News and Events

Release of the 2008 Clos de Ste. Anne wines, May 3rd 2010.

Release newsletter

 

en Primeur tasting of 2008 Clos de Ste. Anne wines with Gourmet Lunch
Sunday 25th October 2009

The en primeur tasting will feature a tutored tasting by James Millton of the three Grand Cru 2008 Clos de Ste. Anne wines, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, with a delicious lunch, each course chosen to highlight the flavours of the wine, creating an incredible food & wine taste experience. Conducted in the beautiful winery gardens, the 2008 wines are sure to delight.

 

This is an opportunity to purchase the wines at a special price prior to release (release date March 1 2010).
$75/ticket 

Available here
or to reserve your seat or for more information call us about the en Primeur event call 0800 464 558.

 

 

2007 Clos de Ste. Anne Release - May 1st 2009
read the latest newsletter

2007 Clos de Ste Anne Chardonnay - "You'll have to dig deep for the moment to extract some of the promise of this wine on the nose, yet the palate already reveals the layered, creamy texture and depth of flavour that has made this wine so compelling in previous vintages. Really impressive length and complexity, still among the top examples from New Zealand. Superb." 93 Points - John Szabo, Wine Access, Canada

2007 Clos de Ste Anne Viognier - "An intense and complex Viognier with attractive barrel fermentation characters and oak influence giving it a remarkable Condrieu-like character. Silken textured with good mouth feel. Serious Viognier." 95 Points - Bob Campbell

2007 Clos de Ste. Anne Syrah - "Certainly called Syrah rather than Shiraz not for marketing but stylistic qualities, this example is filled with exotic spice including caraway and pepper (is there Hungarian oak here?) and juicy black cherry and plum fruit in a more old world style. The palate is dark and juicy; tannins are rip, soft and well balanced, and the acid is vibrant and fresh. Some chocolately and slightly dominant woody notes on the finish add a bit more mainstream appeal, but this is a wine for gourmets and gourmands who are ready to play around with this with spicy Asian or Eastern Europena fare. Drink or hold short-mid-term." 90 Points - John Szabo, Wine Access, Canada

2007 Clos de Ste. Anne Pinot Noir - "Single vineyard red from Millton, hill-grown in Gisborne. Richly varietal, with strawberry and spice flavours, showing excellent depth and complexity, ripe tannins and a  fragrant, welcoming bouquet." 4 Stars - Michael Cooper, Winestate March 2009

Winestate Magazine Issue March 2008, Michael Cooper

  • 2006 Clos de Ste. Anne Chardonnay
“Powerful, structured Gisborne wine. Pale yellow, tight and minerally, with rich stonefruit, citrus and nut flavours and a hint of honey. Complex and mealy, dry and youthful, with obvious cellaring potential”  Michael Cooper Winestate March 2008

“Light yellow, with mouthfilling body and highly concentrated peach, apricot, honey and spice flavours. Dry, complex, style with great presence and personality, offering memorable drinking from now onwards”  Michael Cooper Winestate March 2008

"Scented, ruby hued Gisborne wine from Millton, grown biodynamically at the hillside Clos de Ste. Anne vineyard. Strawberryish and spicy, with earthy, savoury, touches adding complexity and a dry, rounded finish" Michael Cooper "Winestate" March 2008
“Deep, youthful colour, with a very fragrant, fresh bouquet, mingling blackcurrents and black pepper. Tightly structured, with dense, vibrant plum and spice flavours, needing time to soften. Open 2009 onwards”  Michael Cooper Winestate March 2008

 


Hugh Johnson at The Millton Vineyard

On the 26th February we launched the 2005 Domaine Clos de Ste. Anne wines. The day was very successful with attending guests, such as international wine writer, Hugh Johnson, with whom we enjoyed a long lunch and tasting of the four wines under the walnut tree in Naboth's Vineyard. Food, matched beautifully to the wines, was catered by Gisborne's Kirsty Bode. Hugh was travelling in New Zealand on holiday with his wife Judy, and travelled to the Gisborne region to visit Eastwood Hill Arboretum, whom have the largest collection of Northern Hemisphere trees in the Southern Hemisphere.  We were pleasantly surprised and very privileged to have their company for the day, and hope that Hugh and Judy enjoyed their stay in New Zealand. With the 2005 Clos de Ste. Anne vintage two varieties, Viognier and Syrah, from the south of France have joined our Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to create a family of four under the Clos de Ste. Anne label.
 
  

More Images

Gourmet Traveller Wine June/July 2006 Campbell Mattinson

"The Millton Vineyard is undoubtedly Gisborne's most famous small premium winery, and the country's highest profile organic wine-maker. James and Annie Millton run their vineyards according to Biodynamics, a practice based on Rudolf Steiner, which is built around the supposed effect that the movement of the moon and planets have on the soil, plant and animal life. If that all sounds too spiritual for you, don't worry - just taste the wine.
On a recent trip out there, I was able to taste some pre-release wines from the newly planted Naboth's hillside vineyard and marketed under the Clos de Ste. Anne label. The wines are extraordinary and, in my view, have elevated Gisborne to a new high level of quality.
This must-visit winery is surrounded by landscaped gardens and offers a tastefully decorated cellar sales area. The setting's beauty and tranquillity alone make the visit worthwhile."

"Millton's flagship wine is the result of new clones from a brand new hillside vineyard. It's the best yet produced, with restrained flavours, more pronounced minerality and a tighter structure than previous vintages. A class act."

"Delicate and charming pinot noir in a supple and seductive style. It lacks a bit of concentration, though that's to be expected as the wine is made from the first crop of grapes from a new vineyard."

"An extraordinary wine from first-crop fruit. Big, almost luscious syrah with subtle black-pepper flavours, dried herbs and anisette. Elegant and very attractive wine - a new and surprising star from the Gisborne region."

"Full-bodied, lush viognier with appealing quince and apricot flavours. Concentrated wine with quite soft acidity and an impressive, lingering finish. A step up from Millton's regular viognier."