Awards & Reviews

“More pretty than beautiful although I find this understated wine quite appealing. It's a moderately concentrated Sauvignon Blanc with a pleasing medley of subtle tree and tropical fruit flavours over an underlying suggestion of herbs. Very linear and with good purity.”

Bob Campbell, BobsWineReviews.com, 17 Dec 08

“Absolutely delicious sauvignon from the up-and-coming Cheviot Hills wine region. One splash of this in my glass and the entire room was filled with the scent of pineapple, preserved lemon, lime cordial and the type of florals that you find in nana’s bathroom. It is intriguing to taste, with gumtingling acidity, rich tropical weight and a refreshing, clinging length of flavour. Buy it while you can…”

Yvonne-Marie Lorkin, Bay of Plenty Times, 1 Dec 08

“A tasty sauvignon blanc, robust and alive with plenty of flavours. A generous style with plenty to say as an aperitif or alongside seafood and white meats. Great for summer and through 2009.”

Peter Saunders, Food & Beverage Marketplace, 30 Nov 08

“Smooth and fruity with sweet herbal flavours and crisp lively finish.”

Glenda Neil, Vinote, 25 Nov 08

18/20

“More in the style of a very good Sancerre. It is soft on the palate, restrained and blessedly devoid of the potpourri of Watties’s fruit salad aromas served up from other producers. However, this wine has a mid palate weight and textural quality I have not seen since the days John Hancock created his benchmark Fume Blancs. Unlike those wines, the Mt Beautiful Sauvignon Blanc has the very finest of textures, all sorts of interesting but subtle flavours, and a restraint making it complement food and not compete with it.”

Barnett Bond, NZ Doctor, 19 Nov 08

“ Standout wine. Richly scented, it is mouthfilling, with intense, vibrant passion-fruit/lime flavours and a deliciously smooth, fully dry finish. ”

Michael Cooper, NZ Listener, 8 Nov 08

“Clean, crisp apple and hints of gooseberry on the nose and a taut, refreshing palate.”

Nick Bryant, The Independent Financial Review, 9 Oct 08

“Really dry, focussed and textural, quite rich and full-bodied with a crisp, steely apple-like undercurrent to the abundant tropical fruit with gooseberry lingering on the finish.”

Sue Courtney, Wine of the Week, 1 Oct 08

89/100

“Mt Beautiful's 2009 Sauvignon Blanc gives pronounced capsicum, grass and hemp aromas with supporting notes of passion fruit, kiwi and straw. Concentrated, dry, full bodied, juicy and crisp, it has a very long finish. Drink it now while its this vibrant.”

Robert Parker, Independent Consumers Guide to Fine Wines, 1 Oct 10

“Rich and racy, this distinctive wine was grown at Cheviot, north of Waipara, in North Canterbury. Concentrated and vibrantly fruity, with appetising acidity, it has ripe, tropical fruit flavours, showing a slightly oily richness, and a dry, lingering finish.”

Michael Cooper, Winestate, 26 May 10

“This is a step up from their solid 2008 vintage Sauvignon displaying feijoa, passionfruit and dried herb characters. The palate is concentrated and elegantly textured with bright acidity and an expansive finish. The wine is not intensely flavoured but rather beautifully poised with a lovely mouth-watering palate.”

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, 5 Dec 09

“Fresh, weighty Sauvignon Blanc with mineral, guava and nectarine flavours together with yeast lees and a suspicion of oak. Dry with a moderately grippy finish.”

Bob Campbell, BobsWineReviews.com, 1 Nov 09

89/100

“The 2009 Riesling has pretty citrus/grapefruit zest and yuzu aromas with hints of green mango and lime juice. Crisp with plenty of citrus flavors and a bit of sweetness, the palate finishes long, fresh and clean. Drinking now, it should keep through 2014. ”

Lisa Perrotti- Brown , eRobertParker.com, 31 Oct 11

“Delicate, tangy wine with an almost ethereal texture. A medium/dry Riesling with delicious lightness thanks, at least in part, to juicy acidity that gives the wine real accessibility. Pretty wine with subtle citrus, floral and mineral flavours.”

Bob Campbell, BobsWineReviews.com, 25 Feb 11

“I love the delicious apple aromas and the intensity of the crisp lime and honeysuckle flavours. It's tangy concentrated and super clean example from the up and coming North Canterbury wine region of Cheviot Hills, which has a burst of flavour to wake up even the most tired tastebuds.”

Yvonne-Marie Lorkin, Bay of Plenty Times, 19 Nov 10

“Its beautifully delicate on the nose displaying citrus, apple and subtle stonefruit characters with a touch of flinty notes. The palate is focused and refined showing soft sweetness and racy acidity providing an impressively long dry finish. The wine is classically framed and structured with plenty of appealing flavours.”

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, 15 Oct 10

“The 2008 Riesling has intense lime juice, orange peel, lemongrass and chalk dust aromas. Medium-dry (11.5 grams per liter of residual sugar) and very crisp in the mouth, this light bodied wine packs in the citrus flavors, presenting excellent persistence. Drink it now to 2014. ”

Lisa Perrotti- Brown , eRobertParker.com, 31 Oct 10

“This is irresistibly appealing. The fragrant nose displays lemon/lime and floral characters with a whisper of toasty notes. It’s elegantly fruited on the palate with subtle sweetness, finely textured mid-palate and a lengthy, crisp finish. There is a touch of opulence, yet the wine is beautifully balanced and structured.”

