The Auswine Forum

was discussing about this winery with a friend just then. wondering whether the "private reserve" is actaully the same wine as the "matakana" red blend?

how would you rate this wine compared to terraces, pope, coleraine, larose etc?

Cheers!

I would rate it as much rarer and much more expensive.

I'm not one of the few people in the country who's ever had it, but my impression is that its good, but not worth the dosh. Personally, if I was going to going to spend that much money on a label, I'd buy a bottle of Lynch Bages or somesuch. If you try it though, I'd certainly be interested to hear your timpressions.

ive had providence a few times (it is antipodean that has alluded me all these years). it is a wine that many people slate a bit but my experience is it is the real deal. It is a lovely sweet fruited complex red wine, integrated, creamy and ripe.

The Private Reserve is a 'reserve' bottling but it is in most ways I think the 'standard' wine - ie it isnt smaller production and is just as common as the other bottling and it is only marginally more expensive. Im not 100% sure though how it all works, whether both are made every year or what.

I had the opportunity to taste the 00 Providence Private Reserve from magnum next to 05 Puriri Hills Pope. Naturally the extra 5 years in the bottle showed, but it is that type of quality wine. I really thought it was super. I have heard of 2 blind tastings which had both Pope and Providence (sorry dunno vintage) in the lineup along with other such wines. Pope came out on top.

I also tried the 93 Providence (cost me $60 on release) next to the 94 Stonyridge Larose. Although the srl was obviously too young, the providence did pip it on the night, though the srl was better next day.

A 750ml bottle of the current vintage (2005) is about $110. i havent tried it but have heard it is one of the best made.

It is a wine id love to explore more but my money seems to run out before my enthusiasm for these kind of educational adventures.

Hope that helps a bit anyway

I've never had Providence, but had the pleasure of trying five vintages of The Antipodean (1990, 1992, 1994 and 1997) and the 1993 Obiter (100% cabernet sauvignon) over dinner with the proprieters in June 2001. A very memorable evening. Lovely, lovely wine.

The Antipodean is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and malbec. The vines were planted in the late 1970s.

The Obiter cabernet sauvignon is made in years when good flowering produces too much of the variety for blending in the benchmark wine.

The wines had subtlety and finesse but were by no means fragile. They had harmony, fragrance, length and seamless integration of character.

Brief tasting notes (as at June 2001):

Light in colour with brickish hues, the 1990 still has a luscious, sweet, grapey nose with an edge of smoky bacon. On the palate it's sweet plum, smoke and candied cherry with an impressive lasting presence.

The 1992 had much brighter colour with more pronounced plum on the nose and richer stewed plum on the palate along with blackcurrant and honeysuckle characters. "This won't hit its peak for 20 years," Pete Vuletic said confidently.

The 1994 was fresh and lively with a savoury nose of raw kidneys, unbelievable depth of sweet fruit and beautiful oak integration.

The 1997 is the first time merlot has taken the place of cabernet sauvignon as the majority variety (about 65%) in the blend. Quite light in appearance, it is a wine of greater depth and possibility than its colour suggests. A chocolatey nose with hints of sweet earth set you up for what Michelle Chignell-Vuletic nicely described as "utterly feminine wine, a Catherine Deneuve, not a Rachel Hunter." With hints of cherry and once again masses of sweet plums it was delicious but I was firmly told "it's too young."

I wrote at the time: "There is only one retailer, and it stocks only the Vuletics' wine, Zarbo deli in Newmarket. It has 1990, 1993 and 1997 vintages of The Antipodean for $160-195 a bottle, as well as magnums of the 1990 and 1993 for $400 and $350, respectively. Also on sale is the 1993 Obiter, $175 a bottle, which I suggest cabernet sauvignon lovers latch on to while they can." I don't know if this is still the case.

I can't recall anything specific about the Obiter. My notes say "ripe." At the time, given New Zealand's struggles with cabernet sauvignon over the previous decades, that was probably all I needed to say.

I wrote at the time: "There is only one retailer, and it stocks only the Vuletics' wine, Zarbo deli in Newmarket. It has 1990, 1993 and 1997 vintages of The Antipodean for $160-195 a bottle, as well as magnums of the 1990 and 1993 for $400 and $350, respectively. Also on sale is the 1993 Obiter, $175 a bottle, which I suggest cabernet sauvignon lovers latch on to while they can." I don't know if this is still the case.

Zarbo no longer has it. The NZ wine shop that used to be at auckland international stocked it. they are now closed. Farros also used to stock it but its all a gonna now. There are a couiple of retailers in Warkworth and Matakana that stock it including the vintry at matakana. All around $190. Also it pops up surprisingly often at auction.

One day id love to try antipodean. If anyone here has a bottle and wants to get together id open something of equal

Hi Guys,
If you are ever up Matakana way over the Christmas period or on public holidays, you may find that the Providence cellar door is open for wine tastings and purchase of wines.

Here's a snippet from the information they gave me for my Rodney Times wine trail feature last year.

Providence Vineyard
Takatu Road, Matakana. Ph: 09 422 9300 (vineyard).

James Vuletic established Providence Vineyard in 1990 ........
Wines produced are a merlot cabernet franc predominant blend, syrah and a rosé in select years. Prices range from $45 to $150.

Tasting & Cellar Door Hours: Open public holiday weekends only – as advertised closer to the time. Open for a prolonged period over Christmas. Hours are 12pm – 5pm on open days.
A tasting fee of $10 is refundable on purchase of wine. Groups require advance notification.
___________________________________

Kemp Fine Wines are their agents.

The old Antipodean Vineyard was sold in 2004 and it now goes under the name Mt Tamahunga and a small volume red called 'Tama 2007' is now available. I've not tasted it. Former owners Petar and Michelle Vuletic became involved in the making of the Mahurangi River wines, but that winery has also been sold on. We picked up one of the reds for about $11 at Pak 'n Save.

Cheers,
Sue

was discussing about this winery with a friend just then. wondering whether the "private reserve" is actaully the same wine as the "matakana" red blend?

Learnt something today to add to the answer of "No, they are different wines". I can now add more detail...

Matakana is a heavily merlot dominant wine whereas the private reserve is heavily cabernet franc dominant wine

Craig(NZ) wrote:

was discussing about this winery with a friend just then. wondering whether the "private reserve" is actaully the same wine as the "matakana" red blend?

Learnt something today to add to the answer of "No, they are different wines". I can now add more detail...

Matakana is a heavily merlot dominant wine whereas the private reserve is heavily cabernet franc dominant wine

thank you Craig!

really wanna compare the difference...