Richmond Plains winery is owned by Lars
Jensen and his wife Samantha. Lars has been committed to enjoying and making
great wines ever since he 'stole' a sip from his parent's glass as a child. His
enthusiasm remains unabated 'every bottle, every vintage and every variety is a
new discovery… making me eager for more'. The couple believe that Nelson offers
the perfect location for producing fantastic wines, being 'blessed with the
longest number of sunshine hours in New Zealand…combined with free-draining
soils of ancient river beds…perfect for producing vibrant fruit driven white
wines and well-structured elegant red wines.'
Following a visit to Spain, Leandro Vázquez decided
to flee the American frenzy of big business and delve into the ancient
tradition of vine-growing and so with good taste and great care, the Torre de
Oña SA winery was born. After pouring a great deal of emotion and enthusiasm in
to creating the winery Leandro Vázquez decided to leave the business. This
situation coincided with the desire of La Rioja Alta to complement its
traditional style with a new wine, totally independent and different from the
Haro sanctuary. Some changes were made after the purchase was completed in
January 1995, to focus more on improving and enhancing what was already there
rather than on changing the château philosophy or the modern and powerful wine
initially produced by Barón de Oña.
La Rioja Alta is widely recognised to be one
of the finest wineries in the Rioja region. The estate has a history dating
back over 100 years with the accumulated experience and knowledge being passed
down through the generations and translated into the wines of the estate. The
heartlands of La Rioja Alta are in the finest sites of the Rioja Alta region,
with a further four wineries located in Spain's most renown DOs. The Haro
Estate of La Rioja Alta produces three Reservas and two Gran Reservas, as well
as the unique Marques de Haro wine that is the passion of the winemaker, Julio
Sáenz.
Russell Wallace, General Manager
Richmond Plains Blanc De Noir – This was a seriously intensely flavoured white full of red fruit flavours and strawberry fizz. My first thought was that this would work well slightly warmer than normal but served Ice cold was just irresistible so I am afraid I never got to try this out. Flavours in general felt a little off dry but the reality was that the mouthfeel was bone dry. I loved the every so slight hint of pink within the colour it makes it really appealing in the glass. An excellent wine that delivered well above expectations and hugely recommended as about as good as a white wine gets!! Score: 19/20
Torre de Ona Reserva – A lighter Rioja than expected with really smooth rounded and balanced flavours. All too often in a Reserva or Gran Reserva the American oak can dominate resulting in too much oak flavour and an earthy Mushroom flavour that I do not care for. Here though the oak was mellow and the fruit flavours genuinely bright and refreshing, whilst it worked great with my Lentil Daal this is a refreshing enough red to enjoy on it’s own. Score: 16/20
Vina Arana Reserva, La Rioja Alta – This Vina Arana still showed an incredible smoothness and balance of flavour just like the Ona Reserva. You can see the extra bottle age in the browning rim and more translucent colour which I just love in a wine. The tannins were a little more pronounced and the flavour just seemed never to end. Flavours were darker and a little more plumy but with a really fresh almost mineral quality that meant there was not harsh aftertaste. Still incredible smoothness and balance of flavours light but long lasting tannin the flavour keeps going too. Flavours are dark and plummy with a real fresh minerality. Love the colours of all three! Score: 17/20
Keron Magee, Shop Manager
Richmond Plains Blanc De Noir - Wow! Never had a blanc pinot noir before and so had no idea what to expect. Hesitated with the musty dull fruit aromas but in the flavour was revealed a stunning, slightly acidic basket of fresh soft flesh fruits. Very refreshing and quick finish. I loved this wine on its own and yet it was versatile to complement peppered mackerel and indeed the delicate flesh of scallops. Score: 18/20
Torre de Ona Reserva 2008 - For riojas these lacked a bit of oomph for me. That could be down to ageing but the expectation of pepperiness that you would expect from Temperanillos did not seem to come to the front. Don't get me wrong, it was pleasant enough leaving a pleasant oaky flavour that did justice to my Chicken tikka pizza and my friend's black pudding and goats cheese salad. Score: 12/20
Dianne Younger, Company Administrator
Richmond Plains Blanc De Noir - I very much enjoy Pinot Noir, however it was a new experience for me to try a white Pinot Noir - and boy, did I enjoy it! It was completely different to what I'd imagined. On the nose, I was hit with a very intense blackcurrant aroma. I wasn't disappointed by the taste either as I found more blackcurrant flavours. It was just lovely, and very moreish - and I'll certainly be buying more of it! Score: 18/20
Clive Holroyd, Database Manager
Richmond Plains Blanc De Noir - The wine is a pale gold in colour with a hint of peach. It's aroma is quite sharp and tangy with underlying notes of pear, pineapple and tropical fruit. There's an initial hit of tannins when you taste the wine but this quickly subsides to sharp citrus fruits with maybe a little apricot in the background. The wines has a nice clean finish with no after-taste. Pleasant enough, but didn't really excite me. Score: 10/20
