I’ve visited Black Estate several times and have consistently enjoyed their wines, which exemplify low-intervention winemaking.
Black Estate was established in 1993 when restaurateur Russell Black began cultivating an 8-hectare vineyard of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Omihi, with the help of Danny Schuster. Initially, the vineyard included 3.8 hectares of each grape variety, all planted on their own roots.
In 2007, the Naish family acquired the estate, and their first vintage came in 2008, produced by Pen Naish and her husband, Nicholas Brown, who previously worked with Schuster. Since then, the vineyard area has expanded to 24 hectares across three sites: the original estate, Netherwood, and Damsteep.
All vineyard operations are now organic, and the winemaking process is quite natural, allowing only minimal SO2 additions at bottling and fermenting with native yeasts. The winery features a modern barn designed by Richard Naish, which houses the tasting room and restaurant, enhancing customer engagement.
The home block benefits from sedimentary clay soils, typical of Omihi, and Pen and Nick plan to convert part of it to a high trellis system to accommodate sheep during the growing season. They have planted various grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Chenin Blanc, since acquiring the property.
The Damsteep vineyard, established in the 1920s, features steep slopes and consists of 16 hectares overall, with 7.5 hectares dedicated to vineyards of Riesling and Pinot Noir. Black Estate began sourcing fruit from this vineyard in 2008 before acquiring it in 2012.
Netherwood, initially planted by Black and Schuster in 1986, fell into receivership in 2009 but has since been restored under the Naish family. Currently, it consists of 4.5 hectares of vines on a 10.5-hectare property.
Additionally, from 2023, they began leasing the adjacent Sky Punch vineyard, which comprises 2 hectares of Pinot Gris and half a hectare of Viognier.
Notable Wines:
- Black Estate Damsteep Pét Nat 2024: Co-fermented Pinot Noir and Riesling with bright cherry and citrus notes. Rated 91/100.
- Black Estate Home Pét Nat 2023: 100% Chenin Blanc with keen citrus fruit and a fresh finish. Rated 93/100.
- Black Estate Netherwood Pét Nat 2023: Features apple and toastiness with depth and acidity. Rated 92/100.
- Black Estate Skypunch Pinot Gris 2024: Hand-harvested, capturing richness and vibrancy. Rated 94/100.
- Black Estate Skypunch Viognier 2023: Expression of pear, peach, and apricot fruit. Rated 94/100.
- Black Estate Damsteep Riesling 2023: Textured with crystalline citrus fruit and fine structure. Rated 95/100.
- Black Estate Home Chenin Blanc 2023: Beautifully textured with layers of pear and citrus. Rated 95/100.
- Black Estate Home Chardonnay 2023: Nuanced with toast and pineapple, expressive palate. Rated 94/100.
- Black Estate Damsteep Pinot Noir 2023: Textured and stylish, with cherry and spice notes. Rated 93/100.
For additional information about Black Estate and their unique approach to winemaking, you can visit Black Estate.