Deutz Marlborough Cuvée Blanc de Blancs 2019
top 15Although I'm an import, after almost 20 years in New Zealand I can genuinely say that I feel Kiwi enough that I get a glow of pride when a true Kiwi legend rises to the top. In the world of wine Deutz Marlborough is legendary. Way ahead of its time, in 1990 Deutz was a collaboration between prestigious Chateaux Deutz based in Aÿ in Champagne and what was then Montana Wines in Marlborough. This was the first example of a Champagne house lending their name – and by extension their legacy and prestige – to a New Zealand sparkling wine. With a vision to combine old-world winemaking techniques with new-world grapes, there is no doubt that the team at Montana had their eyes on the prize when it came to benchmarking New Zealand sparkling wines against those of the very best and most respected sparkling wines in the world – Champagne.
While the world around the bottle has changed considerably through the years (in fact the iconic Montana brand no longer exists), it’s clear that what’s in the bottle still feels as special as it did some 35 years ago upon its very first release. Our judges certainly seem to think so, describing this wine as slightly reductive on the nose with lovely freshness, autolysis and toast evident on the nose. The palate is lithe and bright with a zingy freshness that dances in the mouth. The acid is taut and steely giving the wine both presence and a length that feels endless. A timeless Kiwi classic.
