Man o’ War has long had a reputation as one of not just Waiheke Island, but New Zealand’s best vineyards – personally, we’ve been addicted to their superb Valhalla Chardonnay for over a decade now. Not content with producing an already extensive range of stand out wines, Man o’ War has just launched its new limited release reserve range – The Kulta Family.
Man o’ War has always stood out with their fabulously fanciful names for their flagship varietals and blends – think Dreadnought, Ironclad, Bellerophon and Valkyrie, to name a few. The Kulta range takes a different tack, drawing on the three-decade-long family heritage behind the vineyard as its inspiration. The moniker ‘Kulta’ pays homage to their Finnish ancestors, where Kulta means ‘loved one’ and ‘gold’, with each one a tribute to a different family member.
The Kulta Family comprises a Méthode Blanc de Blancs, a Syrah, a Bordeaux Blend and of course, a Chardonnay. We’ve had the pleasure of a sneak peek of these wines and we can say with overwhelming confidence that this is the best work Man o’ War has put up to date. Given the already high level consistently achieved with their flagship wines, trust us – that’s no mean feat.
We comped their Kulta Chardonnay alongside top French labels such as Domaine Jean-Marc Boillot, Puligny-Montrachet “Truffieres” 2018 and Domaine de la Vougeraie Clos de Vougeot “Clos Blanc” 2016 and let’s just say the Kulta more than measures up, especially considering the price point. It’s big and punchy, with well-balanced acidity and some funky limestone thrown in for good measure. We also tasted top of the line New Zealand Chardonnays from vineyards such as Kumeu Valley, Neudorf, Prophet’s Rock and Villa Maria, all stunning in their own right, but Kulta’s power definitely stands out from the crowd.
These aren’t wines you’ll find on the shelves of your local bottleshop; rather they’ll be available by full ($1,210/year) or half-case ($720/year) subscription direct from the vineyard. The wines will be released to members in November of each year, with a wider release the following March. Given the quality of these wines and the popularity of such Waiheke favourites as Stonyridge’s Larose, we wouldn’t chance waiting.
By joining the Kulta Family you’ll also receive 15% off all wine purchases, invitations to exclusive Kulta tastings, a ticket to the yearly Kulta Family vintage release celebration at Man O’ War. Sounds like a wine lover’s dream.
The Kulta Family is a range that no serious New Zealand wine buff will want to miss out on – click here to find out more about how you can secure your parcel of these exclusive wines.