Supernatural Wine Co. The Paranormal 2019

Viticulture

The vineyard is a classic site for viticulture in Hawke’s Bay. In ancient times the area was blanketed by the pumice tephra of numerous Taupo volcanic events. Much of the Triangle area covers the historical (pre-1860s earthquake) riverbed of the nearby Ngaruroro River. As such, soil types include Ngatarawa Gravels, Takapau Silty-loam (free draining red metal of mixed alluvial and volcanic origin) and shallow clay-loam soils with underlying deep free draining pumice.

Vinification

Grapes were picked by hand from low-yielding vines on the Paritua home block. De-stemmed without crushing with 10% whole bunches included in the ferment. Fermented with indigenous yeast (pied de cuve), 17 days post ferment maceration, indigenous malolactic fermentation, pressed to stainless steel and then left on its lees for nine months to develop texture. bottling with a minimal sulphur addition. Unfined. 305 dozen total production.

Tasting notes

 A coulis of red and black fruit gives way to raw cacao, cinnamon sticks and a stony, salty core. There is a touch of prunes which is a nod to the warmer vintage. However, where fruit would usually reside front and centre in a ‘ vin de soif ’, The Paranormal has a brooding minerality instead.

Winery Description

PROFILE
Supernatural Wine Co. is a producer of certified organic, naturally vinified, low sulfur white and skin-fermented white wines from a north-facing hillside estate in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.  Supernatural Wine Co. obtained full organic certification with BioGro New Zealand (www.biogro.co.nz) in March 2015 and commenced biodynamic farming practices in 2015.  

Supernatural Wine Co.'s philosophy relies on great terroir and traditional processes.  Their aim is to make all their wines as naturally as possible to produce true terroir driven wines.  They use indigenous yeast gathered from their vineyard for fermentation and add nothing to the wines other than a little sulfur before bottling.  They do not fine our wines and they have not filtered the 2015 skin-fermented wines.  They want to focus on producing dry aromatic and skin-fermented white wines in a very clean and direct style.  

REGION
Hawke's Bay is the oldest wine region in New Zealand and the second largest. Hawke’s Bay’s maritime climate is similar to Bordeaux but cooler, producing a more vibrant Sauvignon Blanc style that is versatile and food-friendly.  The wine style falls somewhere between Bordeaux, Loire and New Zealand and it has its own unique and appealing character.

VINEYARD
The Supernatural vineyard at Millar Road has proven pedigree being in proximity to and on similar soils, slope and aspect as Te Mata Coleraine, one of New Zealand’s most accoladed vineyards.  Over 90% of New Zealand’s vineyards are on flat land with alluvial gravel soils, so this soil and site produce very distinctive wines in a New Zealand context.
   
The vineyard is an amazing site for viticulture being situated on a north-facing hillside with slopes up to 30 degrees.  Soils are lime-rich clay with volcanic influence – they are classified as Matapiro sandy loam over Kidnappers Group sandstone and carbonaceous mudstone.   

The Millar Road property is 19.4 hectares, with 8.9 hectares planted in vines – 8.0 hectares Sauvignon Blanc (18,000 plants) and 0.9 hectares Pinot Gris (1,800 plants).  Vines were planted in 2004 and 2005.