A guru's greats

Roy's Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2009. Photo / Supplied

When Kate Radburnd speaks, the wine world generally listens.

After a quarter of a century winemaking and as the co-owner and managing director of CJ Pask Winery, she has earned the respect of the industry in which she holds several positions.

She finds time to chair national wine shows, acts as a consultant for wineries, and frequently pops up as a senior wine judge and panellist. Her primary focus, however, remains CJ Pask.

The winery's Gimblett Road vines are some of the oldest in Hawkes Bay, offering wonderful, complex reds and whites, their most revered being the "Declaration" range.

Further down the order are less expensive but finely crafted wines, with the Roy's Hill range offering a smart product at a bargain price.

"All our wines are a restrained and elegant style reflecting what our vineyards do well," says Radburnd, who has strong opinions on most aspects of wine, especially how it should be presented.

"Everything is now under screwcap," she says, "because we believe they're great and they give us a level of consistency."

Reacting to the market, there have been a few hectares dedicated recently to viognier, but Radburnd is at pains to point out there's no oak this time - for her and her winemaking team, it's all about the fruit. She believes the essence of New Zealand wine is purity of fruit.

"Our climate is unique and ultimately it's about pure, pure fruit."

Recommended

CJ Pask Gimblett Road Syrah 2007
From the mid-tier range and excellent value for money. Syrah is becoming synonymous with Hawkes Bay and this is a fine example of a pure fruit driven red that goes perfectly with meat straight from the barbecue.
Price: $20

Roy's Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Yes, they do sauvignon in the Bay and, like this one, they often lean a bit more to the herbal/capsicum end of the taste spectrum. Lively, tangy and instantly quaffable.
Price: $16.50