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Friday, 30 November 2018 13:06

The originality of Untitled

Written by  Tessa Nicholson

It may be common in other parts of the world, but here in New Zealand, blending more than a couple of varieties and regions to create a wine is anything but.

Enter Untitled – the new label created by Lee Winston of Pleasant Valley Wines in Henderson. With three wines to his brand – the varietal mix is immense. 

Take the red wine for example, no less than 13 different varieties are included in the blend. 

Before you start hyper-ventilating about the number – realise that Winston is following the tradition of one of the great French wine producing regions, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, where up to 13 varietals are included in their blends.

Inspired by them and also Penfolds Grange whose wines are a mix of various varietals and regions, Winston believes there is a complexity and freshness that emanates.

The 13 varieties in Untitled’s red wine come from five different New Zealand regions, from Northland to Central Otago. 

Winston is not sticking to just the red. He has also released a Rosé, blending seven varieties and a white is to come, taking the best from five varieties. 

The wines are a mix of blending already made wines and individual fruit parcels.

Describing his red wine, Winston says it is in a way “Pinotesque”. 

“It’s not a massive full bodied, concentrated number, but it is quite subtle and layered in nuance as well.”

All very well creating a wine, but when it came to creating a brand, Winston said he went to Onfire Design in Auckland. They came up with the name and the innovative label. 

In turn Sam Allan from Onfire says these wines have come together in a comparable way to a movie.

“Similar to a film editor who creates a finished film from multiple shots, Lee creates these blends in a similar fashion with grapes.” Says it all. 

www.untitled.co.nz