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Stonyridge Vineyard

Founded in 1982, Stonyridge makes some of New Zealand’s best Bordeaux red blends from its 16 acres of vines on Waiheke Island, protected from the cold southwesterly winds by a steep, rocky ridge. Owner/ winemaker Stephen White is widely recognized as having been the first to identify Waiheke Island as an ideal climate for producing Bordeaux-style reds; the first vintage here was 1985.

Stonyridge’s flagship wine is its Larose blend, which accounts for nearly three-quarters of its annual production of about 2,000 cases. There is also a second wine called Airfield, plus tiny quantities of Pilgrim, a blend based on Syrah, and Luna Negra, from 100% Malbec.

Winemaker Martin Pickering told me that 2011 was the last bad vintage on Waiheke Island, as it rained through February and March. Two thousand fifteen, he went on, was more like 2013 than like 2014; it was warmer than 2014 and featured a longer growing season, as 2014 had a rain event in the middle of the harvest—as well as a large crop of grapes (2015 featured small berries and a smaller crop). Owner White describes 2013 as “a hot, great year.” Incidentally, the estate planted a bit of Chardonnay last year and expects to make a wine from it in vintage 2017.

From New Zealand’s Pellucid Wines: More Light Than Heat (May 2016) by Stephen Tanzer

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2014 Malbec Luna Negra Hillside

Color: Red

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