2024 Smith and Sheth Heretaunga Albarino

Grape
Albarino
Its Origins
Smith and Sheth ‘CRU’ is the wine brand of Steve Smith MW and Brian Sheth who together have formed Aotearoa New Zealand Fine Wine Estates. This is the return of Steve Smith, who is best known for his establishing of Craggy Range with the Peabody family and his role as chief viticulturist for the Villa Maria Estates group before that. Steve has teamed up with Brian Sheth, one of the founders of Vista Equity Partners, a global technology investment firm. Among other business and interests, Brian is also the chairman of Global Wildlife Conservation. Aotearoa New Zealand Fine Wine originally aimed to have wine from great parcels from exceptional vineyards, but has grown to purchase unique and individual winegrowing operations, starting with Pyramid Valley in North Canterbury and Lowburn Ferry in Central Otago. The company also has a 5 ha vineyard in the Gimblett Gravels in Hawke’s Bay with Chardonnay and Syrah, awaiting its first yield. Michael Henley, formerly of Craggy Range and Trinity Hill is the CEO, and the company works closely with several viticulturalists. Smith and Sheth will launch their first wines under the Smith and Sheth ‘CRU’ label in April this year. The wines are made from the highest quality fruit selected from special sites. Steve personally makes the wines at friends’ winery facilities.
What The Critics Say
94/100 The Australian Weekend Magazine, Nick Ryan
"From a far more benign season, this wine comes from Smith’s fervent belief that maritime Hawke’s Bay can take albariño to the heights it reaches in Spain. Polished and rounded, it ripples with ripe stone fruit and lemon zest, raw almond, lemon thyme and the salty/sweet tryst of melon draped with jamon. Fullness without fat, lovely acid cut."
93/100 James Suckling
"Aromas of yellow apples, fresh pineapple, lime blossoms and grapefruit rind. The medium-bodied palate has racy acidity and a textural mouthfeel. There is a lovely complexity and tension that finishes with a slight phenolic grip, adding to the structure. Drink now. Screw cap."
93/100 Stephen Wong MW
"Subtle herb, peach and floral aromas sit over a broad base of oak- and lees-influenced notes of roasted nut and fresh toast. The palate is full-bodied and weighty with vibrant acidity holding everything back from being blowsy. Concentrated flavours of vanilla and peach linger on the decadently creamy, nutty and oaky finish. An oaky, broad and textural albariño rather than the typically crisp, aromatic varietal style, this will gain more breadth and nutty development in the near term. 24 Apr 2025." Drink 2025 - 2029
Variety | Albarino |
---|---|
Region | Hawkes Bay |
Volume | 750ml |
Alcohol | 14.20% |
Maturity | 2025 - 2030 |
This Wine Goes Well With
Taste
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