Muirlea Rise
Willie and Lea Brown planted their 2.5-hectare vineyard in the late '80s to produce their first crop of grapes in 1991. The vines are close-planted on three different soil types - clay, wind-blown loam and free-draining soil over gravel.
I talked to Willie not long before he sadly passed away in July 2002. He described his winemaking methods as 'traditional' with modifications to suit different vintage conditions.
Pinot Noir has been the star of the winery's small product range. A distinctive wine, it possesses considerable concentration and character. My tasting notes for the 2000 vintage record: "An unusual and interesting Pinot Noir style with cherry, blackberry and plum jam flavours together with smoky oak and a savoury/sappy influence."
Muirlea also made another distinctive red called 'Mareth'. The latest release is an incredibly dense, inky wine with tar, tobacco, prune and plum flavours together with a backbone of solid tannins. Muirlea Rise Apres Liqueur is no less distinctive. My notes for the most recent vintage show, "Curiously impressive wine. A port-like style with strong, sweet liquorice, prune juice, and peppery flavours. Soft, jammy wine."
The vineyard has been leased for two years but Lea Brown will continue to receive visitors and market the wines.
Contact
Phone: +64 6 3069332
Fax: +64 6 3069332
Postal
Address: 		50 Princes Street
Delivery
Address: 		50 Princess Street
Staff
Owner: Willie, Lea & Shawn Brown
Manager: Lea Brown
Sales: Shawn Brown
Marketing: Shawn Brown
Producer Details
Opening Hours: 10am-6pm
Vineyards: 2.2
Production: 1000
Winery Tours: No
Newsletter: No
Sales
Cellar Door: No
Internet: No
Direct Mail: No
Via Retailers: No
Wines from this Producer
Muirlea Rise Mareth | 1999
Muirlea Rise Pinot Noir | 2001