Chateau Garage Lorenzo the Magnificent 2024

A very special, very limited release from one of the rising stars of the New Zealand wine industry.  
225 BOTTLES PRODUCED. 

97/100 | James Suckling - "Up there with the best Tuscan wines I have tasted"

Lorenzo the Magnificent is a blend of cabernet sauvignon (62% - sourced from the Cornerstone vineyard) and sangiovese (38% - sourced from the Osawa vineyard). At $695.00 per bottle we understand that it's New Zealand's most expensive current release wine. Each bottle is individually numbered, has a unique wax seal, and comes presented for sale in quality gift boxes. 

Given the price point it's being sold at, 'Lorenzo' has caused quite the commotion in our domestic wine trade - so do we think it lives up to the hype? Absolutely. 

Hailing from the exceptional 2024 vintage, Lorenzo is very aromatic and complex on the nose with the classic cabernet components of leather, eucalypt, and tobacco countered with the spicier, redder fruits that sangiovese brings to the conversation. The palate is awash with energy, with layers of plush tannin supporting a base line of darker fruits. The finish is very long and clean, with vibrant tension between the acid, tannin and fruit characters.

Befitting a wine of this status, it’s a style that needs time to evolve. In its youth, the plusher fruit characters are somewhat overshadowed by those ripe tannins - but all the building blocks are there for Lorenzo to live up to its full name. 

When the Advintage team evaluated a sample, we all agreed that we have never tried Hawke’s Bay wine that was anything like this before. We thought it was wonderful - a truly special small batch release that will make a huge statement for special anniversaries, or to bookmark an important event.

The winery writes: 

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. Gravity is used for wine movements within the cellar and natural settling without filtration.