Release of our new 'unplugged' Dolcetto 2011 + Sangiovese 2010

We have already received the comments below about these 2 new wines. We'll let the reviews speak for themselves.

These are new styles which we would like to use as 'introductions' to these Italian grape varieties.

Herons Flight Sangiovese Unplugged 2010

Great colour, vibrantly rich purple, very dense. Not overly aromatic, but has a deep brooding complexity without green notes or typical charry oak notes. Palate gives a restrained and lithe character - not overly fat and sweet, but a very pleasing balance between fruit, tannin and acid. Great finish, tight like a great young Pinot noir and ideal with any seared meat. A very classy core of fruit and finely tuned, structured palate. Great drinking now, but will reward those with the paitence of a saint.

Blackberry, slight cherry, and rich plum notes. Fine grained tannins. Great class and style. Sharply priced and stunningly made.

I personally think this would be a game changer for Matakana. This would make me strongly consider the varieties one would choose for Matakana. That said, the year was extraordinary, and one would like to see more harvests.

Herons Flight Dolcetto Unplugged 2011

Again great colour, just a tinge down on the Sangiovese, more of a garnet than deep purple. The nose is more aromatic, with some seriously good cherry notes,fresh plums and almost cranberry notes. Bright lifted fruit on the palate, not as dense as the wine above, but has a spritly, impish nature - more pleasing than the majority of PN's I drink. Again, seemless palate with the balance pitch perfect - reminds me of a good aussie Shiraz/Viognier blend - combines the fruit density and aromatic appeal. A simpler wine with signifiant charm and poise. The palate has a just ever so slighty rough edge which gives it a personality and youthfull enthisiasm.

Staggered that this is from 2011 - I have recently reviewed over 20 Northland reds from 2011, and apart from a Chambocin and a Syrah I did not see anything approaching the purity of fruit and pleasing fruit character of this wine.

Again, I would repeat the claim that these wines are "game changing'' and would cause a critic to pause and reassess the region and it's varietal choices.