A Thousand Gods Love Letters 2023

After spending a decade making wine in Cahors in the south west of France, Lauren and Simon Sharpe have returned to New Zealand to produce wine under their own label A Thousand Gods.

Their aim is to make wines they can call their own, both representative of site, yet in their own way, surprisingly unique. The name is inspired by an expression in Occitan 'miladiou' (mille-dieux in French). Occitan was the language spoken in the south of France prior to French, and certain dialects of Occitan can still be heard in rural areas of southern France today, although the language is gradually dying out. “Miladiou!” is an exclamation of surprise that can be used in a myriad of situations and an English equivalent would be Blimey! or Holy Cow! but it literally translates as “A Thousand Gods!”

Made from hand-picked fruit grown at Churton’s biodynamic Marlborough vineyards, the wines are fermented with wild yeast, with no additions, fining or filtering. All their winemaking experience and talent is evident, these wines are poised and delicious. 

Grape Varietals & Region: 100% Pinot Noir sourced from Churton’s biodynamic Marlborough vineyards in New Zealand 

Taste Profile: On the boundary of dark rosé and light red, Love Letters writes bursting berry fruit and hibiscus notes underlined by unique signature herbal spice. It’s beautifully fragrant in red fruits, tea, watermelon and wild herbs. It has sumptuous palate weight with chalky freshness

Winemaking Process: 7 days macerating on skins before pressing. Aged in old barrels and stainless steel