de la terre is a small family-owned boutique winery specialising in hand-made wines from an unusual mix of grape varieties. The wines are crafted by Tony Prichard, owner and winemaker, in the small earth-brick winery he built, west of Hastings. Tony is best known for the 15 years he spent at the helm of Church Rd.

de la terre wines have their own ‘signature’ – full-flavoured with elegant and balanced mouthfeel and a touch of complexity. In most cases, the wines are slightly outside what would be regarded as the mainstream style for the varieties. de la terre Reserve wines, which demand extra-special attention from Tony, are estate bottled and hand-labelled in individually numbered bottles.

2013 de la terre Blanc de Blancs

 

A very clear pale lemon colour which helps to highlight the elegant and persistent mousse. Fresh, clean aromas of green apple, stonefruit and citrus with obvious bready and mineral notes. A real invitation to put the wine in your mouth. A strong flavour ‘attack ’showing a vibrant marriage of fruit and yeast influences. The firm and fresh acidity provides balance and persistence of flavour through to a long, clean finish.

 

 

2014 de la terre Chardonnay

 

Typical pale straw colour of young Chardonnay. An intense tropical fruit spectrum dominates the aroma profile of this Chardonnay – notes of ripe nectarine and peach with hints of pineapple and banana. Fresh, ripe and vibrant. A flavour burst of ripe Chardonnay fruit here with lingering fruit sweetness and a creamy texture.The clean, fresh stone fruit is the essence of this wine. The palate is concentrated but at the same time lively, balanced and elegant.

 

2014 de la terre Reserve Chardonnay

 

Healthy pale straw colour typical of young Chardonnay. A wonderful marriage of fruit, yeast and French oak with signature notes of minerality and a slight mealy  complexity. A rich and powerful ‘attack’ followed by a luscious mid-palate and great length‘Balance’ is the key here – our aim is for harmony between the key elements – fruit, oak and complexity. 

 

14 De La Terre Viognier

 

A healthy, vibrant pale straw hue. Fresh and delicate notes of citrus blossom and lychee with hints of apricot and honey. An elegant and refined balance of ripe, clean Viognier flavours and gentle acidity.
Flavours of honey, lychee and light citrus dominate.  The finish is clean, crisp and long.

 

 

14 De La Terre Reserve Viognier

A fresh pale straw colour. As a young wine, the nose is somewhat tight and minerally with fruit sitting nascent in the background.  With bottle-age we expect this wine to follow the same trend as our 2013 – developing fruit  aromatics of dried apricot and citrus alongside the minerality and complexity from the old French oak and yeast influences. A solid attack of vibrant fruit with a seam of fresh acidity keeping the structure tight and focussed as it moves through to the long and persistent finish. The slightly ‘smoky’ oak influence will continue to integrate as it ages.

 

15 De La Terre Ridgeline Viognier

 

Pale straw as a young wine. Expect slow evolution to a more golden hue with time in bottle. Strongly aromatic – honeysuckle, lemon-blossom, lychee, white pear, quince and a touch of cinnamon.  Definitively Viognier. A rich, full and fruity attack with a seamless transition through the mid palate and into a long, clean finish.  A nice acid seam and very slight spritz runs alongside the fruit to help balance the touch of residual sweetness. A long, clean finish.

 

15 De La Terre Late Harvest Viognier

 

Golden yellow when young with a slow evolution to an even more golden hue with time in bottle. Aromatic and fruity – very expressive.
Lychee, honey-suckle, lemon-blossom. Pretty notes. Lively fresh white fruits in the attack move through a reasonably linear mid-palate and into a long, clean finish.  There is a seam of acidity that runs alongside the fruit to retain freshness and balance.This style needs to be (at least) lightly chilled.

 

15 De La Terre Noble Viognier

 

Golden yellow when young with a slow evolution to a more golden yellow with time in bottle. Hugely powerful! Raisin, honey, apricot, lychee – whatever. The nose is primarily about concentration but the key is the clean, fresh aromas – not too heavy. Expect evolution toward vanilla and crème brulee notes with time in the bottle. Very full and concentrated ‘attack’ with a luscious mid-palate and real length.There is a seam of acidity that runs alongside the fruit to retain freshness and balance.

 

14 De La Terre Montepulciano

 

Rich deep red/purple/black colour. Dominated by dark fruits – black cherry, black olive, Damson plum with a definite presence of cedary oak. The wine smells like you would expect it to from its colour – dark and brooding. A strong, succulent attack of dark fruit which moves seamlessly through to a vibrant and mouth-watering mid-palate with real structure. A lovely balance between fruit, tannins and acidity with a nice ‘kick’ of French oak at the finish.

 

14 De La Terre Barbera

 

Almost pinot noir-like in intensity and appearance. A vibrant crimson/ garnet hue. Elegant and restrained berry fruit with light spice notes and a subtle oak presence. A gentle attack of ripe, clean fruit and silky tannins. Generous mid-palate depth moving through to a clean, lingering finish.

 

 

13 De La Terre Syrah

 

A vibrant blue/black hue of real intensity. Complex aromas of violets and ripe black fruits, layered with floral notes and a dark pepper spice. Nuances of fine-grained French oak support the fruit aromas. An initial burst of dark and rich Syrah fruit is supported by very fine tannins and toasty French oak. The flavour is both long and persistent and highlights the impeccable balance between fruit, tannin and acidity.

 

13 De La Terre Reserve Syrah

 

A vibrant blue/black hue of real intensity. Complex aromas of black cherries and olives with, dark pepper spice and fine French oak. Hints of tar, liquorice and cedar add to the complexity. A rich and concentrated burst of ripe, dark fruit is supported by a strong backbone of fine-grained tannins and toasty French oak. The flavour is intense and brooding – highlighting the impeccable balance between fruit, tannin and acidity.

 

14 De La Terre Tannat

 

Very dark black/ magenta of vibrant hue and massive intensity. A totally unique fruit profile with blackberry/blueberry notes and an underlying earthiness with a hint of French oak. A burst of black cherry fruit in the attack building to a huge flavour concentration in the mid-palate.  Firm, robust tannins with a seam of light acidity that expresses itself as a mild ‘saltiness’.        A succulent and vibrant fruit finish.

 

14 De La Terre Reserve Tannat

Very dark magenta of vibrant hue and massive intensity. Difficult to describe – a totally unique fruit profile with hints of blackberry/blueberry and an underlying earthiness with nicely integrated French oak supporting the fruit. A burst of black cherry fruit in the attack building to a huge flavour concentration in the mid-palate. Despite the very high concentration of tannins they are supple, fine and powdery in quality – “an iron fist in a velvet glove”. The wine has huge length.

 

All de la terre wines are available through Dhall & Nash.