Spirit of Marlborough 2018 – Released in Full Maturity
Hans Herzog announces the release of Spirit of Marlborough 2018, a certified organic, estate-grown Cabernet blend crafted with a singular focus on precision, structure, and longevity.
Produced in very small quantities from the estate’s own vineyards, the wine reflects a meticulous, hands-on approach in both viticulture and winemaking. It remains one of the very few certified organic Bordeaux-style blends in New Zealand, underscoring a commitment to authenticity and integrity at every stage.
The 2018 vintage was matured for 30 months in fine French barriques, including a proportion of new oak, followed by five years of bottle ageing under ideal cellar conditions. Released only once it has reached harmony, the wine is presented at a stage where it is both complete and immediately expressive.
Unfined, unfiltered, and entirely vegan, it preserves purity of fruit and a true sense of place.
Stylistically, Spirit of Marlborough aligns more closely with classical Bordeaux than with modern interpretations – favouring restraint, fine structure, and vibrant healthy fruit over overt ripeness or dominant oak. The result is a wine of quiet depth and composure, built for longevity while offering balance and accessibility from the moment it is opened.
The 2018 vintage expresses both the character of the season and the philosophy of the estate: uncompromising in its organic integrity, entirely estate-grown, and shaped as much by time as by place.
With this release, the wine takes its place as a mature, age-worthy Cabernet blend of notable pedigree, shaped by extended maturation and its uncompromising estate provenance.
20 April 2026
Therese & Hans Herzog
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