The
wines of Cambridge Road, Martinborough
Part 6 of my series on New Zealand's Martinborough/Wairarapa region
Website: www.cambridgeroad.co.nz
I haven’t visited Cambridge Road, a
small biodynamic vineyard in New Zealand’s Martinborough region,
but I did meet owner Lance Redgwell while I was in the region, and
he later sent along some samples for me to try at my hotel in
Wellington. I’m so glad he did, because these wines are superb. I
was so enthusiastic I tried (with limited success) to share them
with my colleagues!
It’s a small 5.5 acre (3 hectare)
vineyard on the Martinborough terrace originally planted in 1986,
and previously known as the Fraser block. First vintage was 2007 for
the Pinot Noir and 2008 for the Syrah.
The notes below are from a number of
encounters with these wines; month and year of tasting is indicated
after each in brackets.
THE
WINES
Cambridge Road ‘Noblestone’ Pinot Noir 2007 Martinborough
Lovely black cherry and spice nose shows real intensity.
Beautifully expressive palate with lovely meaty, spicy fruit. A
bold, rich wine but showing restraint and complexity at the same
time. Some iron and subtle leather notes, too. 94/100 (02/10)
Cambridge Road Pinot Noir 2009
Martinborough
Taut and elegant with fresh cherry fruit and great purity and
balance. A lighter, more elegant style showing expressive red cherry
fruit. 93/100 (01/11)
Cambridge Road ‘Animus’ Pinot Noir
2008 Martinborough
An elegant, understated style – a little lifted on the nose
with an appley edge to the cherry fruit. 88/100 (01/11)
Cambridge Road ‘Dovetail’
Syrah/Pinot Noir 2008 Martinborough
Very silky and smooth with a sweetness to the peppery fruit, and
some grip on the finish. It’s an unusual wine with the bite of
cool climate Syrah blending well with the sweet cherry fruit of the
Pinot Noir, and I really like it. 91/100 (02/10)
Cambridge Road ‘Dovetail’
Syrah/Pinot Noir 2008 Martinborough
Wonderfully peppery and expressive, with a meaty, spicy edge to
the elegant raspberry and cherry fruit. Thrillingly alive. 93/100
(01/11)
Cambridge Road Syrah 2008
Martinborough
Beautifully expressive wine with subtly peppery, spicy edge to
the perfumed raspberry and cherry fruit nose. The palate is dense
but fresh with some spice and black pepper notes alongside the plum
and cherry fruit, and a meaty, savoury streak adding interest.
93/100 (02/10)
Cambridge Road Syrah 2008
Martinborough
Lively, with some richness to the raspberry and plum fruit, and
also a lively pepper character. Just beautiful: ripe but elegant.
94/100 (01/11)
Cambridge Road Syrah 2008
Martinborough
Wonderful white pepper edge to the bright, fresh, intense berry
fruits. Fresh, elegant peppery palate with bright berry and cherry
fruit and great definition. Lively, expressive and pure with some
herb and peppery character. Lovely wine. 95/100 (06/11)
MARTINBOROUGH/WAIRARAPA
SERIES
Part
1,Martinborough
Pinot Noir: a remarkable vertical tasting
Part
2, Dry River
Part
3, Ata Rangi
Part
4, Gladstone Vineyard
Part
5, Martinborough Vineyard
Part
6, Cambridge Road
Part
7, Escarpment
Part
8, Palliser Estate
Wines
tasted as indicated
Find these wines with wine-searcher.com
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