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The JN Wine Team

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Neudorf Vineyards

Neudorf Vineyards was established by Tim & Judy Finn in Nelson, New Zealand, in the late 1970s. Situated on the northwestern tip of the South Island (Te Waipounamu) where Nelson city overlooks the Tasman Bay, Neudorf can be found further west on the ancient gravelly clays of the Moutere Hills - perfect terroir for producing world-class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in particular. Although still very much a boutique operation, the winery has developed steadily since 1980 along with its reputation, and their wines are now considered to be flagbearers of quality for Moutere and New Zealand overall.

Team Biography

Tim & Jude planted the first vines at Neudorf in 1978 and since then they have strived for excellence and integrity in their wines. One of New Zealand’s early adaptors, Tim and Judy first planted Neudorf to a mix of grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, Riesling and even Müller-Thurgau to see which took.

Tim wanted to plant on clay soils and as a result they are one of the few vineyards in New Zealand who don’t irrigate. These days both are taking the opportunity to step back from the business but remain as guiding mentors when called upon. 

Winemaker Todd Stevens heads the overall production effort from vine to bottle and his role is to draw the various strands together to craft wines of distinction and place. Tom continues the focus on “intelligent” wines with textural interest and finesse.

Rosie was born in the middle of Vintage, grew up on the vineyard, studied design in Wellington and booked a one-way ticket to London. She fell in love with the New Zealand wine industry from 19,000kms away!

After two years working for The New Zealand Cellar (now Specialist Cellars) in London, the time came to move home. Since being home, she has taken over sales and marketing and has had the privilege of having a vineyard Block named after her.

 

In the vineyard

The Neudorf vineyards are on north-facing gravelly soils of an ancient river system. This combined with Nelson’s gentle climate and Neudorf’s non-interventionist winemaking creates unique flavours, producing wines of clarity and distinction. 

Winemaker Todd Stevens follows structure and texture over flavour. In the Moutere vineyard viticulturist Stef Brockley follows an organic regime with intense hand work. The 35-hectares under vine are hand thinned, leaf plucked, and hand-picked.

The ‘Home Block’ is where it all started. In 1978 Tim and Judy bought this block of Moutere clay gravel from descendants of the original German settlers who arrived in 1842. The Finn’s live here in an old villa which was the second house on the property. This Block is home of the original Moutere Chardonnay, some of the first Chardonnay vines planted in the South Island. The 5.34ha is also planted to Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris and is completely dry farmed and organically run. 

‘Tom’s Block’ is the next paddock to the home block, purchased from neighbours Tom and Norma Francis in 1999. Its 4.32ha is planted entirely to Pinot Noir, consisting of fertile topsoil over deep Moutere clay gravel. North facing, dry farmed and organically run.

‘Rosie’s Block’ was purchased in 1999 from the Beuke family, also descendants of the original German settlers. The block overlooks the home vineyard and is named after Rosie Finn. Bordered on the south by a mature, Queen Elizabeth II covenanted block of native bush and recent wetland plantings extending down a gully into the Block. A strikingly beautiful vineyard. Its 7.76 ha is planted to 78% Chardonnay, 14% Riesling and 8% Albariño. North facing Moutere clay gravels and organically run.

For their ‘Tiritiri’ ranges Neudorf also source Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris from growers in Flaxmore Valley (just north of the ‘Home Block’) and all their Sauvignon Blanc from growers in the Waimea Plains.

 

In the cellar

The Neudorf ethos of minimal intervention extends into the winery with their mantra being quite simple: “don’t bugger it up!”

Winemaker Todd Stevens explains: “We have an exceptional site here at Neudorf and it demands little from us in the winery. If we can guide grapes into wine of integrity, we are content.

Todd sees himself as part of a team, tasked to grow grapes which express the site, to take the essence of that fruit and then preserve it as wine. On the way, they may fine tune the balance and complexity in a number of ways, but the aim is always to allow the site to speak.

In the winery Neudorf concentrate on texture, balance and, for certain wines, complexity. Finesse is always a priority. The range of Pinot clones on the Moutere site produces a palate of complex fruit flavours in the savoury dark-fruit spectrum. Here they like the natural charm of the fruit to be in balance with the tannins.

Their Chardonnay is largely proscribed by the terroir and the high extract/high acid Mendoza clone. The texture and complexity of lees contact helps to balance this taut package.

Their bought-in Sauvignon Blanc has such generous fruit character that they’re happy to trade some of this to expose the wine’s texture and vinosity - a little barrel ferment adds complexity and gives weight and mouthfeel. Pinot Gris is treated to the same low cropping regime as its darker cousin, with the Moutere grapes partially barrel fermented to support their characteristic density and texture. 

 

Wines by this producer

Moutere ‘Home Block’ Range: Chardonnay (Organic, barrel fermented - 10% new) and Pinot Noir (Barrel fermented - 20% new). Both produced from Moutere Clay Gravels, single vineyard, low cropping, hand harvested, wild ferment, natural Spring malo, unfined, and vegan.

Moutere ‘Rosie’s Block’: Chardonnay (Moutere clay gravels, single vineyard, low cropping, hand harvested, wild ferment, natural Spring malo, barrel fermented - 18% new, unfined, and vegan.

Moutere ‘Tom’s Block’: Pinot Noir (Moutere clay gravels, low cropping, hand harvested, wild ferment, natural Spring malo, barrel matured - 15% new, unfined, unfiltered, and vegan

Moutere Range: Pinot Gris (Organic, Moutere clay gravels, single vineyard, hand harvested, 100% old barrel ferment).

‘Tiritiri’ Range: Sauvignon Blanc (alluvial gravels, single vineyard, 20% old barrel ferment), Chardonnay (Moutere clay gravels, hand harvested, natural spring malo, barrel fermented (13% new)), and Pinot Gris. 

All wines are low cropped, wild fermented, unfined and vegan.

Discover the Neudorf Range at JN →

 

 

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