Stephen Wong 95 points.
95 POINTS - ‘Complex and concentrated with leesy richness underpinning the lime blossom, grapefruit, celery salt and fennel seed flavours. The mid-weight palate is crisp and chewy with peppery phenolics adding interest to the long, tangy and savoury flavours. A twist of root spice and wet stone on the dry finish brings everything to a point. This is just starting to relax and will offer delicious complexity over the next few years.’
STEPHEN WONG | JANUARY 2026.
5 STARS - ‘This impressive wine was hand-harvested in the Omaka Valley from “some of the oldest Grüner vines in the country”. Fermented in a mix of tanks and barrels, and then fully matured for 11 months in French oak puncheons. Bright, light yellow/green, it is a lovely wine, full-bodied and sweet-fruited, with balanced acidity and concentrated, peachy, spicy flavours. Drink now onwards.’
MICHAEL COOPER MA ONZM | FEBRUARY 2026
Fourteen years on from our inaugural Marlborough Grüner Veltliner, we’ve learned a thing of two about this fascinating variety. 2024 is our exciting debut from the Axehouse Vineyard, home to a hectare of some of the oldest Grüner vines in the country. Jonathan and Robyn Falloon meticulously nurture these vines while their award-winning homestead lends the property its edgy name.
The Omaka Valley's warm days, cool nights and clay-loam soils deliver perfect ripening, allowing this Grüner to unfurl with full-bodied richness, vibrant yuzu citrus and white-pepper aromatics. It nods to its Austrian roots with savoury, textural intrigue, while fully embracing New Zealand’s fruit-driven precision and opulence.
