“Dirtoir is the brainchild of Jules van Cruysen and Asher Boote, who created this new brand after seeing how much amazing, unique, site-driven wine effectively disappeared into the ether… being blended away or sold as generic clean skin wine.”

“It also came out of a desire to offer exiting, individual wines at various price points at their two restaurants: Hillside Kitchen & Cellar and The Ramen Shop, both in Wellington.”

So Jules and Asher set to work with individual winemakers rescuing interesting and unique parcels of wine and then bottle them under the Dirtoir label all individually numbered, and made available for us to enjoy.

I was able to taste and enjoy the #1 and #3 wines recently and thoroughly enjoyed both examples. Both opened to breathe and tasted over 2 nights using the Gabriel Glass.

Dirtoir #1 – This is a Pinot Noir 2015 from an organic vineyard in Upper Moutere in Nelson, made with little intervention, by Alex of Don and Kindeli wines. Only 200 bottles of this were made:

Notes: Deep cherry plum in the glass, a little bricky towards the edge, slightly hazy but with having no filtering fining etc you’d expect that – I got plum spice and  cherry notes in the nose and on the palate. Light to medium body weight, with an initial punch of dark fruit, a little tart acidity balanced by soft silky, almost powdery tannins. On the finish it was dry and fruity. I think a little young so give it a couple of years then try again. RRP NZ$4013% ABV

Dirtoir #3 – This is a 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Merlot blend from the Gimblet Road, grown by Aussie viticulturist Bob Newton of Newton Forest Estate ( Cornerstone Vineyard)

Notes: Deep red-to-black cherry in colour, a medium bodied wine with smoke, plum and herbal ‘green stalk’ notes on the nose. Huge fruit on the palate with dark black plum, chocolate and savoury flavours. Beautifully integrated dusty tannins & a lovely oak balance from a mix of French and US barrels – An elegant 7 year old Bordeaux style wine drinking wonderfully now, and a bargain at RRP NZ$30. 14.5% ABV

Two special ‘one-off’ wines from a great new brand – other wines in the Dirtoir portfolio are:

Dirtoir #2 a 2012 Hawkes Bay Botrytis Sauvignon Blanc (now retired)

Dirtoir #4 a 2015 Te Muna Late Harvest Pinot Gris

A 2016 Gewurztraminer Rose: a first collaboration with Petane Station.

Keep an eye on Dirtoir wines which are available from Cult Wine (Click the Sponsor Link on the left) a new specialist wine merchant located in Wellington. I am sure there will be many more exciting things to come!