MOI Wines 2021 Filigree Fumé - Grüner Veltliner
Think tobacco leaf, lemon grass and green pear skin on the nose. Follow this up with lemon zest, pickled quince, a sprig of thyme and a crack of white pepper on the palate. The new oak quietly supports this aromatic variety by providing silken tannin through the mid palate and finishes with a nuance of smokey, freshly baked, salted brioche.
Some words from winemaker Renée:
”How often do you get a chance to take on an organically grown, quality parcel of grapes from an Auckland vineyard?
Let me tell you, never!
This organically grown Grüner Veltliner pretty much landed in my lap during the 2021 vintage season and I couldn't wait to take on this new challenge. The grower is a passionate, organic farmer up in Matakana and just didn't have the capacity to make any wine that year. I happily took on the challenge and had a vision in my mind that came to fruition finally in the end of 2021 as the bottles came off the bottling line.
As is the case with all the Filigree range the focus here was on texture. With a variety that is slowly springing up all across New Zealand and that has similar flavour nuances to Sauvignon Blanc, my inspiration was certainly coming from barrel fermented wines such as Bordeaux blanc and Poully-Fumé. One had to be slightly deft of hand with a more delicately aromatic variety such as Grüner Veltliner so I only did a 15% new oak component, and gentle lees stirring for 4 months. Additionally a 1% carbonic maceration and skin contact ferment had a tiny yet mighty impact on the aromatics and flavours on the palate. “
Filigree; (noun) ornamental work of fine (typically gold or silver) wire formed into delicate tracery. (From Latin filum ‘thread’ + granum ‘seed’).
A friend and mentor once said: "wine, like life, is about texture" which in turn influenced my winemaking ever since.
The wines I make are focussed on fine delicate texture, not unlike fine filigree jewellery. The bottles are mostly nude in order to let the wine shine through in it's own glory. The phonetic spelling of the word is used as the branding because it is aesthetically pleasing but mostly because the word "Filigree" rolls off the tongue in a somewhat liquid and satisfying way.
Not too dissimilar to these wines...
About Moi Wines
Renée, the incredible owner and winemaker of Moi Wines, launched her brand in 2012. Moi (“mwah” – pronounced like a kiss) Wines, or “Moment of Impact Wines” –stems from her ethos that “wine should provide an impact on the palate upon first sip – a wine should always add to the ambience – not take away”. It also reflects her strong philosophy of making a positive impact on the world, loved ones and our communities. Renée loves supporting fundraising events from her communities and uses her wine as a way of connecting and giving back in the best way she can.
Renée keeps things real by getting her hands dirty in every part of the process from tending vines, harvesting, winemaking, label design, sales and wine deliveries. Renée’s focus is to make elegant, textural and age-worthy wines to pair with the thing she loves most – great company and delicious food. Currently she has a full-time job at Westbrook Winery as the Assistant Winemaker. Renée also runs food & beverage events called “The Imbibe Tribe” where, together with other independent beverage producers, she curates food and beverage experiences that both educate and celebrate our local craft beverage producers.
As you can tell, Renée is a busy lady doing amazing things! Her passion is contagious especially, as it is rooted in a strong sense of purpose. If you ever get the chance to meet her, you’ll fall in love with everything she’s about.
First Vintage: 2012
Scale: Changes every year!
Range: Cabernet Franc Red, Pet-Nat, Field Blends – Rosé & Red
“The aim is to bring people together for those special moments while cherishing our unique terroir of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland in the form of small batch premium wines.”