In late 2014 the Winter Vineyard was sold and our access to the grapes went along with the sale. While this was the end of an important chapter in the Charteris wine adventure, as is often the case, another door opens and we get the opportunity to explore new terroir. The great Central Otago winemaking network which has been so kind to us in the past once again gave us a new patch of dirt and new character to work with in the form of Doctor’s Flat and Steve Davies.

I’ve known Steve for many years, we first met at Saintsbury Winery in the Napa back in 1992 where he was part of the winemaking team. Like so many Kiwi winemakers, Steve had left Aotearoa in search of Winemaking enlightenment and ended up in California. Steve returned to Central Otago to take over the winemaking at Carrick and planted his Doctor’s Flat vineyard in the early 2000’s.

The vineyard is all of 3 hectares and I have been fortunate enough to have him share some of his precious grapes with me. It’s a unique site sitting above the river terraces along Felton and Carnmuir Roads that have become synonymous with Bannockburn. This little piece of geological gold is all the more special for the fact that the gold miners of the late 1800s left the pristine soils in place for Steve to plant his vines into. The slightly higher elevation and later harvest dates have given me a finesse and elegance to work with in this wine.

Handpicked on 4th April 2016, with 40% whole bunch inclusion and the balance whole berry. Two new French barriques out of six, so about 30% new oak. This wine has dark cherry and a layer of brown spice with subtle leafy herbs filling the aroma, and has had a little bit longer in the cellar thanks to Covid, and the reward is a depth and complexity that can only come with time. The primary fruit lift is only enhanced by the subtle whole bunch spice. There is a youthful vein of acidity which carries the flavour and tannin texture with a lightness giving this wine a delicacy and vitality that belies its age. A core of dark plummy fruit provides length and persistence. The oak is subtext and sits well within in the phenolic framework. 10 years is not out of the question for this wine.

Winery Notes