sauvignon Blanc, Ara – Marlborough £7.99
Stockist: Morrisons
100% Sauvignon Blanc from different parcels across the Ara vineyard. Each parcel was vinified separately and spent 6 months on its yeast lees before blending. For the Pathway wines some of the vines are allowed to grow more vigorously than is usual for Ara, so that some more classic Marlborough fruit can be included. The backbone reflects the restrained Ara style but the aromatics deliver some of Marlborough’s famous pungency.
2008 Pathway Pinot Noir, Ara – Marlborough £9.99
Stockist: Morrisons
100% Pinot Noir from Ara’s typically close planted and low yielding vines but again with some of the younger and more vigorous parcels in the vineyard as well. This adds some typical Marlborough exuberance and intense strawberry character to the wine. Pathway Pinot Noir spends 6 months in 10% new and 90% older, fine-grained French oak.
* 2009 Pathway Sauvignon Blanc arrives in store mid-April.
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