News out of Hawke’s Bay today sees Hawke’s Bay winery Chateau Garage – husband and wife team Ollie Powrie and Rebecca Moses – about to release what must be New Zealand’s most expensive wine. “Lorenzo the Magnificent” will sell for $695 a bottle.
The wine takes inspiration from Italian adventures and stories of the Renaissance patron of the arts, Lorenzo de Medici. From the 2024 grape harvest it is a blend bringing together the noble grape varieties of Bordeaux and Tuscany – 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Sangiovese.
“The 2024 vintage was exceptional – the kind of season winemakers dream about,” says Ollie. “When you have fruit this extraordinary from two ‘Grand Cru’ Hawke’s Bay vineyard sites, there is always potential for something truly magical to happen.” The Cornerstone Vineyard is planted on a gravelly riverbed and provides the perfectly ripe Cabernet Sauvignon. The Osawa vineyard is higher altitude and produces Sangiovese on the ancient Mangatahi Terraces.
Lorenzo the Magnificent came about from a chance decision to try blending these two wines for the Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction. Ollie was shocked by the resulting wine and rushed back to the house to let Rebecca taste the blend. “It was mind blowing, my whole brain lit up with the sensation of this wine, it was more than just aromas and flavours.”
Of particular interest to myself was the opportunity to help fine-tune the wine on a visit to see Ollie earlier this year. It was amazing to see just how much difference tiny amounts of change to the percentages of each wine in the blend made to the resulting mix. As Ollie took pipettes with each wine and produced variants, we both had an “A-ha” moment when this final and magical 62/38 blend was tasted.
The grapes are harvested meticulously by hand, then destemmed before being fermented and aged in Italian ceramic and clay vessels. The use of Clay Amphorae, handmade in Hungary, allows for longer skin contact with the wine after fermentation which helps to build rich, velvety tannins and texture. Ollie also had a chance introduction to a local potter John Gisborne who had made a beautiful 120 litre clay egg that came very close to floating away during the huge flood of 2023. It survived and became the perfect vessel to age the pressed Sangiovese wine.
The brand’s Garagista Social Club, launched in January 2025 attracted avid wine collectors seeking exclusive wine club access to limited wines. “We love to share our wines so the club also provides a great opportunity to get together socially and do just that” says Rebecca.
The Chateau Garage family are pleased to be able to donate Auction Lot 31 : 24 bottles of ‘Lorenzo the Magnificent’ to the annual Cranford Hospice Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction. The lot which goes under the hammer on the 13th September, also includes Chateau Garage hosting up to 12 guests for a full VIP wine experience with Chef Sam Clarke of the Central Fire Station serving a delicious range of Italian inspired aperitivo style canapés.
“We’ve always wanted to contribute a unique lot to support Cranford Hospice so we are super chuffed to have something so special to share” says Ollie. “Fingers crossed for some big bidders on the day!”.
Lorenzo the Magnificent 2024 launches Wednesday 20th August. $695 per bottle with a limit of 6 bottles per person. Garagista Social Club members receive first access to purchase. Production is limited to 225 bottles and includes twelve 1.5 litre Magnum bottles (price on application).
