2002 SERESIN ESTATE Reserve Chardonnay-Marlborough.NZ

Attila · Post by **Attila** » Tue Nov 11, 2003 6:22 pm

Tasting Note No.15

A vineyard that embraces organic viticulture and Rudolf Steiner's bio-dynamic practices. The distinctive hand print on the label make Seresin wines easy to recognise. Really good standards here, starting with the absolutely beautiful and delicious Reserve Chardonnay.

Made from hand picked grapes from selected clones. Fermented with natural yeasts and aged in french oak, it is a superb example of a modern style Chardonnay that is Burgundian in it's near perfect style.
Colour vibrant light-gold, on the nose there is plenty of exciting peach, pear and melon notes. On the palate it is a really CREAMY blockbuster, packed with rich, ripe fruit, balanced with mineral tones and fine acid. Excellent drinking RIGHT NOW, I would not age it for more than a year. Very tasty with real complexity and balance, it is really good at AU $40. Winemaker Brian Bicknell made a cracker of a Chardonnay. A pleasure to drink.

2002 SERESIN ESTATE Marama Sauvignon Blanc

One serious barrel fermented and aged Sauvignon Blanc. Made from low yielding vines, the grapes were hand picked and barrel fermented with natural yeasts. Colour clear bright with hay on the edges, a restrained nose of herbs, melon and minerals. The palate is full bodied, complex mineral taste with a hint of almonds and stone fruits. A concentrated wine that needs at least 1 more year to show it's strength. It cost AU $35 and is well worth trying.

2002 SERESIN ESTATE Pinot Noir

One for the silk brigade. Definitely a wine that reminds me of the Pommard I've drunk some time ago. The destemmed fruit was fermented in French Barriques. The malo-lactic fermentation must have given the wine that silky smooth taste. A tasty and middleweight drop that is so easy to drink. An unique style, with dark chocolate and strawberries, berries and dark cherries. I guess it's worth the AU $45 for the silky experience but some may find it expensive as it isn't the long haul style they may expect. Drink it from next year through to 2006.

2003 SERESIN ESTATE Sauvignon Blanc

Much lighter and far less exciting than the 2002 Marama. I appreciated it's fine dryness and long finish. Could look better when paired with seafood. Cost AU $25, a fair price but it doesn't have that little extra I am looking for in a Sauvignon Blanc.

also tasted

QUARTZ REEF Chauvet-Methode Traditionelle NV

In reality Quartz Reef is a 5 years old operation from Central Otago. They concentrate on the Chauvet sparkling and Pinot Noir. There is also a Pinot Gris.

The bottle has beautiful packaging, a gold label with a black centre. A creation by Clotilde Chauvet, there is an obvious french 'accent' to this sparkling as the Chauvet house has been making Champagne in France for a long time. A blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay picked from the Bendigo and Gibbston sites. Bottle fermented, it spent more than 2 years on lees. Colour is pale gold with the manic dance of the bubbles. The nose is very much like a Champagne, fine biscuits and vanilla completed with lemon and walnuts. The palate has very PERSISTENT bubbles, this wine is alive! Very fresh, like the Pol Roger NV I've drunk some time ago. Beautiful, light and breezy, it's a very classy sparkling, excellent buy at AU $30. Very cleansing and refreshing with a long finish.

2001 QUARTZ REEF Pinot Noir

A quick let down after the sparkling. It may not have been the best vintage. Color very light cherry, nice gamey nose but on the palate seriously lacking body. Finishing short and dry, not much to offer at AU $45.

Tasted:November 2003.

SueNZ · Post by **SueNZ** » Tue Nov 11, 2003 7:17 pm

Attila,

I drank the newly Quartz Reef Chauvet Vintage 1998 in the weekend, a blend of 93% Chardonnay and 7% Pinot Noir, en tirage for 43 months then matured in the bottle for another 14 months before I got to taste it. I was awestruck with the quality of this wine. Then I got over being struck and just enjoyed it, which wasnt at all hard to do.

Cheers,
Sue

Attila · Post by **Attila** » Tue Nov 11, 2003 7:23 pm

Once again Sue, you are so lucky. I am aware of the existence of the 1998 vintage Chauvet but it was not offered at the tasting here. I wonder if it is imported to Australia at all.
Cheers,
Attila

Attila · Post by **Attila** » Tue Nov 11, 2003 7:25 pm

Once again Sue, you are so lucky. I am aware of the existence of the 1998 vintage Chauvet but it was not offered at the tasting here. I wonder if it is exported to Australia at all.
Cheers,
Attila

Wizz · Post by **Wizz** » Tue Nov 11, 2003 9:04 pm

The Chauvet is imported into Australia - my local had it on tasting on Saturday. Unfortunately I was too late to get a taste, I arrived to see the empty bottles!

cheers

Andrew