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Buy OnlineTop 10 Most Exciting Wineries of New Zealand 2024 – Viva Magazine
After spending a decade making wine in the Cahors region of South-West France, as well as collectively working forty plus vintages across nine different countries; Simon and Lauren have returned back to New Zealand to make wine under their own label ‘A Thousand Gods’. Their aim is to make wines they can call their own, both representative of site, yet in their own way, surprisingly unique.
Working closely with their biodynamic grower in the Waihopai Valley of Marlborough, meticulously farmed grapes are hand-picked and undergo wild fermentation. No additions, fining or filtration processes are used. Instead, thoughtful guidance into becoming wines that are generous and approachable, yet also complex and cellar-worthy.
Winery notes (2023 Vintage)
"100% pinot noir in the style of Tavel rosé. On the boundary of dark rosé and light red the 2023 Love Letters writes bursting berry fruit and hibiscus notes underlined by unique signature herbal spice. MW Stephen Wong described the 2022 vintage as "iconoclastic". This 2023 delivers again on everything the 2022 brought to the table and in our opinion more so.
Our name is inspired by an expression in Occitan 'miladiou' (mille-dieux in French). Occitan was the language spoken in the south of France prior to French, and certain dialects of Occitan can still be heard in rural areas of southern France today, although the language is gradually dying out. “Miladiou!” is an exclamation of surprise that can be used in a myriad of situations and an English equivalent would be Blimey! or Holy Cow! but it literally translates as “A Thousand Gods!”"
Reviews for the 2022 vintage below…
5 Stars & 95/100 Stephen Wong MW, The Real Review, September 2024 (2022 Vintage)
"A fascinating expression of Churton Vineyard’s pinot noir (with a touch of viognier) made by young returned Kiwis, Simon and Lauren Sharpe, this is directly inspired by the natural wine scene they were immersed in while working in France. It is technically a rosé just as Tavel is labelled as a rosé (an entire article in and of itself) but has more colour, flavour and weight than we would traditionally categorise as rosé in New Zealand. Masterfully made despite having no additions.
Hazy coral-pink, rosé colour. An arresting nose of wild strawberry, rosehip and tart pink grapefruit with high-toned acidity which signals a low-intervention style. A complex, layered, acid-driven palate with chalky tannins providing the canvas for Jackson Pollock-like streaks of crushed strawberry, pomegranate and grapefruit. Iconoclastic, innately powerful and long. Not for everyone and more akin to a Pfifferling Tavel than any New Zealand rosé. If you reside on the adventurous side of wine, this will rock your world. The drinking window is purposely conservative, just in case stability becomes an issue during storage."
