In the world of wine, Waipawa in Central Hawke's Bay is now clearly on the map.
World-renowned UK wine writer and Master of Wine Jancis Robinson embarks on an annual selection of her top 100 red wines, culled from a year of tastings which involved about 10,000 wines from allover the world.
Ms Robinson, whose list is of wines she classes as "thoroughly distinctive and superior" picked out Lime Rock's 2009 Pinot Noir as one of her top choices, describing it as having a "flattering nose, medium weight and truly burgundian subtlety".
She also described Waipawa as an exciting new New Zealand region which possessed pinot-friendly limestone.
Lime Rock's Rosie Butler was delighted to hear their much-lauded 2009 Pinot Noir had hit the spot with such an influential wine authority.
"It's really great news. We are really pleased," she said.
The nomination as a global top 100 came in the wake of the Waipawa winery picking up a Gold Medal for its pinot noir at this year's Boutique Wine Awards in Sydney.
There was more good new as master sommelier Matt Wilkin and export manager Peter Lorimer had helped get Lime Rock onto the shelves of Selfridges and Peter Gordon's restaurant in London.
Ms Butler said as the result of the warmth and early sunshine of summer, the latest vintage on the vines was shaping up well. Flowering had finished and the grapes were looking healthy.
