Kiwi Flyer

Here is the wine list. I enjoyed the Mills Reef.


Air New Zealand
Business Premier and Business Class menu
Wine Guide
February to July 2011

Sauvignon Blanc

Lawson's Dry Hills
Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Picked from a broad cross section of soil types and microclimates, this wine has a beautifully lifted nose of lemongrass, passionfruit, lemon sherbet and green herb aromas. The palate has great concentration with crisp acidity providing freshness and emphasizing the juicy citrus, zingy lime, passionfruit and fresh cut grass flavours.

Summerhouse
Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Uplifted perfume of exotic Pacific fruits, flowers and hints of lime zest. The palate is packed full of fresh, juicy vibrant flavours and a wonderful texture. The citrus and tropical fruit flavours linger on the firm acid finish. Enjoy this wine now whilst young and vibrant, or enjoy it as it continues to mature.

Two Rivers of Marlborough
"Convergence"
Sauvignon Blanc 2010
A convergence of flavours from four separate vineyards located on the banks of the Wairau and Awatere Rivers. Harvested at optimum ripeness, the grapes were gently pressed and fermented at cool temperatures, in stainless steel to maximize fruit purity and character. This wine has intense tropical and gooseberry fruit characters and a classic mineral finish.

Wither Hills
Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Intense gooseberry, tomato leaf, fresh cut fennel and red capsicum characters underpinned by the classically pungent melon, guava and passionfruit aromatics, immediately fill the senses. The palate is extraordinarily balanced with bright seamless acidity, a concentration of brably grapefruit, mineral lemongrass flavours and a long supple lingering finish.


Chardonnay

Forrest
Marlborough
Chardonnay 2008
Rich toasty oak on the nose with lovely yeast lees derived, oaten/toffee biscuit aroma. It abounds with citrus (lemon/grapefruit) and stonefruit (nectarine/white peach) flavours. Subtle nuances of spice and cinnamon coming through on the palate mixed in with a delicate slightly buttery long lasting finish. Soft and harmonious with excellent depth and weight on the palate.

Palliser Estate
Martinborough
Chardonnay 2008
This wine is a youthful and ravishingly scented on the nose displaying peach, tropical fruit and toasty oak characters. The palate is superbly concentrated and richly textured with well integrated acidity and a lengthy finish. The wine is multi-layered and beautifully woven with a crisp dry finish. A stunningly classy Chardonnay that is immediately drinkable but will keep well for a few years to come.

Waimea Estates
Nelson Chardonnay 2009
The Waimea Chardonnay 2009 has been described as "the quintessential New Zealand Chardonnay style". It is a great expression of the Nelson region. 100% barrel fermented, this wine has aromas of white peach and ripe citrus on the nose, with notes of spice and vanilla from the oak. The palate is rich and mouth-filling, ripe citrus characters tempered by subtle oak tannins, and a long, soft and creamy finish.

Waipara Hills
Soul of the South Waipara
Chardonnary 2008
This wine is pale yellow in colour with hints of green. The nose, tropical aromas of melon, apple and pineapple with a hint of butterscotch. Fresh apple and melon flavours run through the palate. Moderate weight and a beautiful texture yet with a crisp finish.


Premium Aromatic Wines

Five Oaks Estate
Hop Kiln Nelson
Pinot Gris 2009
A single vineyard Pinot Gris with aromas of soft pear and gala apple. The palate is crisp and fresh showing excellent spice, ginger and fresh white flesh pear flavours.

Hunter's Wines
Marlborough Riesling 2009
A youthful wine exhibiting fresh lime/citrus characteristics with hints of tropical fruits. The wine is light lemon/green in colour and presents a strikingly long finish on the palate. Its invigorating acidity supports the lively and crisp structure of the wine and will reward cellaring for the next 5 to 6 years.

Kahurangi Estate
Trout Valley Nelson
Pinot Gris 2010
The Pinot Gris grapes have been selected from three vineyards from the Waimea Plains in the Nelson Region. This vintage has had the best growing conditions within the last decade with low yields producing faultless grapes with true cool climate growing conditions. Delicate floral characters lead to ripe pears and ginger with a silky elegant finish.

Lawsons' Dry Hills
Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2009
Picked as optimum flavours were reached, the powerful nose is classical Gewurztraminer - rose petal, lychee and musk, with a background of lemon, ginger and coriander aromas. The palate showcases a great mouthfeel with soft, sweet fruit on the mid palate, yet finishing just off-dry. Abundant flavours of citrus, lychee, spice and floral dominate the palate.

