{"title":"Settlement","description":"\u003cp\u003eSettlement was founded by Steve Planthaber, who moved to \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/marlborough-wine\"\u003eMarlborough\u003c\/a\u003e with his partner Kirsty Sutherland and spent twelve years working in production and operations at Cloudy Bay Vineyards before deciding to build a small label of his own. The name honours the Amphitheatre vineyard site in the Omaka Valley, and the brand is dedicated entirely to \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/organic-wine\"\u003eorganic\u003c\/a\u003e, single-vineyard wines drawn from some of the Wairau and Southern Valleys' most distinctive sites.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Heritage Vineyard, planted with thirty-year-old vines over free-draining silt and clay loams, yields a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/sauvignon-blanc\"\u003eSauvignon Blanc\u003c\/a\u003e of typical Marlborough intensity, lifted by bright acidity and a steely texture. The organically certified Poplars Vineyard, first planted in 1992 in the Brancott Valley, gives the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/chardonnay\"\u003eChardonnay\u003c\/a\u003e its own distinct character, alongside a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/riesling\"\u003eRiesling\u003c\/a\u003e and a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/pinot-noir\"\u003ePinot Noir\u003c\/a\u003e that complete the four-strong range.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"settlement-poplars-chardonnay","title":"Settlement Poplars Chardonnay 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSettlement Poplars Chardonnay\u003c\/strong\u003e is a rich, single-vineyard Marlborough Chardonnay with ripe stone fruit, citrus and savoury complexity wrapped around a vibrant core of acidity. Grown organically at the mouth of the Brancott Valley, it combines the concentration of mature Mendoza clone vines with creamy texture, flinty mineral notes and carefully judged oak. The style is full-bodied and generous, but a crisp, crunchy finish keeps everything lively and composed. A rewarding choice for lovers of bold, layered Chardonnay, particularly alongside roast chicken, grilled fish, creamy seafood or pork.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the winery says:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRipe stone fruit and citrus aromas are followed by savoury, lightly spiced oatmeal notes. The palate offers richness and length, balanced by crisp, pleasantly crunchy acidity. The fruit came from the certified organic Poplars Vineyard in Marlborough's Southern Valleys, where Mendoza clone Chardonnay vines planted in 1992 grow in free-draining alluvium over a complex clay profile. The grapes were hand picked and whole bunch pressed, then the juice was transferred to barrel on solids for wild fermentation and 12 months of lees ageing. Fifteen percent new oak was used, followed by a further six months in stainless steel to introduce freshness and liveliness. The wine was bottled without fining.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the experts say:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCameron Douglas MS, 94\/100, Excellent (2023 Vintage)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"A distinctive bouquet of roasted nut, baked peach and wood with scents of vanilla, butter-cream and spices.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Blanc","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53182020157807,"sku":"100383","price":209.94,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0968\/2252\/6319\/files\/SettlementPoplarsChardonnay.jpg?v=1785207395"},{"product_id":"settlement-pinot-noir","title":"Settlement Pinot Noir 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSettlement Pinot Noir\u003c\/strong\u003e is an organically grown, single-vineyard Marlborough Pinot Noir with pure red fruit, fragrant spice and a soft, silky structure. Sourced from a north-facing hillside in the Omaka Valley, it combines ripe berry flavour with subtle savoury detail and gently saline tannins. Whole-bunch fermentation adds aromatic lift and complexity, while extended maturation in French oak gives the wine depth without overwhelming its delicate fruit. Supple and generous, but still fresh and finely shaped, it is an excellent match for roast duck, lamb, mushroom dishes or grilled salmon.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the winery says:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMid ruby in colour, the wine shows fragrant, pure aromas of red and dark fruit with hints of eastern spice. The palate is soft and generous, filled with ripe red fruit and balanced by subtle, slightly saline tannins. The organically certified Settlement Vineyard was planted in 2009 on a north-facing hillside four kilometres up the Omaka Valley, with shallow wind-blown loess over clay loams. The fruit was hand picked, chilled overnight and hand sorted, with 70% destemmed and 30% retained as whole bunches. Following an ambient soak and wild fermentation, the wine was transferred to French oak barrels, including 30% new oak, for 18 months of maturation. It was bottled unfined.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the experts say:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Suckling, 91\/100 (2022 Vintage)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"Perfumed aromas of strawberries, wild raspberries, potpourri and lead pencil. This has a light-bodied palate, fine tannins and bright acidity.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Blanc","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53182020190575,"sku":"100384","price":239.94,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0968\/2252\/6319\/files\/SettlementPinotNoir.jpg?v=1785207273"},{"product_id":"settlement-heritage-sauvignon-blanc","title":"Settlement Heritage Sauvignon Blanc 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSettlement Heritage Sauvignon Blanc\u003c\/strong\u003e is a single-vineyard, organically grown Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with ripe tropical fruit, lively citrus and a subtly rounded texture. Sourced from mature vines on the southern side of the Wairau Valley, it offers more concentration and composure than a sharply herbaceous style, while retaining the crisp acidity and long finish that keep Marlborough Sauvignon so refreshing. A small indigenous barrel-fermented portion adds gentle richness without obscuring the fruit. Serve well chilled with oysters, fresh seafood, goat's cheese or lighter dishes built around citrus and herbs.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the winery says:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStrong guava aromas are supported by tropical fruit, citrus and grapefruit, with ripe concentration balanced by refreshing, lingering acidity. The Sauvignon Blanc comes from Settlement's north-facing Heritage Vineyard on the Wairau Valley floor, where vines planted between 1990 and 1995 grow in free-draining silty clay loams over clay subsoil. The vineyard achieved organic certification in 2012. Low crop levels and a record dry summer produced intensely flavoured fruit in 2024. The grapes were machine harvested and pressed directly to stainless steel, then settled for three days before fermentation. Fifteen percent was fermented with indigenous yeasts in old French oak, and the finished wine was bottled unfined.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the experts say:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRebecca Gibb MW, 93\/100 (2024 Vintage)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"A richly textured, satisfying style with succulent flavors of passion fruit, ripe apple and pineapple.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Suckling, 92\/100 (2024 Vintage)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"A subtle sauvignon blanc with lemon and green-pear character with minerally undertones and a vivid finish.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Blanc","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53182020223343,"sku":"100385","price":287.88,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0968\/2252\/6319\/files\/SettlementHeritageSauvignonBlanc.jpg?v=1785207180"}],"url":"https:\/\/stolencellar.co.nz\/collections\/settlement.oembed","provider":"Stolen Cellar","version":"1.0","type":"link"}