Man O' War Wines, New Zealand

These are truly wines to watch out for according to the wine prophet Robert Parker!

Again, I met Duncan McTavish about 8 years ago when he was in trade in Scotland and we just hit it off. A top guy, with deep Scottish roots (although he is a proper Kiwi) he just epitomises the quality and care that the wines are given.

Man O’ War is a stunning array of coastal hillsides with high cliffs and pristine beaches on the eastern end of Waiheke Island. Captain James Cook first sighted the rows of magnificent Kauri trees on this coastline on his first voyage around the islands of New Zealand, and noted they’d make ideal masts for the Navy’s Man O’ War battleships, hence the land gained its name.

Today, Man O’ War is made up of 150 acres of vines planted in 76 individual hillside blocks, each with a distinct soil profile and microclimate. Winemaker Duncan McTavish ensures each small parcel of vines are carefully tended and harvested by hand, then vinified separately, fusing classic Old World techniques with innovative New World ideas to give his wines great intensity, depth, and personality.