Wines from Hyperion Wines of Matakana New Zealand

2007 "Phoebe" Pinot Gris $23.00 Order Winemaker's Notes Whole bunch pressed and cool fermented. Taster's Notes Crisp acid, fresh citrus and peach aromas develop into Autumn fruit flavours and a honeyed texture. Good with antipasto, seafood, or spicy cuisine. A wine of character, with very ripe pear and tangy green apple dominating in turn. Dry grass, ripe pears, roasted apple and just a suggestion of pumpkin soup in a highly expressive nose. Cedar chips, dry grass and green apple peelings form an interesting initial flavour profile, before a less concentrated, quite tangy mid palate takes the wine in a different direction. Try this with scallops, or a rich, creamy pasta dish. David Stewart
2008 "Helios" Chardonnay $25.00 Order Winemaker's Notes Excellent ripe fruit was hand harvested from our Omaha Flats vineyard, whole bunch pressed and cool fermented in new French and American oak barriques with extended lees contact for 5 months. Taster's Notes With a crisp peach and pear bouquet,rich texture, and stonefruit flavours this wine will complement most poultry and seafood dishes. "Oak adds complexity to this light gold coloured, medium to full-bodied, fruit driven style. Fruit is in the peach and tropical fruit spectrum and there's something reminiscent of freshly baked bread crusts with a scraping of butter. A touch of lemon zest adds brightness. Can imagine this would be super with scallops or white fish fillets served with a buerre blanc. " Sue Courtney
2008 "Demeter" Rosé $17.00 Order Winemaker's Notes Made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes hand picked in our Matakana vineyard by traditional Saignée method. Taster's Notes This beautifully coloured Rosé, made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes hand picked in our Matakana vineyard, has luscious flavours of cherries and strawberries with hints of tamarillo.
2007 "Eos" Pinot Noir $25.00 Order Winemaker's Notes Fruit from the home block was fermented in stainless steel and matured for 12 months in French oak barriques. Taster's Notes Lovely garnet colour with typical aroma and taste of cherries and typical Pinot Noir earthiness make this a charming wine. Good with lamb, white meats or ham. Medium depth of cherry red colour. Hints of mocha-infused creamy oak on the nose - it smells rich and deep and it is quite savoury to the taste with an earthy depth while the tannins are firm and dry yet it has vinosity and texture that is pleasing to the taste. Sweet cherries, typical of the variety, fill out the finish. Yes, it really is from Matakana, but if you tasted it blind you'd think it was from much, much further south. Sue Courtney
2007 "Zeus" Merlot/Cabernet $20.00 Order Winemaker's Notes Predominately Merlot with 12 months oak barrel treatment Taster's Notes This easy drinking red wine has a satisfying spicy, berry aroma with earthy, plummy flavours and soft rounded tannins Deep red colour. Savoury, leathery and tarry scent with chocolate coated berries coming through. In the mouth the flavours are of cedary oak and brambles with the juicy sweetness balanced by the savouriness. A soft supple wine with a dry, savoury disposition, a creamy texture and underlying grip to the tannins. Sue Courtney
2005 "Kronos" Cabernet/Merlot/Malbec $29.00 Order Winemaker's Notes 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Malbec. Matured for 12 months in mainly French oak barriques. Taster's Notes A refined style exhibiting ripe berry fruit aroma with rich flavours of blackberry with smooth rounded tannins and firm acid. Great with steak or venison. An attractive nose showing ripe red berries and sweet herbs. The palate is very well balanced with a round and fruity texture and soft, fine tannins.At its best: now to 2010. This wine has creamy oak, ripe cherry, vanilla and a hint of spice on the nose. It’s soft and creamy in the palate with just a little bit of grip, hints of liquorice, rose petal and a peppery spiciness to the nuggety finish. Nice, approachable, medium-bodied style. Sue Courtney
2007 "Midas" Malbec $34.00 Order Winemaker's Notes 100% Malbec. Matured for 12 months in French oak. Taster's Notes A vibrant aroma of violets and spices with rich, succulent flavours of black doris plums and dark berries balanced by a backbone of fine tannins. Deep bright red black in colour, opaque to the eye. Rich savoury aromas and bold flavours with fruitcake cherries and a wild berry rusticity underpinned by creamy oak and velvety textured tannins that simply dissolve into the chocolatey softness of the wine. Infused with spice and floral notes, this is a meaty wine with lots of flavour and juicy drinkability. Sue Courtney
2006 "the Titan" Cabernet Sauvignon $39.00 Order Winemaker's Notes The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were hand harvested from our two small vineyards in Matakana. After crushing the must was fermented in open stainless steel tanks, with hand plunging every 4 hours. Post ferment an additional week of maceration preceded pressing then maturation in French and American oak barriques for a period of 18 months Taster's Notes This robust, stylish wine, has a delightful perfumed aroma with rich cassis flavours enhanced with a firm backbone of fruit and oak tannins. "A great year for Hyperion from some of the oldest grapevines in Matakana. There’s leather and truffle on the nose and rich fruit in the full bodied palate with a backbone of dusty tannins." Sue Courtney