Proudly Family – owned, the Borthwick Vineyard is an established vineyard situated in Gladstone, the heart of Wairarapa. Producing quality wine for over a decade, Paddy, an experienced winemaker, has gained a reputation for producing consistently great wines. The 27 hectares of vines bordering the Ruamahanga River in Gladstone, Wairarapa are on stony, free draining, alluvial soils, with a microclimate giving warm daily temperatures, cool nights, and low rainfall, perfect conditions for producing distinctive, quality wines.
Paddy Borthwick Pinot Gris 2020
Region: Gladstone, Wairarapa, New Zealand
Tasting notes: Perfumed aromas of apricots, nectarines and green pears. A rich mid-palate displaying mild oak influence. The wine finishes dry and crisp with lingering hints of warming spice.
Vintage Conditions: The growing season for the 2020 vintage saw little to no rainfall in November and December 2019. This produced slightly shorter canopy heights but provided ideal conditions for fruit set. The low rainfall continued for the remainder of the season into late March, leading to earlier flavour development in the grapes and no disease pressure. Grapes were picked between March 18th and April the 8th 2020. All fruit harvested was ripe, overall a quality vintage.
Viticulture: Pinot Gris is the new variety in the vineyard for Borthwick Estate, planted in the springs of 2006 and 2007, we chose some of the newest planting material in New Zealand and grafted on to a rootstock that makes the vine work hard to access nutrients and water.
Gold medals:
Silver Medal NZ International Wine Show. 4 stars Michael Cooper. 89 points Bob Campbell 92 points Cameron Douglas 88 points Rebecca Gibb 94 points Raymond Chan Wine Reviews Gold Medal Asia Wine Challenge 91 Points James Suckling
Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Gold Medals:
5 stars Michael Cooper. 91 Points Bob Campbell 90 Points James Suckling 94 points Cameron Douglas 95 points Raymond Chan Reviews 93 points NZ Wine Rater Gold Medal Asia Wine Challenge
Paddy Borthwick Chardonnay 2020
Region: Gladstone, Wairarapa, New Zealand Zealand
Tasting notes: Aromas of ripe yellow peach, pineapple, and honey nougat. Wild fermentation in oak giving a creamy, soft pallet, lightly spiced oak and hazelnut flavours finishing with pear and citrus. This wine shows depth of fruit and great palate weight reflecting the great ripening season. Enjoy now or cellar for 6 years.
Vintage Conditions: 2019 harvest was excellent due to the weather conditions giving the team the ability to pick the grapes at full maturity. Higher rainfall in October, November and December produced good canopies with a following warm dry February, March and April allowing the grapes to ripen slowly developing great flavours and aromatics.
The wine underwent minimal malolactic fermentation, which was carried out by our indigenous bacterial culture. The wine is aged on yeast lees for 10 months before being selectively blended, fined and filtered. Oak Handling: Aged 10 months in French oak.
Gold medals:
4.5 stars Michael Cooper Silver Medal CWSA 2020 93 points 5 stars Sam Kim 91 points Bob Campbell 92 points Cameron Douglas 88 points Rebecca Gibb 93 points Raymond Chan Review.
Paddy Borthwick Pinot Rosé 2020
Region: Gladstone, Wairarapa, New Zealand.
Tasting notes: Raspberry and cherry fruit, candied apple and watermelon aromas. Good palate weight, fresh raspberry flavour, finishing with blackberry tartness.
Fermentation: was in stainless tank, before a portion was transferred to older French oak barrels for a short period to add texture to the palate.
Viticulture: A number of different Pinot Noir clones are selected for the Rosé; we feel this adds layers of flavour to the resulting wine. Two vineyards provided the fruit for the 2020 Rosé.
Winemaking: Two techniques were used to obtain the juice for the Rose ferments. Berries were crushed and pressed for one portion. For the other portion, different pinot noir vats were selected and after a few hours of skin contact a small volume was drawn off each and combined. The juices were.
Gold medals:
94 points Bob Campbell 5 stars Michael Cooper 91 points Sam Kim Silver NZ International wine show. 92 points Cameron Douglas 91 points Raymond Chan Reviews
Paper Road Pinot Noir 2020
Region: New Zealand.
Tasting notes: This is about the purity of Pinot Noir with spicy savoury and bright, juicy red florals and fruits. It is medium bodied with soft velvety tannins, a mix of tart and sweet cherry fruit with a chocolate touch to the lightly oaked finish and a spicy zestiness to the lingering aftertaste.
Vintage Conditions: Grapes were picked between March 18th to April 8th, 2020. Beautiful ripe fruit resulting in an overall quality vintage.
Winemaking: Temperature controlled fermentation using a mixture of natural and inoculated yeasts combined with hand plunging to optimize the fruit and tannin balance. Following extended post-ferment maceration on skins the wine was drained and pressed to barrel.
Gold medals:
90 Points Bob Campbell. Top 50 New World Wine Awards. Silver Medal CWSA 2020 93 points 5 stars Sam Kim
Paddy Borthwick Pinot Noir 2019
Region: Gladstone, Wairarapa, New Zealand.
Tasting notes: Bouquet of maraschino cherries, plums, cranberries and cedar. A core of dark cherry, cloves and wild herbs are supported by bright fruit and French oak that complement a rich soft palate with finely integrated fruit tannins.
Vintage Conditions: 2019 harvest was excellent due to the weather conditions giving the team the ability to pick the grapes at full maturity. Higher rainfall in October, November and December produced good canopies with a following warm dry February, March and April allowing the grapes to ripen slowly developing great flavours and aromatics.
Winemaking: Temperature controlled fermentation using only natural yeasts, combined with hand plunging to optimize the fruit and tannin balance. Following extended post-ferment maceration on skins the wine was drained and pressed to barrel.
Gold medals:
94 points 5 stars Sam Kim 93 points Bob Campbell Gold Medal Melbourne International wine show. 93 points Cameron Douglas 93 points Raymond Chan Reviews.