Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand – Marlborough    16+/20
Bright, pale straw colour with slight green hues, lighter on
the rim. The nose is moderately
concentrated with softly packed aromas of green capsicums and cool-spectrum
nettle, fresh herb and cut-grass notes and herbaceous stalky elements, unfolding
white floral nuances. Dry to taste and medium-bodied,
the palate has light flavours of gooseberries, cut grass, nettles and fresh
herbs, along with white florals. The
flavours are up-front and form a rounded
core, and are enlivened by savoury acidity.
The wine flows along a light textured line carrying to a slender
finish. This is a soft, moderately
concentrated, up-front cool-spectrum Sauvignon Blanc with gooseberry, herb and
stalky flavours and crisp, savoury acidity leading to a light finish. Match with salads and vegetables, and
Mediterranean fare over the next 2 years.
Wairau Valley fruit fermented in stainless-steel to 13.5% alc. and 5 g/L
RS, the wine given extended lees contact.
16.0+/20 Feb 2018 RRP $16.95
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Pinot Gris from New Zealand – Canterbury & Waipara    16.5/20
Brilliant straw-yellow colour with slight green hues, pale
on the rim. The nose is taut and tightly
bound with elegant aromas of white and yellow stonefruits entwined with yellow
florals and a subtle mineral edge. Dry
to taste and medium-bodied, the palate is elegant in proportion with a tight,
lightly concentrated heart of white and yellow stonefruits, delicate notes of
florals and mineral elements., unfolding some secondary nutty nuances showing
development. The palate is smooth
flowing with integrated acidity, and gentle drive and linearity. The wine carries to a light, honied
finish. This is a light, subtly textured
dry Pinot Gris with stonefruit, floral and mineral notes. Serve with antipasto and with poultry or pork
dishes over the next 2+ years. Fruit
from the ‘Home’ vineyard, vines planted in 2010, fermented in stainless-steel
to 12.5% alc. and 3 g/L RS, the wine given extended lees contact. 16.5/20
Feb 2018 RRP $22.50
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Riesling from New Zealand – Canterbury & Waipara    17.5-/20
Bright golden-yellow colour with some depth, lighter on the
edge. This has a gently full bouquet
with integrated aromas of lime fruit entwined with florals and honey, along
with soft notes of toast and complexing nuances of nuts and kero, unfolding
cream-custard elements. This is mature
in expression. Medium-sweet to taste and
medium-bodied, the palate has a rich a softly concentrated heart of limes,
exotic florals, honey, toast and cream-custard.
Subtle kerosene elements add developed detail. The mouthfeel is subtly unctuous, and is
balanced by fine acidity. The wine flows
with good linearity to a long, honied, toasty finish. This is a rich and softly concentrated medium-sweet
Riesling with lime and honied flavours and developed toast, custard and
kerosene elements. Serve as an aperitif
or with Asian and Middle Eastern fare over the next 2 years. Fruit from the ‘Home’ vineyard, vines over 30
y.o., fermented to 11.0% alc. 40 g/L RS and TA 12.38, and pH 2.83, the wine
aged 9 months on lees. 17.5-/20 Feb 2018
RRP $22.50
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Pinot Noir from New Zealand – Canterbury & Waipara    16+/20
Ruby-red colour with some depth, lighter on the rim. The nose is light with softly concentrated
aromas of red cherry and berry fruit along with subtle notes of dark herbs and
some nutty oak with slight complexing resinous hints. This is elegant in proportion. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegant in
presentation with light red berry fruit flavours entwined with fresh herbs and
a little nutty oak. The fruit is
enlivened by balancing acidity and underlined by light, grainy tannin
extraction. The mouthfeel shows texture
and grip, the extraction carrying the wine to a light finish with receding
flavours. This is a light, elegant Pinot
Noir with red berry fruit and herb notes, nutty oak and a palate carried by
extraction. Match with poultry and pork
dishes over the next 3 years. Clones 10/5,
5 and 115 from the ‘Home’ vineyard, vines planted 1981, fully destemmed and
fermented to 12.5% alc., the wine aged 12 months in 35% new oak. 16.0+/20
Feb 2018 RRP $24.95
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Pinot Noir from New Zealand – Canterbury & Waipara    17+/20
Even ruby-red colour with some depth, lighter on the rim
with slight purple tints. The nose is
elegantly concentrated with fine depth of dark red berry fruits melded with
dark herbs, hints of dark plums, liquorice, unveiling red floral nuances. Medium-full bodied, the palate is elegantly
presented with a fine, taut core of dark-red berry fruits and dark herbs. The flavours show positively on the front
palate with freshness and vibrancy. A
little nutty oak and resinous elements with liquorice notes emerge as the wine
flows. The mouthfeel is balanced by
fresh acidity and light, grainy tannin extraction. The wine carries to a lingering finish. This is an elegantly concentrated, taut,
dark-red berry fruited Pinot Noir with herb, liquorice and nutty elements on a
fine-textured palate. Match with lamb
and beef over the next 4+ years. Hand-picked
fruit, clones 5, 114, 115, 667 and 777, from ‘Block 9’, vines planted in 1996, fully
destemmed and one-third indigenous yeast fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged
12 months in 57% new French oak barriques.
100 dozen made. 17.0+/20 Feb 2018
RRP $28.00
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