One could be forgiven thinking this wine was red, if they were blindfolded! Pinot Blanc is a mutation from the genetically unstable varietal Pinot Noir. The structure is not to dissimilar and the flavour more Burgundian than either Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc.
The wine has racy acid and beautifully balanced fruit over minerals and savoury.
91 points RRP $35
Beautiful white peach, Nashi pear and apricots are the most prominent characters on the nose. The palate weight is what most new world Pinot Gris' strive to obtain, full fruit but with overall balance that make this wine a must buy.
90 points RRP $33
A highlight of a recent Riesling tasting. Pitted against some of New Zealand's most awarded wines this wine shone. Beautifully elegant aromatics, perfect balance on the palate with great varietal expression and purity of fruit.
92 Points RRP $50
A very delicate aroma of white chalk, minerally citrus, and white flowers are on the nose. Light citrus, riverstone, and some good austerity balance this wine, was far too young but showed promise.
88 Points RRP $60
Fresh fragrant aromatics really spill from the glass, hints of Citrus, Lime, and some chalkiness. The palate has some very good varietal definition, with plenty of citrus but the acidity and minerality are very well balanced with the quality of the fruit.
90 Points RRP $35
Light bright ruby lets one clearly see your fingers through the glass.
Raspberry, Cinnamon, earth on a sun drenched day, Tobacco, and slight hint of wood on the nose.
Tight lean red fruit, earthy almost gamey, rich structure and complexity, youthful tannins with a bit of grip.
89 Points RRP $80
Often over looked but beautiful as an aperitif or sweet dessert wine. this wine is fortified at 15.5% Alcohol but in balance. Sweet apricot, almond, and citrus with a hint of cinnamon on the nose.
Delicate on the palate with good weight and very well balanced with a little heat at the end.
88 points RRP$35.99
The perception that Sauvignon Blanc is not meant to age is dismissed by this wine. The sheer aromatics and delicate citrus palate lure you into discovering that there are some New Zealand winemakers making age worthy wine.
92 points RRP $26.99
Blackberry meets star anise, Vanilla, and oak with a twist of pepper and cinnamon on the nose. Intense black fruit, cigar/tabacco leaf and fruit sweetness on the palate, balanced and well integrated oak.
89+ Points RRP $49.99
This wine, although an intriguing blend of Pinot Gris, Riesling, Muscat, and Gewurztraminer, is beautifully blended giving the weight of a Condrieu, the flesh of a Gewurztraminer, and the aromatics of both Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer.
Stone fruit runs riot, with hints of honey and wax and citrus on the nose with a sprinkle of honeysuckle dew on the nose. The palate weight is something to behold, fleshy and full with incredible balance and poise.
91 points.
I have never seen a more excited reaction towards any one brand joining Twitter!
Every second wine bottles back label reads something like this "*insert name and grape varietal here* is a contemporary expression of terroir from *insert region*". The expression/term 'Terroir' a French word, for which there is no direct translation, is about every facet that directly influences the grape throughout its growing season. These factors include temperature, soil profile, native yeasts, amount of rain and sunshine, country where grown etc. you get the point. It still baffles me to read these wine labels that profess to have terroir driven wines when a) they irrigate the vines b) they inoculate juice with cultured yeast. Throughout the whole of New Zealand there are few vineyards that do not irrigate their vines. Irrigation dilutes the terroir characters that are drawn from the soil in any given season. The inoculation of grape juice guarantees completion of the fermentation process but negates all of the terroir characters that the wine marketers use so evocatively on the back label. Don't be fooled by what they say on the back label unless it says 'Native/wild/indigenous yeast'!
