Based in Marlborough, Framingham is home to some of the oldest Riesling vines in the region, with their first plantings dating back to 1981. Though still focused on Riesling, they now produce a range of wines from their 19.5-hectare estate vineyard, certified organic in 2014, alongside other carefully selected sites across Marlborough. Their reputation is such, that Jancis Robinson has described Framingham as “one of the finest producers of Riesling, both in and outside Germany”.
Andrew Brown joined Framingham as head winemaker in January 2020, succeeding Dr Andrew Hedley who previously made the wines for 18 years. A highly regarded winemaker, Brown worked with Dr Andrew as assistant winemaker for seven years before consulting in famed wine regions such as Oregon, Central Otago, and Alsace. Like his predecessor, Riesling is a great love of Andrew’s and his reverence for the grape is reflected in the remarkable examples he makes for Framingham.
F-Series
These wines offer alternative takes on the core varieties of Framingham’s range, staying true to their varietal typicity while leaving room for innovation. Made in strictly limited quantities, the ‘F-Series’ gives the Framingham winemaking team the flexibility to experiment with techniques and create small-batch wines that capture the essence of each vintage, resulting in some of Marlborough’s most exciting wines.
Fruit for the ‘F-Series’ Old Vine Riesling is gently pressed before fermentation with indigenous yeasts. A portion is also fermented in old oak to add texture and complexity before being blended and aged for nine months on its lees. The ‘F-Series’ Sauvignon Blanc, fermented in a combination of old oak barrels, puncheons, and stainless-steel tanks, also spends nine months ageing on its lees, resulting in an earthy, mineral flavour profile.
On the nose there bright notes of orange peel and lemon zest, with some savoury characteristics and aromas of sourdough bread. The palate shows exotic fruit flavours with great power and concentration. The wine has a textural mouthfeel and a long, fine finish with fresh acidity.
