Work commitments means only one day tasting this year. So 4 of us piled through as many wines as possible. Unfortunately we had to get bang for buck so many countless new wineries made way for the tried and true heavyweights.
Quick impressions. Sauvignon Blanc 2005 looks to be a more elegant vintage. Wither Hills was more lightweight even showing elegance, Cloudy Bay as usual shows its usual dislike of being released in October. its always december before anything happens
Riesling. 05 Fromm La Strada Medium Riesling (yet to be released) could well be the best NZ riesling I have tried. Absolutely sensational and white of the show - i ordered a case on the spot. To be bottled in November 05 Pegasus Bay Riesling is also excellent. The Peg Bay Aria from 04 is also a must buy wine, slightly lighter and more elegant than the 02.
Chardonnay. 02 Morton Black Label shows a return to form after an average 00 release. 04 Kumeu River Mates is a very subtle elegant drinking wine
Pinot. Not too many really impressed this year but not too many of the big guns exhibit.
Merlot. 02 Unison Selection was by far the classiest red on display, 02 Mills Reef Espeth One also impressed, so did 02 CJ Pask Reserve Merlot. Many reds seem to be a bit flabby and really lacking any precise palate definition.
Cabernet. 98 Vidals Joseph Soler is the 707 of NZ wine. Very impressive with piles of chalky tannin and very dark spectrum fruit. Obsidian from waiheke showed some good texture. Many clumsy reds on display though
Full report will appear in due time on www.kiwiwinefanclub.co.nz
C.
Quick impressions from Wine NZ Expo Auckland
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Craig(NZ).
Believe it or not but most NZ connoisseurs see elegance as a desirable trait, myself included.
Judging a Sauvignon Blanc vintage is a fools game.
1. Most of them arent really showing till xmas (esp Cloudy Bay)
2. Sauvignon Blanc changes so rapidly in the bottle that any verdict is out of date within a week.
Judging a Sauvignon Blanc vintage is a fools game.
1. Most of them arent really showing till xmas (esp Cloudy Bay)
2. Sauvignon Blanc changes so rapidly in the bottle that any verdict is out of date within a week.
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bacchaebabe
- Posts: 1222
- Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2003 5:04 pm
- Location: Sydney
Craig, how does the 05 Wither Hills Sav Blanc compare to the 04. I loved the 04 - fantastic stuff. There's still plenty around so I was wondering if I should snaffle a case or go with the just released 05.
Cheers,
Kris
There's a fine wine between pleasure and pain
(Stolen from the graffiti in the ladies loos at Pegasus Bay winery)
Kris
There's a fine wine between pleasure and pain
(Stolen from the graffiti in the ladies loos at Pegasus Bay winery)
bacchaebabe, The wither hills 05 (and in fact the entire wither hills range) was a lot less in your face than we are used to. Not sure if it is a shift of style or vintage related. The 05 Wither Hills is definately a more elegant wine, less weight, a far more pretty and sophisticated wine.
It is hard judging sauvignon blanc this early and to be honest i didnt try more than 20 sauvignons, but it is one of the best examples so far this year.
Adair
Im not sure on the release date on the fromm (and it was a tank sample), but it is around $26 from the winery, $28 retail. not cheap riesling but it is the pinnacle of the medium style. As discussed with you in NZ certainly a style that NZ does better than Aussie. Low alc, very drinkable, perfect balance and subtly seductive. The Peg Bay wines are excellent too, but this vintage i think the Fromm will take top spot
The 02 version of this wine was excellent, with subtlty and balance. The 05 is similar but has the added bonus of a lot more intensity of flavour.
C.
It is hard judging sauvignon blanc this early and to be honest i didnt try more than 20 sauvignons, but it is one of the best examples so far this year.
Adair
Im not sure on the release date on the fromm (and it was a tank sample), but it is around $26 from the winery, $28 retail. not cheap riesling but it is the pinnacle of the medium style. As discussed with you in NZ certainly a style that NZ does better than Aussie. Low alc, very drinkable, perfect balance and subtly seductive. The Peg Bay wines are excellent too, but this vintage i think the Fromm will take top spot
The 02 version of this wine was excellent, with subtlty and balance. The 05 is similar but has the added bonus of a lot more intensity of flavour.
C.
Re: Quick impressions from Wine NZ Expo Auckland
Craig(NZ) wrote:Merlot. 02 Unison Selection was by far the classiest red on display, 02 Mills Reef Espeth One also impressed, so did 02 CJ Pask Reserve Merlot. Many reds seem to be a bit flabby and really lacking any precise palate definition.
Craig,
Did you have the chance to try the CJ Pask '02 Syrah or '02 "Declaration"? I've noticed these on the shelf at work and was initially drawn to them by their unusual bottle shape. 2002 was very good in Hawkes Bay too, so they could be worth a try. I'll keep a lookout for the Obsidian too.
EDIT: The '02 Mills Reef One was the only red to really impress at a recent Mills Reef tasting, which you may recall from a Sunday report. I've got a couple of bottles tucked away for a rainy day...
Cheers,
Max
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Avant d’être bon, un vin doit être vrai
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Avant d’être bon, un vin doit être vrai
Max
Yes tried both Pask Syrah and Declaration.
The Syrah wasnt very impressive at all. Just like the Trinity Hill it lacked structure, had no finesse and was shallow on the palate. In fact I thought the trinity Hill BL Gimblet Syrah was shocking wine.
The declaration wasnt too bad, but lacked the texture the merlot displayed. The guy at the stand thought it was the best wine there. Dave and I both agreed the merlot was the better wine.
Retasting the mills reef a year later, I have to agree with your judgement. Although I thought the 02 Syrah was pretty good - had some good texture which half the hawkes bay syrahs lack, the 02 Elspeth One was excellent but the rest were a bit clumsy - just has a pile more finesse than the other elspeth reds, though at the price id still buy unison selection.
C
Yes tried both Pask Syrah and Declaration.
The Syrah wasnt very impressive at all. Just like the Trinity Hill it lacked structure, had no finesse and was shallow on the palate. In fact I thought the trinity Hill BL Gimblet Syrah was shocking wine.
The declaration wasnt too bad, but lacked the texture the merlot displayed. The guy at the stand thought it was the best wine there. Dave and I both agreed the merlot was the better wine.
Retasting the mills reef a year later, I have to agree with your judgement. Although I thought the 02 Syrah was pretty good - had some good texture which half the hawkes bay syrahs lack, the 02 Elspeth One was excellent but the rest were a bit clumsy - just has a pile more finesse than the other elspeth reds, though at the price id still buy unison selection.
C