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, 26 May 10

“A very appealing wine that combines lime, apple and floral aromas. The dry palate is crisp and fresh and has delicate blossom and ripe apple characters. Nice vivacity and purity on the finish.”

Christelle Guibert, Decanter, 19 Mar 10

“A great riesling can transform an average summer into a memorable one. Thanks, then, to Mt Beautiful, which has lived up to its name by delivering a pearler. A medium style that strides the boundaries of screeching dryness and saccharine sweetness. Restrained citrus flavours, poise and clean, light loveliness.”

John Hawkesby, New Zealand Herald 'Canvas', 13 Mar 10

“Stunning debut. Off-dry with enough gentle lemon to be interesting, but not too strident and screechy. Pure and clean with quiet restraint and understatement.”

John Hawkesby, NZ Herald 'Canvas' Magazine, 24 Oct 09

“The first vintage of the Riesling, the 2007 Riesling shows a little straw and lanolin amongst the citrus fruit notes plus a hint of yeastiness. Medium bodied with a little sweetness, it’s refreshing, taut, clean, and still has plenty to give. Delicious now, it should keep to 2014+. ”

Lisa Perrotti- Brown , eRobertParker.com, 31 Oct 11

“Real Beauty. Another delicious debut in this inaugral Pinot Gris from North Canterbury newcomers, Mt Beautiful. Made in a decidedly Alasition style, its a richly textured, fresh and off dry example with concentrated flavours of spiced baked quince.”

Jo Burzynska, New Zealand Herald Viva, 24 Sep 10

“Its a beaut. The Mt Beautiful 2009 Pinot Gris lives up to its evocative name [...] Silken-textured Pinot Gris with pure pear flavours, seasoned with a hint of star anise. An initial kiss of sweetness, quickly leads to a satisfying dry finish.”

KiaOra, 16 Jul 10

“This is a dry Pinot Gris yet its full flavoured and luscious. The nose is gently fragrant displaying pear, apricot and a touch of spice characters. Its beautifully fruited and textured on the palate showing a lovely richness and nicely integrated acidity. More Pinot Gris should taste like this beauty. This is an immmensely attractive wine. ”

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, 16 Jul 10

“Silken-textured wine with pure pear flavours and a hint of cloves. A moderately dry Pinot Gris that neatly balances fine tannins with a hint of sweetness.”

Bob Campbell, BobsWineReviews.com, 28 May 10

“From first-crop vines and 30 per cent barrel-fermented, this North Canterbury wine was picked at 26 brix. It’s a powerful, fleshy, almost dry wine (5 g/litre of residual sugar) with stonefruit and spice flavours, weighty and rounded, and excellent complexity and depth.”

Michael Cooper, Winestate, 31 Jul 09

“Aromas of black tea, rosemary, cherry and early leaf litter. Lush, silky and fresh in the mouth, it is absolutely stunning stuff!”

Yvonne Lorkin, 29 Nov 11

“The label has become one of our favourites from North Canterbury, due to its realiability. This clear ruby-red wine is attractive in the glass, while the aroma of cherries, smoky oak, violets and some complex savory notes makes it even more inviting. Fine-grained tannins and firm acids team up with some lovely blackberry and tarry plum flavours. There's a smattering of chocolate while the herbal and spicy berry finish becomes an attractive rich and porty aftertaste.”

Deborah Walton-Derry & Peter Morice, The Marlborough Express, 27 May 11

“Light in color, this intriguing wine is at first reticent with its aromas, but pay it a little attention and it offers up exotic perfumes of wood spice to accent its silky texture and red fruit flavors. 2.5 stars out of 3”

The Washington Post , Recommended New Zealand Pinot Noir , 27 Apr 11

“An elegant expression of the variety displaying complex aromas of red/black cherry spice, game and dried herbs. The palate is concentrated and generously flavoured while remaining delicate and refined. A beautifully refined and classically framed Pinot with excellent potential.”

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, 1 Oct 10

“Reasonably light in colour with a mix of savoury, spice, herb and red cherry flavours. The wine has surprising length and power. A linear Pinot Noir with subtlety and style.”

Bob Campbell, BobsWineReviews.com, 6 Aug 10

“A glorious example of sensuous and charming Pinot. The bouquet is sweet-scented displaying red cherry, spice and subtle mushroom characters. It’s refined and beautifully detailed on the palate showing velvety texture and fine-grained tannins leading to an extremely long finish. A superbly concentrated and structured wine yet showing restraint and grace. ”

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, 26 May 10

“A lovely wine, beautifully textured and delightfully fruited […] The sun shone on Mt Beautiful at the right time in 2008 [...] very enjoyable already, and with a long future into 2015.”

Peter Saunders, Hospitality NZ, 27 Mar 10

“This pinot noir is worthy of its name, thanks to winemaker Sam Weaver, who made this silky soft red.”

Joelle Thomson, Herald on Sunday, 13 Dec 09