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Wine Guide
February to July 2012 2012

Sauvignon Blanc

Cable Bay
Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc 2011
A combination of modern and traditional winemaking techniques has produced a wine with excellent fruit concentration, crisp acidity and generous texture. Ripe tropical and stone fruit aromas harmonise with capsicum and gooseberry characters. A creamy mouth feel adds backbone to a wine which delivers a long zesty finish.

Lawson's Dry Hills
Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Lifted passionfruit, lime zest, stonefruit and floral aromatic notes produce a fresh, complex nose displaying wonderful varietal character. These are also found on the palate along with crisp acidity, chalky minerality and great length. Barrel fermentation has produced subtle mealy characters and added weight.
Winner : Pure Gold Medal 2011 Air New Zealand Wine Awards

Matua Valley
Marlborough Reserve Release
Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Bright green in colour, the nose is packed full of tropical and citrus fruits aromas. The palate is layered and elegant with focused fruit driven characteristics, with classical Marlborough acidity enhancing structure and length. A delightful drop for enjoyment now as a refreshingly, classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Two Rivers of Marlborough
"Convergence"
Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Bright straw with golden / green hues, an abundance of ripe tropical fruit is overlaid with exotic gooseberry and attractive herbal pungency. The palate displays great concentration yet has a stylish elegance - fresh, balanced and persistent flavours with a long mineral finish.



Chardonnay

Crossroads Winery
Hawke's Bay
Chardonnay 2010
Brimming with personality and boasting a zesty elegance this wine's fine acids make for a refreshing, fruity yet complex wine. This vibrancy can be tasted in the juicy pear and white peach flavours. Complementing this lovely fruit are fine leesy notes lingering on the very long finish.

Riverby Estate
Marlborough
Chardonnay 2009
A bright medium straw in colour, the initial impression on the nose is of citrus and ripe stone-fruit, on a backdrop of butterscotch and caramel with vanilla and an almost lemon meringue character. This is an impressively powerful and yet refined wine, concentrated, rich and very appealing.

Saint Clair
Marlborough Pioneer Block 10
Twin Hills Chardonnay 2010
The palate is elegant and complex, with flavours of tropical fruits and fig, supported by a salty but underlying minerality. Nine months maturation on lees in French oak has provided a biscuity note and a mouth filling viscosity. It has a firm acidity that leads to a warm lingering finish.


Premium Aromatic Wines

Hunter's Wines
Marlborough
Riesling 2010
A youthful wine exhibiting fresh lime, citrus and green apple characteristics with hints of tropical fruits. It's invigorating acidity supports the lively and crisp structure of the wine presenting floral notes and a stringly long finish on the palate.

Lawson's Dry Hills
Marlborough
Gewurztraminer 2009
The wine is luscious and round with gentle acidity, balanced by a hint of sweetness. Lemon peel, marmalade, candyfloss, coriander, ginger and floral notes can all be found on the nose. The palate is mouthfilling and rich with lovely concentration. Lychee, lemon and Turkish delight flavours lead on to a long spicy finish.

Mt Difficulty
Central Otago Pinot Gris 2010
The warm 2010 vintage produced aromas of white peach and peach blossom, mingled with Bosc pear, in this dry style Pinot Gris. The palate displays luscious fruit in the same vein, while the mid palate is full, creamy and well textured. The wine has a rich, minerally, ston-fruit driven finish.

West Brook
Waimauku
Pinot Gris 2011
A toast to the vineyard team who brought the fruit home! Fresh, vibrant and exotic (the wine); it is redolent of crisp summer red apple, lily musk and a squeeze of mandarin. Stone-fruits and melon pervade the palate, with a satisfying off-dry finish.


Pinot Noir

Crossroads Winery
Marlborough
Pinot Noir 2010
Alluring with a distinct fragrance of strawberries and aromatic red fruits this is a very focused yet supple Pinot. Once in the mouth deeper, darker fruits emerge to bring a depth and intrigue to the mid palate. The tannins are very fine grained following the fruit onto a long, elegant and persistent finish. The flavours linger on and on.

