Yakutin Family Wines - Black Walnut Matakana Chardonnay 2019

When taste buds dance on your palate - delicate sweetness, mineral salinity, vibrant acidity, touch of pleasing bitterness and moreish umami; harmoniously balanced.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER

Yakutin Family Wines is a small family vineyard, located on Matakana Road, marked by a relic brick chimney and centenarian Black Walnut tree. Based on Old World traditions, Yakutin Family believe that wine should be a true expression of the land, people and time.

Oleg Yakutin, the vigneron, is the first Kazakhstani winemaker in New Zealand. Kazakhstan is an ‘Old World’ wine country, since the earliest evidence of viticulture appeared during the 7th century AD. Long before this, locals benefited from the wine trade by their residence on the Silk Road - a network of trade routes connecting China with the Middle East and Europe.

Oleg, and his wife Tanya, moved to the North Shore in 2012 and later made the shift to Matakana in 2014 establishing the Yakutin Family Wines journey. For their debut vintage of 2018, a special label was created called the “Tamgaly Series” - a tribute to the great history and traditions of Oleg and Tanya’s homeland. Tamgaly is a Bronze Age petroglyph site in the Almaty region, Kazakhstan.

The 2019 vintage wines pay homage to the vineyard landmarks, and are named “Old Chimney” [Cabernet Franc] and “Black Walnut” [Chardonnay].

Two small vineyard blocks were planted in 2002 as a development of Hawks Nest Persimmons orchard alongside other ornamental and fruit trees: Olives, Avocados, Pine Nuts, Mandarins, Limes, Grapefruit, Figs, Cherimoyas, Plums, Pears, Peaches and Quince. To complete biodiversity of the orchard, there are seasonal specials: Watercress in winter, Wild Onion in spring, Blackberry in summer, and Mushrooms in autumn.

As the well worn cliché goes, “wine is made in the vineyard”. Oleg spends considerable time treating every single vine and bunch of grapes individually. His approach is based on two basic principles: to preserve and maintain healthy living soil respecting community of microbes and fungi; also to build up the vine’s immune system rather than fighting with diseases. Once the grapes are picked it comes down to soft gentle extraction of tannins and flavours.

One day we asked Oleg to describe what he does in few words. And he responded:

“Yakutin Family Wines is not just a work or hobby - this is my life. I live, love, do all I can and employ: Ironic Sincerity; Pragmatic Idealism; and Informed Naivete.”