The Vinsomniac - Stuart Robinson

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Showing posts with label NZ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NZ. Show all posts

Sunday, 3 March 2013

Te Whare Ra Gewürztraminer 2010

  21:20    

Low-input, small scale producer based in the Marlborough sub-region of Renwick. Some of the earliest plantings within the Marlborough region can be found here, and the vines for this Gewürz date from 1979.

Fairly exotic aromatics: turkish delight and rose, a hint of marzipan in the mix. Softer fruit elements by way of some tropicals: lychee, a hint of citrus.

Luscious and layered, textured on entry. Ginger, spice - gives persistence, power and concentration of flavour. Hints of orange oil present on the palate too.

Finishes in a similar manner: luscious, persistent and with a touch of weight. 92 - Very Good 
 
Tasted on: Monday 25th February, a Fruit Day
Source:Retail, Stewart's Wine Co
Price: $35
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.twrwines.co.nz/

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Wednesday, 13 April 2011

Newton Forrest Estate Cornerstone Hawkes Bay 2000

  07:40    

People have an emotional attachment to wine, possibly more so than any other beverage - and I am excluding other forms of dependency with that statement.  With this in mind, is it possible to maintain objectivity about a particular wine when so much of you can be wrapped up in it's purchase and ultimately enjoyment?

I write this for, this wine, has a special place for me. The 2001 vintage was enjoyed as part of a special dinner at Gantley's just outside Queenstown whilst in Honeymoon. 

Whilst a different vintage - buyers error, relying on memory when purchasing at auction rather than written record - the enjoyment factor was still incredible. Again shared with my wife, this time at home, marking our 5th anniversary.

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (46%), Merlot (33%) and Merlot (21%); the intoxicating perfume just invites you in: chocolate, plum, some dark berry fruit and a faint edge of tobacco.

Time has been kind to the wine, a faint glimpse of oak remains and works into a smooth bodied palate.  There's none of the primacy of youth now; it's all gorgeous, smooth and integrated.  The finish shows extraordinarily silken tannin, and a length that belies the delicate flavour at its conclusion.  More please.   

Source: Auction, Langton's
Price: $?
Alcohol: 13.6% 
Closure: Cork

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Monday, 7 March 2011

Grove Estate Wherehaveyou Bin MCB

  12:31    

An easy drinking, savoury blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Barbera.  The wine in glass had me feeling pleasantly schizophrenic, offering in turn Merlot plumminess with Cabernet blackcurrant and cedary notes.  In the background there further lurked some ripe fruit notes from the Barbera and even a touch of mint sauce.

Entry immediately showed a smooth, medium bodied wine.  There wasn't much fruit showing in the palate, yet some oak provided some interest.  On the finish, there was some good mouth coating tannin, a hint of coffee-ish oak - this all fell away rather quickly.  Made for drink now pleasure indeed.

Source: Sample
Price: $15 (via wineboss.com.au)
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap

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Tuesday, 1 March 2011

New Zealand In A Glass

  13:09    

First up, I want to commend the organisers on a well put together event.  Each attendee was presented on arrival with a Riedel tasting glass, a bottle of water, pen, paper exhibitor list along with a full colour high-quality booklet listing all exhibitors with contact information.  Inside the event, there was plenty more water available along with bread, crackers and even some sandwiches available.  My only gripes being the spit buckets being on the floor, the members of the public wearing their ropey colognes/ perfumes and ruining the beautiful perfumes of the products on show and the exhibitor who didn't know the Residual Sugar (RS) of the Riesling they were pouring!

My focus for the event: Waiheke and Hawkes Bay reds (and maybe a little else of what took my fancy). 

Man O'War
Standout wines: Valhalla Reserve Chardonnay 2009, 100% barrel fermented - 40% new French, wild yeast fermented. Some yeasty notes on the nose with good supporting Oak.  Typical riper characteristics of good quality Chardonnay.  Savoury conclusion.

Ironclad 2008: Blend of Merlot (52%), Cabernet Franc (27%), Malbec (10.5%), Petit Verdot (9.1%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (1.4%).  Beautiful lifted berry aromatics, well integrated on the palate and some concluding earthiness supported by fine drying tannin. 

Cable Bay
Merlot Malbec Cabernet: A blend of Merlot (45%), Cabernet Sauvignon (24%), Malbec (20%) and Cabernet Franc (11%).  600 cases made.  Beautifully perfumed, plumminess exhbited from the Merlot along with some dreid herb notes.  Typical cassis along with some of the earthen, leathery notes one would expect.  Fine tannin concludes the experience. 

Trinity Hill
The Gimlett 2008: Another 'Bordeaux' blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (43%), Merlot (41%), Petit Verdot (7%), Malbec (6%) and Cabernet Franc.  There's a pattern forming here: beautiful perfume with blackcurrant and cassis notes dominant.  But it's the gentleness that makes the wine stand out.  It has fine tannins and is of moderate length, but on the palate it has a fullness to it that has you yearning for more..

Source: New Zealand
Price: $45
Closure: About 9PM

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Wednesday, 26 January 2011

Konrad Marlborough Grüner Veltliner 2010

  08:51    

My interest in Grüner was aroused through a bit of an online debate about it, combined with its apparent scarcity.  For I am aware of only two wineries in Australia produce  Grüner Veltliner, or GV as it is often known, and that is Lark Hill Winery and Hahndorf Hill.  In its home of Austria it is rather more common, accounting for 32% of all plantings, some 17,000 hectares - compared to less than 50 in Australia.

Further, another interesting point about this wine, is that is not mentioned on either the winery website or that of the Australian agent.  In one of those further twists, showing what a small world it is, the agent's website was designed by Blue Pebble - the company founded by Brad Paton of Wineweek.  Small world indeed.

So to the wine, rather simple in its construction - or my interpretation of it is - therein lies the beauty.  A dominant aroma of of peach and apricot on the palate - a little like an Arneis in that respect; a savoury, textural, minerality in the mouth follows.  It is not particularly mouth filling, but there is a good lingering hit of pepper that hangs there and fades pleasantly to a conclusion.  As a first introduction to the variety, very enjoyable.  


I think it a variety we shall see more of over the next 3-5 years as the number of wineries taking on plantings increases.


Source: Retail, Cru Bar Cellars
Price: $30
Closure: Screwcap
Winery Website: http://www.konradwines.co.nz/index.html
Agent: http://www.fsfw.com.au/default.asp


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