Revised and Corrected Version, March – June 2025
The introduction and first section of this major research paper has been revised and corrected as of March – June 2025. This paper supersedes the previous version therefore.
Author: Dr. Gerald Atkinson
Company director, viticulturist, grapevine researcher and historian, and sometime wine-writer.
Hunter Semillon Was Derived From a Single Vine: The Mono-Clonal, and Almost Certainly South African, Origin of a Classic Australian-Regional Wine Grape
If the facts adduced here are correct, proper acknowledgement of the colonial Sydney ‘ground zero’ source of Hunter Semillon ought to be made.
GRAD®1 Gewürztraminer
On its track record, this is the finest Gewürztraminer in New Zealand — and GRAD®1 is its only PCR tested and multiple ELISA tested high-health clonal source.
GRAD Pinot noir Clone 1 Series (Meristem-cultured U.C.D.5)
The Rolls Royce, meristem-cultured, version of the outstanding U.C.D.5 Pinot noir clone, the GRAD®1 series is the finest black-fruited Pinot noir genetic line currently available in New Zealand.
GRAD Pinot noir Clone 2 series (Derived from early 1960s U.C.D.4 old vines, including heat-treated D.S.I.R. selections)
The GRAD 2 clone series of Pinot noir derives from genetic material of extremely high quality and offers a very serious, carefully and systematically selected and locally developed, alternative to the 'Dijon' clones. Like the widely misunderstood and under-rated Abel clone, the GRAD clone series (development of which is now continuing into its third decade) offers more and better than is being achieved, or even, in all likelihood, can be achieved, in New Zealand from almost all of the range of the Bernard Dijon Pinot noir clones.
GRAD Grenache
The tough, botrytis and split -resistant, skin of the the GRAD®1 Grenache clone berries make it particularly well suited to northern regional growing conditions (Waiheke Island, Auckland, Northland, etc.), as well as to Gisborne and Hawkes Bay.
Domaine Saint Guyan ‘L’Oratorie’ Sablet Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2011
$29, Mediterranean Food Co., Chch.
Date Tasted: Friday, 9th May 2014
Colour and condition: Medium lemon, perfectly clear. 3
Aroma: Clean, distinctly mealy aromas are complexed by those of crushed raw (and damp) cereal seeds (including flax and hemp).… Read more
Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012
Date of tasting: 25th – 26th December 2014
Colour and condition: Medium-dusky medium cherry plum. 3
Aroma: Lovely opulent petit fruit rouge aromas: a melange of red cherry, red currant, raspberry, and alpine strawberries. Delightful. Asian spice, red rose, and buddleia undertones.… Read more
Bests Great Western Old Vines Pinot Meunier 2012
Date of tasting: 25-26 December 2014
Given to me in July by Viv Thompson at Bests. Vines planted 1866: pre-phylloxera Pinot Meunier noir on its own roots. Lots of genetic mutations and variations in the planting.
Colour and condition: Medium dusky cherry plum.… Read more
Dog Point Vineyard Section 94 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Date of tasting: 28th – 29th October 2015
Colour and condition: (Under composite / technical cork.) Pale lemon gold with slight platinum highlight. Just a touch deeper than the Greywacke tasted beside it. 3
Aroma: Extremely reductive aromatics, but not offensively so (to me at least): rather (‘generic’ and very young) ‘white Burgundy –like’, and even with 24 hours breathing this does not change much.… Read more