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Endeavour Chardonnay a rare and inspirational wine

Published: Mon 3 Aug 2015 11:22 AM
Endeavour Chardonnay a rare and inspirational wine
New Zealand’s most expensive white wine was bottled in Hawke’s Bay last week and anticipation is high amongst discerning wine consumers who have had to wait three years since the last vintage came to market.
Clearview Estate Winery’s Endeavour Chardonnay is only ever made when the vintage is considered stunning, and the 2013 vintage hailed by many as the vintage of the century, has produced a wine that has winemaker Tim Turvey, very excited.
“This wine epitomises all the reasons why we planted and started making it nearly 30 years ago,” says Mr Turvey, co-founder and co-owner of the Te Awanga based winery and restaurant.
“It has intensity, balance and flavour with a structure that has audacity; there’s freshness and complexity. To make a wine such as this is something I really look forward to. It’s my special baby.”
As well as selected grapes from the nearly 30-year-old vines needing to be “quite special”, the wine is fermented in the “best French oak barrels I can find” and aged between two and a half and three years, much longer than the norm, says Mr Turvey.
“I think the influence of oak on the wine gives it a unique and very enjoyable character.”
The limited run wine is handpicked, hand-crafted and largely-hand bottled and packaged. It sells for around $150 at Clearview’s cellar door and is available at selected wine retail outlets.
As befitting its exclusivity, each bottle is corked, red waxed and wrapped in a red cloth that honours the first item traded by Captain James Cook and his Endeavour crew with local Maori at Cape Kidnappers, a stone’s throw from the winery’s location. An actual image of the Endeavour circa 1769 set against Clearview’s traditional wine label featuring Cape Kidnappers, graces the distinctive label.
“The Endeavour name honours the historical significance and the fact that we endeavour to make the very best wine we can,” says Mr Turvey.
ENDS

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