Greywacke | Marlborough

Greywacke Vineyards in Marlborough, New Zealand

Greywacke was created in 2009 by Kevin Judd, the person responsible for the ground-breaking early wines produced in Marlborough. The name 'Greywacke' was adopted by Kevin for his first Marlborough vineyard, located in Rapaura, in recognition of the prevalence of rounded greywacke river stones in the vineyard's soils. 'Greywacke' is a sedimentary rock that is widely found in Marlborough, consisting of layers of hard grey sandstone and darker mudstone.

Greywacke's signature Wild Sauvignon is arguably Kevin Judd's flagship white wine. Fermented in old oak barrels using wild yeast, this is an alternative, intricate style – a textured wine with a lingering savoury finish of tarragon and lightly smoked tea. A Sauvignon of considerable depth and opulence, created by fermenting Sauvignon Blanc entirely with naturally occurring yeast for an extended period, sometimes for almost a year after harvest.

The classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc shows vibrant, tropical fruit and lively acidity. Kevin's opulent Pinot Gris displays wild ferment complexity and a subtle note of sweetness, while his Riesling has a ripe lime citrus and mineral character, beautifully balanced by its refreshingly vibrant acidity. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are both pinnacle examples of their styles. The Chardonnay is fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak barriques (20% new), and goes through complete malolactic fermentation, producing a savoury, rich and powerful wine with great texture and concentration. The Pinot Noir is fermented with a portion of whole bunches included in the open-top fermenters, before being racked into French oak (40% new) for 16 months – the resulting wine is highly fragrant, with a rich but fresh structure and a generous palate. The Botrytis Pinot Gris is exotically scented, with a silky texture and elegant structure, with a long, lean finish.

 

GREYWACKE