Visiting the brilliant team at Rippon, sitting on New Zealand's windswept Lake Wānaka, it's impossible not to be struck by the natural beauty of the landscape - a truly beautiful part of the wine world! Since the great Mills family first started planting on what was their family farm in 1975, they've become masters at translating that beauty into the bottle; wines of purity and character, that reflect the rich soils and unique climate of the estate, with all the grapes being biodynamically produced since 2003. Propped up on the hill on the south side of the lake lies the house, with the surrounding vineyards receiving a perfect combination of warm sunshine and cooling winds. Led by Nick Mills, this team craft wines with the deepest passion for, and understanding of their surroundings. Have a look at what's on special this week from Rippon - whites and reds that are very much their own, including the 99 point Lolo's Block Pinot Noir, a commemorative release in honour of Nick's mother Lois. These will prove to age beautifully over the next few years too if so desired!
2021 Jeunesse Young Vines Riesling - $43 on special ; $49 RRP
// Certified Biodynamic
"As with the Jeunesse Pinot Noir, this is a wine of exuberance and life; this is a Riesling that speaks of its variety, of its fruit and not yet of its soils. As such, it is a wine best enjoyed in its youth." - Winemaker Notes
"With a mouthwatering acidity that covers the palate and fresh bitey flavours of lime, ripe apple, and a concentrated finish that harnesses both minerality and juiciness, showing flicks of tart lemon sherbert and flint, this is utterly delicious, and one of our favourite riesling expressions from all of New Zealand! Great to open now, but could very well develop well in the cellar with its Young Vine personality." - TWE
2020 Sauvignon Blanc - $43 on special ; $49 RRP
// Certified Biodynamic
"40% of this wine was fermented in old French barrels, not for the oak, but for the form of the vessel itself. Mouthfeel is gained here by high lees to wine contact and a more efficient natural lees stirring across unhurried wild ferments." - Winemaker Notes
"Oof. Lots on here. No prisoners in the perfume. Wasabi peas, jalapeno, lime, passionfruit – palate and perfume. Flavoursome beasty! It’s got so much going on, crazy. Texture is great, chewy and chalky, races along at pace with refreshment factor on high. Quite an experience – an elevated example!" - 94 Points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
2020 Gewürztraminer - $50 on special ; $59 RRP
// Certified Biodynamic
"Floral, fresh, complex white wine of character and composure. Opens with beautiful honeysuckle flower scents, some ripe apple, light honey, pretty spice. The concentrated palate follows through with similar characters, soft texture, a core of cool, mandarin-like acidity and flickers of honey notes to taste in the mix. Exceptional length, a relaxed feel; such beauty." - 94 Points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
"Dried rose, lemon blossom, apricot, white peach, fennel, chalk and white pepper on the nose. It’s full-bodied with fresh acidity and a textured palate. Dry, spicy and mineral expression. Focused. Drink now." - 93 Points, James Suckling
2019 Mature Vine Pinot Noir - $84 on special ; $96 RRP
"Firm and tight licorice, graphite, slate and light dried strawberry. Goes to iron. Flowers. Medium body. Creamy and fine tannins with a rather dusty finish. Fresh acidity and long and linear finish. Structured. From biodynamically grown grapes. Better after 2024, but already beautiful." - 98 Points, James Suckling
"This is sinewy and firm, dark fruited, lashed with brined black olive savouriness and stippled with dried, Italianate herbal character and a sooty spice note. Perfume and palate in accord. Fine ribbons of tannin tighten the wine, there’s an emery board feel to it all and yet a juiciness lays underneath, a succulent core of briny acidity reaching long through the wine and refreshing with each sip. It’s quite beautiful in its lean and muscular way. Time, please." - 94 Points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
2019 "Tinker's Field" Pinot Noir - $135 on special ; $155 RRP
"The compressed tannin texture is very tight and muscular. Aromas of subtle plums, dried strawberry with tea and nettles. Full-bodied yet reserved and very fine with ink well, graphite and granite undertones. Cool and sophisticated. Needs two or three years to open. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2025." - 99 Points, James Suckling
"It’s all about architecture and tension, firm ribbons of tannin and green-herbal elements over darker, sour-sweet cherry and brambly-undergrowth characters. All this wrapped up in a lithe, gossamer but steely-minerally and strict tannins. Amaro-like acidity feels so refreshing and life-affirming. It feels very much a wine that needs cellar time. Please, set some aside." - 94+ Points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
2019 "Lolo's Block" Pinot Noir - $144 on special ; $165 RRP
*Limited Stock!
// Certified Biodynamic
"This is an incredible new wine with very refined tannins that spread across the palate and melt into the wine to give a unique mouthfeel. It’s full-bodied yet agile and weightless. Bark and strawberry. Drinkable and very deep. Sophisticated. Tiny production. From glacial marine soil with a hint of schist. Only 105 cases. Drink or hold." - 99 Points, James Suckling
"A pliancy and juiciness apparent here, yet, again with the 2019 pinot noir releases, darker fruit character, tension, ripples of grippy, grunty tannin and a sense that the wine needs your patience. Blackberries, truffle, a touch of cassis and lavender in the perfume. The palate is pleasingly bitter, spreads nicely and then begins the tumble into fine, gravelly grip. More blackberry fruit character, more truffle, a lick of bergamot tea and some rosemary and fennel herbal notes. Finishes rich and juicy, albeit that weave of tannin is the ultimate boss. More deep and brooding than the other 2019s." - 95 Points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front
If you wish to purchase these wines, please use the links above. Alternatively, email us at sales@thewineemporium.com.au, or contact us on (07)32521117 if you have any questions // Prices valid until Tuesday the 7th of March