Tasting Notes

Ruby Bay Chardonnay

2019

Hand harvested and aged in French oak barrels, this elegant Chardonnay displays complex aromas of grapefruit, stonefruit and nuttiness. The palate is concentrated and lively showing hints of vanilla and butterscotch leading into a lingering, creamy finish.  An elegant wine with wonderful structure.

2017

Hand harvested and aged in French oak barrels, this elegant Chardonnay displays complex stone fruit and butterscotch aromas. The palate is concentrated and lively showing hints of vanilla and citrus leading into a lingering, creamy finish.  An elegant wine with wonderful structure.

2015

Hand harvested and aged in French oak barriques for 14 months, this elegant Chardonnay displays complex floral and clove spice aromas mingling with lovely white plum and apricot stone fruit.  The lively palate has hints of vanilla oak and a lingering creamy finish.  An elegant wine with wonderful structure that will mature gracefully.

 

Ruby Bay Jewel Methode Traditionelle

Released October 2011, this Cuvee has been lees aged for two years at disgorging.  The wine shows strawberry, bread and yeast aromas, and bursts on the palate with fruit intensity.  It broadens to reveal a rich, creamy mouth feel and enticing fruit sweetness followed by fresh strawberry and biscuits.  Good acid balance ensures a long lingering finish.

 

Ruby Bay Pinot Gris

2019

This Pinot Gris has lovely aromas of tropical fruits and ripe pear. The palate is concentrated and full bodied with flavours of ripe stone fruit and Manuka honey. It has a medium sweetness leading into a long generous finish.
 

2017

This Pinot Gris has lifted notes of white peach, pear, and a hint of quince. The palate is concentrated and full bodied with flavours of ripe stone fruit, spice, and just a splash of sweetness. Lovely minerality and a gentle acidity leads into a long generous finish.
 

2013

This year's exceptional vintage has lifted notes of white peach, nectarine, white clover honey and a hint of quince, leading to a lingering, opulent palate of ripe stone fruit, balanced with minerality and acid that refreshes.
 

2012

Carefully managed and handpicked on 16th April 2012 at 24.3 Brix, the wine opens with rich, opulent flavours of quince, peach and pears as they burst on the palate.  Minerality and acidity balance the wine through to a long, clean finish.  Our winemaker, Steve, thought the wine so good he didn’t need to add any fining agents.

Awarded     Bronze Medal 2013 Easter Show Wine Awards

 

2011

This Pinot Gris was handcrafted in the vineyard.  Meticulous canopy management and bunch thinning ensured ripeness and balance in the grapes which were finally hand picked  in perfect condition on 29^th March 2011 at 24.5 Brix. The wine opens with rich, full and ripe flavours of quince, peach and pears as they burst on the palate.  Minerality and acidity balance the wine through to a long, lingering finish.

Awarded      Pure Bronze Medal 2012 Romeo Bragato Wine Awards

 
 

Ruby Bay Pinot Noir

2019

Hand harvested and aged in French oak barrels. On the palate this wine displays plum and dark berries. The palate is elegant with fine tannins and subtle French oak. Intensely coloured, this wine offers great drinkability.
 

2017

Hand harvested and aged in French oak barrels. On the palate this wine displays cherry, dark berry and savoury characters. The palate is elegant with fine tannins and subtle French oak. We expect this wine to age beautifully.
 

2016

Hand harvested and aged in French oak barriques for 11 months, on the palate this wine displays a refined elegance with savoury notes and ripe, dark fruit characters. This delicate wine will cellar well and mature gracefully.
Awarded           Trophy Winner (Champion of Class) 2017 Romeo Bragato Wine Awards     <<<
                         Gold Medal 2017 Romeo Bragato Wine Awards
 

2014

Hand harvested and aged in French oak barrels this wine exhibits aromas of vibrant red berries and spice that result in lovely silk texture and a long lingering finish. A excellent wine with wonderful structure and length that will mature gracefully.
 

2012

Aged in French oak barriques for 14 months, this wine exhibits dark plum, cherry and vanilla pod aromas.  The palate displays a refined elegance with savoury notes and ripe dark fruit characters.  Cellaring well now, we expect this wine to age well for up to 8 years.  Bottled in August 2013, and released for sale October 2013.
 

2011

Four Dijon clones of Pinot Noir are grown on the Ruby Bay Vineyard, namely clones 5, 115, 667 and 777.  The vines are closely monitored in the vineyard and all shoot and bunch thinning is carried out by hand to ensure the grapes ripen evenly.  This Pinot Noir exhibits aromas of boysenberries, cherries and appealing summer fruit notes, while the palate displays berry fruit and cherry flavours with a hint of spice and nutty oak.  An elegant and well made wine, it displays soft, ripe flavours with good length, smooth tannins and a long, lingering finish.  We expect this wine to age well for up to 5 years.

