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

Pinot Gris

               Drink now Drink now Drink now Drink soon

Sauvignon Blanc

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

Chardonnay

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

Merlot Cabernet or Cabernet Merlot

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

Church Road Reserve
 

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Reserve Chardonnay

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

Reserve Noble Semillon

   Drink now     Drink soon   Drink or hold       *

Reserve Merlot Cabernet or Cabernet Merlot

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

Reserve Viognier

                 Drink or hold Drink or hold  

Reserve Syrah

                 Drink or hold Drink or hold *

Church Road Cuve Series
 

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Cuve Chardonnay

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

Cuve Pinot Gris

                   Drink or hold *

Cuve Cabernet Sauvignon

             Drink or hold Hold   * *

Cuve Merlot

               Drink or hold   * *

Cuve Series Ltd Release Sauvignon Blanc

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

Cuve Series Ltd Release Viognier

             Drink soon Drink soon      

Cuve Series Ltd Release Syrah

             Drink or hold      

Cuve Series Ltd Release Marzemino

               Drink or hold   *  

Cuve Series Ltd Release Malbec

         Drink soon Drink or hold     Drink or hold * *

Tom
 

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Tom

Drink or hold   Drink or hold   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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