The pale straw colour and aromas of ripe citrus fruits indicate the chardonnay origins of Cloudy Bay Pelorus NV. A bouquet of apple and lemon complements fresh bready notes derived from two years bottle ageing on lees. The deliciously crisp palate displays toasty, creamy complexity, enhanced by a lingering nutty finish.

This wine is the unique result of a winemaking partnership started in 1988 between Montana Wines and the prestigious House of Deutz in Champagne. The grapes are hand-picked and whole bunch pressed in the Brancott Winery Coquard press to extract juice in the gentlest manner, yielding juice with elegance and finesse. Grapes from all the vineyard blocks and varieties are kept separate until they are blended prior to the second fermentation. This blending stage is the most importantstep in the méthode traditionnelle process.

Deutz Marlborough Cuvée is aged on lees for a minimum of two to three years to impart toasty yeast flavours.

The 2009 Drift Pinot Gris shows subtle aromas of tropical fruits, dried pears and sweet spice with complimentary hints of pineapple and red apple fruit. The palate is full flavoured and luscious; with apple and pear juice likeness and a slight lychee character. The flavours linger as wine finishes with a zesty fresh acidity.

The Awatere Valley of Marlborough has a unique character, shaped by the strong costal winds, low rainfall, intense sunshine and cool nights. Vines enduring these conditions produce vibrant, intensely flavoured wine with a distinctive mineral character.

Distinctive to the Awatere Valley crushed thyme aromas with hints of wet stone are present on the nose. Complimented with mineral and more traditional tropical characters such as guava and passionfruit. These aromas follow on to the palate which is intense with flavours of passionfruit and lively citrus with a crisp elegant finish.

True to the meaning of the word essence, this range of wines reflects the heart and soul of what consumers around the world have long known: the most pure expression of New Zealand is found in its wines.

Fruit has been selected from unique vineyard sites throughout the Wairau and Awatere Valleys of Marlborough. The Awatere Valley vineyards provide a steely and racy acidity, while the lower Wairau Valley vineyards provide powerful and intense fruit with lifted passionfruit.

Bursting with lifted fruit salad aromas, passionfruit and sea breeze undertones. Refreshing, intense flavour with excellent balance. The wine finishes with a crisp, zesty minerality.