Church Road Cuve Series

Vintage and Cellaring Guide

Drink now or hold?

The useful guide below is updated annually by our experienced winemaker and will assist with cellaring decisions for all Church Road Wines. The guide includes wines back to 1998 vintage, but for information on earlier vintages, please contact info@churchroad.co.nz.

 

Church Road

 

 

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Pinot Gris

               R.I.P. Drink now Drink now Drink now Drink now Drink or hold Drink or hold

Sauvignon Blanc

 R.I.P. R.I.P. R.I.P. R.I.P. R.I.P. R.I.P. R.I.P. Drink now Drink now Drink now Drink now Drink soon Drink now Drink soon

Chardonnay

 R.I.P. R.I.P. R.I.P. R.I.P. R.I.P. R.I.P. R.I.P. Drink now Drink now Drink now Drink now Drink soon Drink or hold Drink or hold

Merlot Cabernet or Cabernet Merlot

 R.I.P. R.I.P. R.I.P. R.I.P. Drink now Drink now Drink now Drink soon Drink or hold Drink or hold Drink or hold Hold Hold *

Syrah

                       Drink or hold    

Pinot Noir

                       Drink soon Drink or hold  

 

 

Church Road Reserve

 

 

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Reserve Chardonnay

 R.I.P. R.I.P. R.I.P.   R.I.P.   Drink now Drink now Drink soon Drink or hold Drink or hold Drink or hold Drink or hold Hold

Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

                         Drink or hold *

Reserve Noble Semillon

   R.I.P.     Drink now   Drink now       Drink or hold Drink or hold    

Reserve Merlot Cabernet or Cabernet Merlot

 Drink soon R.I.P. R.I.P. R.I.P. Drink or hold Drink or hold Drink soon Drink soon Drink or hold Drink or hold Drink or hold Hold * *

Reserve Viognier

                 Drink or hold Drink or hold   Drink or hold Drink or hold  

Reserve Noble Viognier

                     Drink or hold Drink or hold    

Reserve Syrah

                 Drink or hold Drink or hold Drink or hold Hold Hold  

 

 

Church Road McDonald Series

 

 

2009

2010

2011

McDonald Series Chardonnay

     Hold

McDonald Series Pinot Gris

 Drink soon   Drink or hold

McDonald Series Cabernet Sauvignon

 Hold Hold *

McDonald Series Merlot

 Drink or hold Drink or hold *

McDonald Series Sauvignon Blanc

     Drink soon

McDonald Series Sauvignon Gris

     Drink soon

McDonald Series Syrah

   Drink or hold *

McDonald Series Marzemino

 Drink or hold * *

 

 
























TOM

 

 

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

TOM Merlot Cabernet or Cabernet Merlot

Drink soon   Drink now   Drink or hold   Drink or hold Drink or hold   Drink or hold   *    

TOM Chardonnay

                 Drink or hold     Drink or hold *  

 

 

Key:
R.I.P.

R.I.P. - wine is past it's best drinking (although if well stored, it may surprise).
Drink now

Drink Now - Fully mature and nothing to be gained by aging for longer. Likely to reduce in quality if cellared further.
Drink soon

Drink Soon - Probably at or near peak drinking, but no hurry within the next year.
Drink or hold

Drink or Hold - Will provide satisfying drinking now, but should also continue to age positively.
Hold

Hold - Wine will benefit greatly from further bottle age.
*

Not yet released

 


Please Note:

Recommendations are for wines stored in optimum cellaring conditions. This includes:

    1. Absence of light
    2. Absence of vibration
    3. Constant temperature of between 10 and 12 degrees Celsius
    4. Bottles stored with wine in contact with the cork (not applicable to screw cap)

Exposure to light, vibration, warm temperature, temperature fluctuations or allowing the cork to dry out will accelerate the aging process.

range detailsGeneral cellaring notes by variety

 

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