The New Zealand Wine Company
Sanctuary Marlborough
Riesling 2009
The wide range of flavours this gorgeous wine exhibits is the result of blending from different soils and fruit maturity across four Marlborough vineyards. Plenty of tropical fruit, citrus (lime, tangelo, orange) and light spice on the bouquet. A good tight entry to the palate, a very textural and fleshy middle and a good long finish.
Winner : Gold Medal 2010 Air New Zealand Wine Awards


Pinot Noir

Craggy Range
Te Muna Road Vineyard
Pinot Noir 2009
Fragrant aromatics of red fruits, plum, flowers, spice and earth. 2009 is a year of seamless structure, satin tannins and gentle supporting acidity. The palate is pure, long, very finely textured and holds a mix of red berries, violets, ruby grapefruit, liquorice and exotic spice. The wine finishes with length, poise and delightful focus. A great match with salmon, game birds, pork or lamb fillet.

Gibbston Valley Wines
Central Otago Pinot Noir 2009
Excellent colour, with good depth. Highly fragrant nose with blueberry, clove, spice and earthy aromas. The palate exudes charm; ripely luscious at the fron with beautifully flowing fruit that is both expansive and delicate. The fruit coats complex, dense and agreeably soft tannins. A very alluring wine.

Gladstone Vineyard
Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2009
With intense black plum and floral character on the nose, this wine has lovely sweet and sour black cherry and savoury elements that integrate well with the underlying oak. The palate is fruit dominant in its youth, with firm tannins that will open up and soften with age as the savoury, spicy complexity develops. Drink now, or cellar for up to 10 years.

Villa Maria
Marlborough Cellar Selection
Pinot Noir 2008
A perfumed bouquet of red and dark cherries, plums and spice notes. Fruit driven and elegant, with long layers of flavour, full-bodied and well-balanced with fine, grainy tannins. This wine is concentrated and rich - an elegant Pinot Noir with finesse and complexity.

West Brook Winery
Marlborough Pinot Noir 2009
A vibrantly coloured selection of Marlborough Pinot Noir, the nose is perfumed with red plum, raspberry and mocha. The palate is savoury and refined, with red fruits mingling with cherry wood and an elegant balance of earthy tannins and a mineral finish.


Premium Red Wines

Mills Reef
Gimblett Gravels
Reserve Cabernet Merlot 2008
This deep purple-red wine offers sweet blackcurrant and blackberry aromas and notes of mint, smokiness, mocha, floral and spice. On the palate, luscious blackcurrant and plum flavours meld with a rich olive savouriness and supple velvety tannins, yielding a nicely weighted wine with power and length, yet refined and graceful. Extremely enjoyable now, it will also reward cellaring for up to 5 years.

Mission Estate
Gimblett Gravels
Reserve Merlot 2009
This Merlot was grown on Mission's Gimblett Gravels vineyard and hand-harvested over 5 passes in a 2-week period. This ensured every bunch in the vineyard was harvested at optimum maturity. Each parcel of fruit was fermented and matured separately. After careful ageing in French oak barrels the best parcels were assembled to make this blend. The wine has a vibrant colour with aromas of plum and dark berries.

Squawking Magpie
"The Stoned Crow"
Syrah 2008
An intense and elegant wine with strong oak, berry, plum and pepper flavours plus a suggestion of earthy characters. Opulent, dark in colour with subtle tannins, a delicious wine to accompany beef, lamb and all red meets. Also try with a gourmet cheese to extract the great flavours of Syrah.
Winner : Trophy 2010 Air New Zealand Wine Awards

Villa Maria
Hawke's Bay
Cellar Selection
Syrah 2008
A deeply coloured wine featuring purple and crimson tints in the glass and vibrant blueberry, red plum and peppery Indian-spice aromas on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied in style with a juicy and supple texture, finishing with rich, silky tannins and generous length.
Winner : Gold Medal 2010 Air New Zealand Wine Awards


Dessert Wines

Allan Scott
Marlborough
Late Harvest Riesling 2009
Apricot, white stone fruits and spice with beeswax contributed by the "noble rot" botrytis control the aromas. A viscous concentration of these fruits, levelled out and balanced with juicy acid seduces the palate to construct a lengthy and satisfying mouthful. The Allan Scott Late Harvest Riesling is an ideal accompaniment to pate, blue cheese, pears, and many dessert dishes, and is perfect for drinking at present or can be cellared for future enjoyment.

Forrest Estate
Marlborough
Botrytised Riesling – 2009
The 2009 sweet wine is gorgeous - adding to a long pedigree of superb Forrest, Marlborough Botrytised Rieslings. It's deliciously ripe, exudes lovely citrus fruit, apricot and spice flavours, a botrytised honeyed fragrance, finely poised, crisp pure and rich. A world class sweet wine.
Winner : Elite Gold Medal 2010 Air New Zealand Wine Awards

Konrad
Marlborough
Sigrun Noble Two - 2008
A full straw gold colour with subtle green hues. Enticing aromas of ripe apple, fig, dried apricot and quince with a whiff of toffee from barrel fermentation. As the nose opens up further aromas of pineapple, lychee, and guava reveal themselves. The finish is long and rich, oozing with ripe treacly fruit and balanced perfectly with cleansing acidity.