UNKEL LUTA CIRRUS CHARDONNAY 2023

Unkel is a small organic vineyard & minimal intervention winery run by husband and wife duo Rob and Kate Burley, located in the picturesque growing region of Nelson/Tasman, New Zealand. Our wines are lovingly handcrafted in order to respect and portray a true sense of time & place.

“Unkel” (variation of the spelling of Uncle), is about working with Mother Nature in the Vineyard to produce the highest quality fruit that we can obtain from her. Once in the winery, rather than being that hands-on, overbearing parent or father figure, you can think of us more like that cruisy, fun, slightly wild Uncle in your life.

Winery notes (2023 Vintage)
"Luta our 'reserve' range of wines. These are wines made from a selection of barrels that we believe tell the story of the unique Moutere clays and the organic vineyards in which these vines are farmed. These are aged for longer at every step, from barrel to tank and again in the bottle, prior to release. ‘Luta’ – derived from Lutum, the Latin word for clay – pays reference to the Moutere clays where the grapes are grown.

Fresh, delicate aromas of almond, stone fruit with a hint of old oak. Cirrus is the rounder of the two Chardonnays with lovely ripe, textural tropical stone fruits wrapped with moreish, mouth-filling phenolics."

93/100 David Walker Bell, WineFolio.co.nz, August 2025 (2023 Vintage)
"From a 5 hectare, organic vineyard in Nelson. Sealed under cork (my sample was unlabelled) – a bright golden-green colour in the glass. The bouquet is complex, with a blend of ripe fruit and savoury notes. Peach, apricot, red apple and lemon peel, with fennel, marzipan, acacia, crushed shell and orange blossom. Mouth-filling and zesty acidity grips the palate, highlighting the generous fruit. The chalky minerality underlines the acid, and there’s only a hint of oak in the background. A good smudge of tannin meets the round, mealy texture and become best friends before ending in a dry, lengthy embrace. "