Our Review
The Mountford Estate vineyard is a touch over 9ha and sits on limestone soils on a hillside overlooking the Waipara Valley. The slow, long ripening of the region is conducive to concentrated and structural pinot noir, though the estate also makes outstanding expressions of riesling and chardonnay. '17 saw former assistant winemaker Takahiro Koyama take ownership, after the estate fell into financial difficulties. Takahiro has been quoted as saying the handover was akin to 'closing the loop'. The wines are being received well in both domestic and international markets. -KATRINA BUTLER