Winemaker Notes
The 2016 Hans Family Estate “Spirit of Marlborough” is a handcrafted Bordeaux-style blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon, created to rival the world’s finest examples. The vintage benefited from a long, warm ripening season in Marlborough, producing fruit of exceptional purity and concentration. Aromatically, it offers dark berries, cassis, and plum, layered with notes of spice, cedar, and subtle floral tones. On the palate, it is powerful yet harmonious, with rich fruit depth balanced by fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity, leading to a long, graceful finish. With 13.5% alcohol, this wine embodies elegance and structure, making it both approachable now and capable of aging beautifully for many years.
About Winery
Hans Family Estate, also known as Hans Herzog Estate, is a boutique, family-owned winery located in Marlborough, New Zealand. Founded by Swiss-born winemaker Hans Herzog, the estate reflects his philosophy of producing wines with uncompromising quality and individuality. Herzog brought decades of winemaking experience from Europe to New Zealand, establishing the estate as one of the country’s most respected artisanal wineries. What makes Hans Family Estate distinctive is its organic, hands-on approach: every step from vineyard to bottle is carried out onsite, with meticulous attention to detail. Herzog is known for his experimental spirit, cultivating an unusually wide range of grape varieties—over 29, including classics like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as well as rarities such as Viognier, Arneis, Grüner Veltliner, and Nebbiolo. This diversity, combined with a focus on small-scale production and age-worthy wines, has earned the estate international acclaim for its eclectic yet consistently high-quality portfolio.
