BILANCIA UVAGGIO FIELD BLEND 2021

Winery notes (2021 Vintage)
"uvaggio Italian (u-vàg-gio) field blend/field wine ….where grape varieties are growing in the same vineyard. “…a grape blend prior to fermentation.”

From la collina vineyard, where eight rows of interplanted Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne are hand-harvested and the breakdown is measured (approximately) in picking buckets. These eight rows are all that remain of the original Viognier vines planted in 2001. Over half the vines needed to be replaced in 2017 and the spaces between the remaining vines were replanted with Marsanne and Roussanne.

The fruit is 100% hand-picked, whole bunch pressed to old French oak barriques for fermentation. The wine remained in these barrels for 11 months prior to removal for bottling.

Like the 2020, the 2021 Uvaggio is again Viognier dominant by variety. Over the years, as the Marsanne and Roussanne vines age the varietal mix will change each vintage, depending on how each variety likes the vintage!

The wine shows the strength of characters of the blend. Floral, perfumed aromatics from Viognier tempered by the honeysuckle fruit character of the Marsanne and white flowers of Roussanne. The palate has lush, floral fullness together with deep set acidity giving both length and weight. As the wine ages the flavour profile will oscillate through the different varietal characters. The aim of a field blend is to make a wine whose sum is greater than the individual parts. This wine is ready to drink on release and will continue to develop positively for 6 – 8 years."

5 Stars & 95/100 Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review (2021 Vintage)
"A field blend of viognier, marsanne and roussanne from an excellent vintage. Creamy, flavoursome wine in a seductively rich style with vanilla. Made in minute quantity. Delicious wine that should develop with bottle age but is very drinkable now."

5 Stars Michael Cooper (2021 Vintage)
"This memorable white wine is a rare blend of 48 buckets of Viognier, 30 buckets of Marsanne and 18 buckets of Roussanne, hand-picked from eight rows in the la collina vineyard, at Roys Hill, and fermented and matured in old French oak barriques. Light gold, it is powerful, weighty, rich and sweet-fruited, with lush, highly concentrated stonefruit flavours, a subtle seasoning of oak, and a dry, well-rounded finish. Already delicious, it’s a drink-now or cellaring proposition."

93/100 Erin Larkin, RobertParker.com, Wine Advocate, December 2023 (2021 Vintage)
"The 2021 Uvaggio Field Blend is composed of 48 buckets of Viognier, 30 buckets of Marsanne and 18 buckets of Roussanne. On the nose, this is incredibly aromatic, with white flowers, apricot kernel, white pepper, clove, pink grapefruit and lashings of white chocolate and sesame seeds. In the mouth, the wine is textural and complex, viscose without being fat or oily, but it's weighty in all the right ways."

93/100 Cameron Douglas MS, Decanter UK, June 2023 (2021 Vintage)
"The Viognier brings an aromatic lift along with scents of white and yellow apricot, the Marsanne brings a floral, apple and citrus suggestion, and the Roussanne a floral and citrus touch. This field blend presents classic Hawke's Bay mineral qualities, a distinctive saline touch and an acid line that ties all the elements together. As it opens out in glass, flavours of apricot, yellow flowers, white and yellow peach, and a hint of citrus become louder. Great palate texture, with a silky touch, fine lees and a whisper of barrel ferment within the plush and juicy texture."

93/100 David Walker Bell, WineFolio.co.nz, June 2022 (2021 Vintage)
"From the la collina vineyard – eight rows of Rhône white varieties, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne. A pale straw gold in the glass, with beautiful aromatics as you’d expect from these varietals. Green pear, cardamom, dried ginger, white pepper, almond nougat, apricot and a burst of bright honeysuckle and white rose petal florals. Tight, clear and focussed into a palate with a nibble of peach skin tannin, a chalky astringency and a fresh saline sea breeze. Savoury elements of green olive, preserved lemon and sorrel add a layer of misty dryness through which the lush fruit flavours step confidently and glow. Towards the back of the palate, the Viognier shines and there’s a textural marmalade viscosity that adds further interest to an already mesmerising wine."

93/100 Mike Bennie, The Wine Front, October 2022 (2021 Vintage)
"Textural, glossy and savoury in its presentation. Fragrant, floral lift with, lots of jasmine, lychee and yet cashew nut elements, some sugared almonds too. Slips along beautifully and comes with a core of refreshing acidity despite the slip of the concentrated, stone fruits, ripe apple and cashew nut savouriness to taste; all up so delightful and quietly complex."