Torre de Ona Reserva 2008 - Deep tawny red in colour with an aroma of soft red fruits (mulberry/redcurrant) and a hint of caramel. When tasted, the tannins were a little too prominent; the wines feels big in the mouth but with a slight bitterness. I could just about taste the fruit flavours but they were very much to the background. A little disappointing. Score: 12/20
Vina Arana Reserva, La Rioja Alta - Very deep red in colour with a tawny rim, this wine has a savoury biscuity aroma with soft hints of perfume. This wine is very full in the mouth with an initial savouriness and sharp red fruits, which soften as the wine opens out. There is a pleasant savoury aftertaste. Very nice indeed. Score: 16/20
Chateau Arnauton Grand Sol France 2004 - Deep red in colour with a tawny rim. On the nose, powerful deep and juicy red and black fruits. In the mouth, a big fruity burst with a lovely smokey aftertaste. Nice and full in the mouth with beautifully integrated tannins. Very very very very nice. Score: 20/20
Susan Ross, Logistics Manager
Chateau Arnauton Grand Sol France 2004 - Steak for dinner on Sunday so cracked this one open. I’m not a huge follower of Bordeaux, never really have been despite being surrounded by it in our warehouse(!), its just not something I would choose to drink, however, I was keen to give this one a go as its from a great vintage and in the whole context of Bordeaux, inexpensive. I wasn’t disappointed. Great nose of deep berry fruits and a hint of spice, just crying out to be tasted (and drunk!). Pretty big on the palate, deep dark fruit and great tannins. A fab food wine for rich red meat and a real steal at the price. Perfect for a Sunday roast and impressing friends!
Keron Magee, Shop Manager
Richmond Plains Blanc De Noir - Wow! Never had a blanc pinot noir before and so had no idea what to expect. Hesitated with the musty dull fruit aromas but in the flavour was revealed a stunning, slightly acidic basket of fresh soft flesh fruits. Very refreshing and quick finish. I loved this wine on its own and yet it was versatile to complement peppered mackerel and indeed the delicate flesh of scallops. Score: 18/20
Torre de Ona Reserva 2008 - For riojas these lacked a bit of oomph for me. That could be down to ageing but the expectation of pepperiness that you would expect from Temperanillos did not seem to come to the front. Don't get me wrong, it was pleasant enough leaving a pleasant oaky flavour that did justice to my Chicken tikka pizza and my friend's black pudding and goats cheese salad. Score: 12/20
Dianne Younger, Company Administrator
Richmond Plains Blanc De Noir - I very much enjoy Pinot Noir, however it was a new experience for me to try a white Pinot Noir - and boy, did I enjoy it! It was completely different to what I'd imagined. On the nose, I was hit with a very intense blackcurrant aroma. I wasn't disappointed by the taste either as I found more blackcurrant flavours. It was just lovely, and very moreish - and I'll certainly be buying more of it! Score: 18/20
Clive Holroyd, Database Manager
Richmond Plains Blanc De Noir - The wine is a pale gold in colour with a hint of peach. It's aroma is quite sharp and tangy with underlying notes of pear, pineapple and tropical fruit. There's an initial hit of tannins when you taste the wine but this quickly subsides to sharp citrus fruits with maybe a little apricot in the background. The wines has a nice clean finish with no after-taste. Pleasant enough, but didn't really excite me. Score: 10/20
Torre de Ona Reserva 2008 - Deep tawny red in colour with an aroma of soft red fruits (mulberry/redcurrant) and a hint of caramel. When tasted, the tannins were a little too prominent; the wines feels big in the mouth but with a slight bitterness. I could just about taste the fruit flavours but they were very much to the background. A little disappointing. Score: 12/20
Vina Arana Reserva, La Rioja Alta - Very deep red in colour with a tawny rim, this wine has a savoury biscuity aroma with soft hints of perfume. This wine is very full in the mouth with an initial savouriness and sharp red fruits, which soften as the wine opens out. There is a pleasant savoury aftertaste. Very nice indeed. Score: 16/20
Chateau Arnauton Grand Sol France 2004 - Deep red in colour with a tawny rim. On the nose, powerful deep and juicy red and black fruits. In the mouth, a big fruity burst with a lovely smokey aftertaste. Nice and full in the mouth with beautifully integrated tannins. Very very very very nice. Score: 20/20
Susan Ross, Logistics Manager
Chateau Arnauton Grand Sol France 2004 - Steak for dinner on Sunday so cracked this one open. I’m not a huge follower of Bordeaux, never really have been despite being surrounded by it in our warehouse(!), its just not something I would choose to drink, however, I was keen to give this one a go as its from a great vintage and in the whole context of Bordeaux, inexpensive. I wasn’t disappointed. Great nose of deep berry fruits and a hint of spice, just crying out to be tasted (and drunk!). Pretty big on the palate, deep dark fruit and great tannins. A fab food wine for rich red meat and a real steal at the price. Perfect for a Sunday roast and impressing friends!
