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  • Cameron Douglas MS Review ‘Excellent’

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    Why does good wine have to cost so much?
    This is one of the questions that Ka Tahi Wines was founded on. We are so proud that we are continuing to prove that we can produce great quality wine, at an affordable price.
    Cameron Douglas – NZ’s only Master Sommelier, has rated our Rangatira Reserve Syrah, and our Ka Tahi Syrah, as Excellent. And we couldn’t be more proud of these exceptional results!
    Our Rangatira Reserve Syrah received 94 Points, and our Ka Tahi Syrah received 93 Points. Full reviews below.
    If you would like to try these excellent wines for yourself, head over to our shop!
    Shop now

     

    Ka Tahi Rangatira Reserve Syrah 2019 
    94 Points – Excellent
    Bold, rich in scents of toasty oak and stony earthy soils, a core of dark berries and brown spices with a youthful energy and power. Everything comes alive on the palate  with flavours of roasted blackberry then raspberry, plum, aged meats and spices of the forest. Bold firm tannins from wood and fruit – clove, vanilla and five-spice. Contrasting fruit flavours and acidity along with a natural harmonious mouthfeel complete this wine. Youthful and ready for ageing, but also drinkable from today, if desired, and through 2026+

     

    Ka Tahi Syrah 2019
    93 Points – Excellent
    Very expressive bouquet with aromas of dark red fruits – plum and raspberry, black currant; spicy toasty layers – clove and wood smoke then moments of aged meats and forest mushrooms. Youthful, tense, rich, fruity and dry with flavours that mirror the nose. An abundance of tannins with fine to moderate textures. A lengthy finish with a youthful, spicy finish, toasty, balanced and well made. Best drinking from late 2021 through 2027+

  • Hawke’s Bay Rangatira Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

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    We are beyond excited to be releasing our first Rangatira Reserve Sauvignon Blanc. And what makes us even prouder – the grapes for this Sav are all from Hawke’s Bay. Supporting our commitment to Hawke’s Bay vineyards, and our belief that the best grapes are in our own backyard.
    Our new Sav is similar to the style favoured in Bordeaux: The wine is fermented in well-seasoned barrels, which gives it a much softer finish than your usual NZ Sav. The acids are not so forward, and there is a slight hint of oak. The finished wine has crunchy apple, apricot and lime zest flavours, with a hint of spicy oak.
    It has already been awarded 5 stars from Sam Kim at Wine Orbit, who describes it as having “…excellent weight and concentration combined with rich texture and bright acidity, leading to a persistent refined finish. Wonderfully composed and expressed.”  
    Ka Tahi Wines are relatively new kids on the block, and we are striving to do new and exciting things in NZ wine. This wine is a culmination of those lofty goals.
    We think you are going to love this different style of Sauvignon Blanc. Try it, and let us know what you think!
    Shop now

  • Chardonnay Harvest 2021

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    This year has been an excellent one for Hawke’s Bay winegrowers. The beautiful weather this season has meant we were able to harvest our Chardonnay grapes exactly when we wanted. We have high expectations for our Rangatira Reserve Chardonnay 2021!
    But we have lots of work to do before these gorgeous grapes become award-winning wine;
    – Our Reserve Chardonnay grapes are hand harvested. This means our pickers only select the best grapes – and they know what they are looking for!
    – The grapes are then whole bunch pressed. This means the grapes are not de-stemmed before pressing. Less handling of the grapes leads to a more delicate, elegant wine.
    – Then it is straight into French Oak Barriques (50% of which are new).
    – It is then naturally fermented, and hand stirred in the barrel. This brings out the Chardonnay flavours that we love, and gives the wine a richer, or fuller body flavour.
    – Finally, the wine is cellared for 12 months, before bottling, and drinking!
    So while our Reserve Chardonnay may require extra time, care, and hard work, we certainly think it is worth it! We are looking forward to tasting already!
    If you have any questions on our Chardonnay, or the process of any of our other varietals, please get in touch!
    Our email is hello@katahiwines.com

  • Latest Wine Orbit Awards

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    We sent in our four newly bottled wines last month to be assessed by Wine Orbit… 
    …And we are pleased to announce that all three of our Ka Tahi wines were awarded 4.5 stars, and our Ka Tahi Rangatira Reserve Chardonnay was awarded 5 stars!
    Sam Kim (Wine Orbit Assessor), had this to say about our wines:
    Ka Tahi Rangatira Reserve Chardonnay 2019 5 Stars
    It’s wonderfully fruited and fabulously styled, showing golden peach, grapefruit, vanilla oak and brioche characters on the nose, leading to a concentrated palate that’s impressively weighted and lingering. The wine offers excellent fruit purity together with seductive complexity, leading to a persistent expansive finish. At its best: now to 2025.
    Ka Tahi Pinot Noir 2019 4.5 Stars
    It’s sweetly fruited and beautifully lifted on the nose showing dark plum, spiced cherry, vanilla, almond and subtle mushroom characters. The palate displays elegant weight and rounded mouthfeel, combined with supple texture and polished tannins, finishing smooth and pleasingly dry. At its best: now to 2023.
    Ka Tahi Sauvignon Blanc 2020 4.5 Stars
    It’s bright and fresh on the nose showing grapefruit, Granny Smith apple, apricot and lemon zest aromas, leading to a succulent palate that’s vibrant and mouth-watering. The wine offers excellent fruit purity and persistency backed by racy acidity, making it flavoursome and highly appealing. At its best: now to 2023.
    Ka Tahi Pinot Gris 2020 4.5 Stars
    Attractively fruited and inviting, the wine shows golden peach, poached pear, mango and rich floral aromas on the nose. It’s equally appealing on the palate with succulent fruit intensity and silky texture, well supported by juicy acidity, finishing long and comforting. At its best: now to 2023.
    We hope this entices you to give some of our new releases a try! And let us know which wines you are enjoying – we love to hear from you! 
    – hello@katahiwines.com

     

     

    5 Stars: Outstanding quality showing varietal purity and exemplifying regional type.
    4.5 Stars: Excellent quality showing high level of concentration and balance.

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