Dry River The Twelve Spies 2019

SKU
DR12201910 UCNZ
  • This is said to be the Formula 1 of winemaking
  • The aromatics are intriguing with a humble nougat, blackberry and blueberry
  • A juicy rim on the front palate followed by a filling dose of ripe purple fruit. The nougat, blackberry and blueberry coulis with black doris plum.
  • 1 or more bottles
    $78.99
Add to Wish List
Black Card Get free freight and more when you’re a member of The Black Card Club. Learn More
Need expert help?
Chat with our Cellar Angel team
Call Us

Editors notes

This is said to be the Formula 1 of winemaking, where Dry River enters unexplored territory. Where different oak regimes are used for maturation for the different wines, which fit together effortlessly and bring the wine to an altruistic role.

As with the 2018 vintage, the Pinot Noir, Tempranillo and Syrah/Viognier are blended to create a precise wine with fresh, floral and complex characteristics. The aromatics are intriguing with a humble nougat, blackberry and blueberry coulis with Black Doris plum. Secondary are the fragrant decomposing oak with fresh hay and sea spray aromatics.

Generous fruit concentration ripples out to all sides of the palate. There is a juicy rim on the front palate followed by a filling dose of ripe purple fruit. The nougat, blackberry and blueberry coulis with black doris plum. The acidity is gentle, fine and central to the palate, allowing for a smooth and easy finish.

Details

Tasting Profile

  • Light (Light)
    Full (Full)
  • Low Tannin (Low Tannin)
    Tannic (Tannic)
  • Sweet (Sweet)
    Dry (Dry)
  • Low Acidity (Low Acidity)
    High Acidity (High Acidity)
  • Aroma
    • Cherry
    • Herbal
    • Plum
  • Palate
    • Cedar
    • Cherry
    • Fig

Food Pairings

  • Game
  • Pork
  • Red Meat

Critic Scores & reviews

There are no critic ratings found.

Other vintages

Love this wine? Here's a list of other vintages we have in stock if you'd like to try them as well.

There are no other vintages found.

Current auction

All current auctions for this wine & any different vintages.

Locations

New Zealand

The New Zealand wine industry is one of the younger wine regions in the world, whose popularity grew immensely when Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc hit the world wine scene, quite unique in style when compared to the typical French Sancerre.

Wine is successfully cultivated on both the North and South islands from a latitude of 36 degrees in the North to 45 degrees for the most southerly wine region in the world, the South Island's Central Otago. The majority of regions are located in free-draining alluvial valleys except for Waiheke Island and Kawarau Gorge in Central Otago and benefit from the moderating effect of the maritime climate as no vineyard is more than 80 miles from the ocean. With plentiful sunshine hours and cool evening sea breezes, the grapes thrive.

Sauvignon Blanc is the major white variety people will think of when you mention New Zealand Whites, however fantastic Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and less commonly Viognier, Chenin Blanc and Pinot Blanc. Pinot Noir is the most widely planted red variety in New Zealand although Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot (Bordeaux Blends), Syrah are also grown and in even smaller amounts, Tempranillo and Montepulcianos can too be found. Sparkling wines of very high standards are also made in New Zealand.

The key wine regions in New Zealand include Auckland, Canterbury, Central Otago, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough and Nelson.

Wairarapa

Maori for 'glistening waters’, the Wairarapa is located in the southeast corner of New Zealand's North Island, about an hour away from Wellington. Amongst the small, quaint towns and rolling fields of livestock, you'll find some of New Zealand's finest wines.

The small community of boutique winemakers in the region work hard to preserve the unique terroir of the region. Wairarapa offers hot summers, cool nights, and long, dry autumns that are perfect for ripening. The strong winds and harsh, semi-maritime climate leads to low yields of healthy, small grapes with very thick skins - these grapes are treated with care to make some outstanding wine.

Recommended For You

Life is short … so you should savour every sip. That’s why we’ve specifically curated these wines and spirits, especially for you based on your profile, preferences, and past purchases. Enjoy!

Pairs Well With

Whether it's a decadent cheese, mouth-watering red meat, perfectly cooked poultry, succulent seafood, or a vegetarian feast, for every wine or spirit you choose from us, we provide you with a number of helpful suggestions for what will pair deliciously with your purchase.

Frequently Bought With

About the brand Dry River

Dry River vineyard was established in 1979 by Dr Neil and Dawn McCallum. In 2003 the vineyard and winery were sold to Julian Robertson and Reg Oliver with Neil staying at the helm as Chief Winemaker until his retirement in 2011.

Dry River aptly describes the very arid, gravely and free-draining site. The first wines, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris were bottled in 1984 and Dry River has since developed a reputation as one of New Zealand's most iconic pioneering wineries.

Some of the methods used at Dry River, in order to bottle true expression of the vineyard site includes no irrigation, old vines and low crop levels. Cultural management practices in the vineyard that help achieve optimal phenolic ripeness include shoot positioning, leaf plucking and maintenance applications of nutrients.

Their approach to winemaking is to preserve rather than enhance what is produced naturally on the vine. Minimal movements of the young wine, low levels of new oak barrels and a cool cellar environment assist the transition from vineyard to bottle. All wines are bottled at an early stage of evolution and reach their potential under a natural cork closure. The wines tend to be slow to evolve in the bottle but as a result of this, are very long-lived.

You May Also Like

Customer Reviews

Write Your Own Review
You're reviewing:Dry River The Twelve Spies 2019
Your Rating

Never want to miss out? Allow Notifications to hear more from us

Remind me later

Thank you! Please check your email inbox to confirm.

Oops! Notifications are disabled.