Dessert Heart Wine Company
Central Otago Untamed Heart
Pinot Noir 2008
Deliciously concentrated with lovely aromas of rich dark cherry, with undertones of spicy dried herbs. A complex, yet approachable wine, opulent on the palate, exquisitely structured with silky tannins, a well balanced, refreshing, acidity shows elegance and persistence on the finish.

Esk Valley
Marlborough
Pinot Noir 2009
This is a full bodied and complex style of Pinot Noir showcasing the quality of the 2009 harvest. Very typical of Marlborough Pinot Noir, it exhibits flavours of red fruits, plum and cherry with a subtle oak influence. Although a powerful and full bodied wine, it has an elegance and underlying acidity which make it a fine match with food.

Te Mara Estate
Central Otago
Pinot Noir 2009
Ruby red in colour, clear with the nose showing vanilla overtones mixed with soft oak, red currants, plums and cherries. Some spices and black peppers complete the complex mis. On the palette it has silky smooth tannins allowing the fruit flavour to develop in the mouth and finishes off with spices and black peppers.

The Crater Rim
Waipara
Pinot Noir 2009
Aromas of red cherries, grandma's rose garden, savoury spice and hints of game. The palate has bright red and black fruit flavours. Fine, grainy tannins add texture. complemented by mineral acidity on the finish. This wine is a classic example of Waipara Pinot Noir from and excellent North Canterbury vintage.


Premium Red Wines

Clearview Estate
Hawke's Bay Enigma
Merlot Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
From the exceptional and incredibly ripe 2009 vintage comes this seductive and sensuous red wine. This wine ranks amongst the best reds ever produced in our history. A blend of 3 grape varieties, the flavours of plum, sweet spicy cassis, mint and earthy violets combine with long fine-grained tannins and sweet oak.

Crossroads Winery
Hawke's Bay
Merlot 2009
This wine surges with dark and lush bramble and blackcurrant the nose gives way to a supple palate. Intense violet and cigar box aromas stream through the mouth and onto the long finish. The tannins are rich and elegant. 2009 was a classic Hawke's Bay red wine vintage.

Matawhero Wines
Gisborne
Merlot 2010
Colour : Deep crimson.
Aroma : Brooding complex nose. Hints of wild berry, blackcurrant, toasty oak and leather.
Palate : Full bodied red wine. Sweet fruit on entry, the wine has good concentration and flavour. Again wild berry with doris plum. Firm tannin means the wine finishes dry.

Mills Reef Winery
Gimblett Gravels
Reserve Syrah 2010
This wine has complex aromas featuring raspberry, blueberry and blackcurrant overlaid with white pepper, and mocha, chocolate and subtle olive / pastrami savoury notes. There is a slightly herbal note, and hints of caramel and vanilla bean. Very supple and appealing, this is an elegant and beautifully poised wine.

Villa Maria
Hawke's Bay
Private Bin Syrah 2009
The nose displays great character with bright berry fruit and crushed violet aromas. The palate is rich with pepper, plum fruit, spice and wild herb notes, complemented by silky smooth tannins. This is a supple wine which displays sheer drinkability.


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 viscuous 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.

Alpha Domus
Hawke's Bay
AD Noble Selection 2009
The hand harvested botrytised Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc was basket pressed, fermented in new French oak barriques and matured in barrel for three months. It is a golden coloured wine with a bouquet expressing classic honeyed botrytised aromas of citrus fruit, mango and quince underscored by spice and oak nuances. The complex, silky textured palate has tiers of luscious melon, stonefruit and clover honey supported by hints of nutmeg and smoky oak. Wonderfully concentrated it is balanced by a fresh citrus edge.

Riverby Estate
Marlborough
Noble Riesling 2009
This wine is deep, rich lemon to pale gold in colour. It has spell binding aromatics featuring an array of intensely ripe stonefruit characters, predominantly exquisitely ripe apricot, peach and nectarine, on a classically orange zesty, citrus backdrop. On the palate it is luscious and mouth coating with an extraordinary richness and yet has an ethereal sensual quality.