From Wineanorak

February 2010
by Jamie Goode, UK
Back in 1997 Dutch couple Ruud Maasdam and Dorien Vermaas purchased a 52 acre block of land in the Rapaura area of Marlborough. On the basis of extensive soil surveys, they divided their prospective vineyard into 24 blocks before planting, each of which is managed differently. The Staete Landt wines all come from this single estate. Most of the focus is on Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, but Riesling (in both dry and 'auslese' forms), Syrah and Viognier are also made. All the wines show lovely focus and elegance, with Pinot Noir the stand out: a mini-vertical of 2004, 2005 and 2008 all showed very well recently with nice mineral elegance to sweet, perfumed cherry fruit.