Collaboration Wines is a new portfolio of wines from Winemaker Julianne Brogden (Julz) who has selected Hawke’s Bay vineyard sites that truly reflect the region and her experience and appreciation for the world of wine.
In 1997 at the age of 17 she followed her interests in horticulture, Science and the Arts and completed a Bachelor of Wine Science. This was the beginning to a career filled with viticulture, wine-making, travel, cuisine, the arts and most importantly creative passionate people, life-long friends and her partner.
“Winemaking is addictive. It involves physical, dirty, hard labour and long crazy hours but the friends you make from countries all over the world and the many laughs, great food, loud eclectic music and of course fine wine, make it all worthwhile.” say Julianne who has worked in various vineyards and wineries around the world.
Now back in the Hawke’s Bay Julz devotes her time to producing her interpretation of Chardonnay “Aurulent” and Cabernet Sauvignon “Argent” the inspiration for the titles and labels coming from the works by artist and friend Angela Tirrell. Only 100 cases of each wine was made so I’d suggest getting some now before this vintage is gone! You can buy them online!
Collaboration Wines “Aurulent – Of the Colour Gold” 2011 Chardonnay
Grapes for this wine were sourced from select sites with low yielding vines and all hand-picked. A mix of old and new wine-making techniques were used with fermentation in a mix of old and new French oak, full malo, 12 months on lees, no fining and only lightly filtered before bottling… Bright golden-yellow in the glass, with lemon & citrus notes and a little vanilla on the nose, beautifully integrated on the palate with fresh with luscious juicy stone-fruit on the palate, great acidity with a creamy mouth-feel, nicely structured oak and a long citrus mandarin pith finish. A gorgeous textural Chardonnay – liked it a lot…
Alc/V 13.5% RRP $30.00
Collaboration Wines “Argent – The Colour of Silver” 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Grapes from selected low yield vineyards in gravel sites and a small parcel of Merlot from heavier soil were blended for this wine after careful, shoot thinning, leaf plucking, fruit thinning then picking by hand. The wine was aged in new and older French barrels for 20 months, unfiltered and unfined on bottling. It’s dark black cherry in colour, with dark fruit, blackcurrants and a whiff of savory forest floor in the nose – huge, intense juicy fruit on the palate with tannins / acid / oak components that still need time to integrate / soften, drinking beautifully now though with a warm long finish – mouth-watering!
Alc/V 13.5% RRP $40.00
To find out more about Julz and Collaboration wines visit: http://collaborationwines.co.nz/