Awarded           Bronze Medal 2013 Easter Show Wine Awards

 

Captain's Reserve Pinot Noir

2019 Captain's Reserve

 

Hand harvested and exclusively produced, this premium Pinot Noir displays dark cherry, plum and charcuterie characters on the nose. The palate is concentrated and rich with mouth filling tannins that lead into a long sustained finish.
 

2016 Captain's Reserve

Our Captain's Reserve exhibits an elegant array of blackberry, cherries and ripened plums with a hint of nutmeg. On the palate it is generously flavoured with excellent fruit richness. A flamboyant wine with wonderful structure and length that will mature gracefully.
Hand harvested and aged in French oak barrels.

Awarded           Gold Medal 2017 Romeo Bragato Wine Awards

 

2012 Captain's Reserve

Hand harvested and aged in French oak barriques for 14 months, this vineyard selected reserve exhibits black cherries, dark chocolate and ripe plum aromas leading to a rich, succulent, seamless palate.  We expect this wine to age well for up to 10 years.  Bottled in August 2013 and available for purchase from October 2013.


 

Ruby Bay Rosé

Our pink ruby Rosé is a wonderfully scented Pinot Noir Rosé with inviting floral and red berry aromas. Beautifully balanced acidity, mouthfilling and rich, the palate offers fresh flavours of strawberry and watermelon leading into a concentrated, dryish finish.  Delicious on it's own or as an accompaniment to food.

 

Ruby Bay Riesling

2019

Our 2019 Riesling displays classic honeysuckle aromas with ripe apple and citrus fruits. The palate is richly balanced with wonderful citrus flavours, fine minerality and a juicy acidity. This is a medium dry wine with a lovely persistent finish.
 

2017

Our 2017 Riesling displays classic floral honeysuckle aromas with sweet ripe apple and citrus fruit. The palate is delicately balanced with wonderful citrus fruit flavours, fine minerality and a juicy acidity that give this medium/dry wine a lovely long finish.
 

2013

Our small planting of Riesling has produced delicate aromas of citrus blossom, lemon juice and lime zest combining for a rich entry and full bursting palate.  Succulent orange fleshed grapefruit and citrus flavours follow well balanced acid and wet stone minerality.
 

2012

The grapes for this single vineyard Riesling were handpicked before being gently processed.  This wine displays classic aromas of ripe citrus apple and delicate floral notes.  The palate is rich with flavours of citrus, apple and tropical fruit.  A harmonious balance between residual sweetness and refreshing acidity lead to a clean, spicy finish.

Awarded           Bronze Medal 2013 Easter Show Wine Awards

 

2011

This Riesling is light straw colour and displays apples, some honeyed characters and green gage plums on the nose.  The palate offers a smooth entry of crisp apples, has good length, overtones of lime and citrus blossom, with a soft and balanced finish. At 10.7% alchol, this is a great summer picnic, or evening apperitif wine.
 

2010

This Riesling displays lovely aromas of ripe lemons and apples, while the palate is rich with flavours of baked apples, lemons, citrus and spice.  The sweetness of the fruit is beautifully balanced by a gentle, clean acidity and the finish in the mouth is long and satisfying.

Awarded           Bronze Medal 2012 Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition

Wine reviewer Peter Saunders writes..."Light, tangy and aromatic Riesling just off-dry with the acids in perfect balance.  Young and still opening up but already well suited to light foods and canapes.  Sound summer wine with sensible 12.5% alcohol.  A wine to expand well through 2011."


 

Ruby Bay Sauvignon Blanc

2019

This attractive Sauvignon Blanc has aromas of melon, passionfruit and citrus. This medium bodied wine shows wonderful fruit purity of white stone fruit and ripe citrus. It is elegant and refreshing.
 

2017

This attractive Sauvignon Blanc has aromas of melon and cape gooseberries. The palate is rich and full bodied with delicate flavours of tropical fruit and lime citrus with a delicate balance of minerality and acid structure. Elegant and refreshing with a long fruit driven finish.

2013

This year's vintage has aromas of capsicum, fresh cut grass, paw paw and cape gooseberries, leading to a palate rich with flavours of pineapple and passionfruit, aiding a delicate balance of minerality and acid.  Smooth and refreshing mouth feel provides a cleansing finish.
 

2012

The wine opens with fresh pineapple ripeness, grapefruit and a hint of cut grass.  Appealing flavours of citrus and mandarin follow, leading to a balanced crisp finish.

Awarded           Bronze Medal 2013 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition
                           Bronze Medal 2013 Easter Show Wine Awards

 

2011

On the nose there are hints of capsicum and grass, while the palate is smooth with citrus flavours and fresh pineapple ripeness.   With appealing flavours of lemon and mandarin, this Sauvignon sparkles on the palate.

Awarded          Pure  Bronze Medal 2011 Air New Zealand Wine Awards

 
 

Ruby Bay Syrah

Hand harvested, with only 50 cases produced, this premium Syrah displays delicious white pepper, dark plum and spice characters. The palate is concentrated and rich, with mouth filling tannins that lead into a long sustained finish.