Babich Classic 2015 White and 2014 Red Releases

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Babich Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2015
  Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand - Hawke's Bay

  Review Date : 22-Dec-2015

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, light straw-yellow colour, paler on rim. This has a softly full nose with aromas of cut grass and gooseberries, fresh herbs and cooler spectrum nettle and leaf notes. The nose has breadth and depth, showing pungent elements and lantana. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the flavours of cut grass and gooseberries, herbs and nettle leaf fill the mouth. This is open and accessible and the palate possesses good vinosity. Little phenolic grip and acidity adds to the structure which carries to a light, brisk finish with savoury herb, grass and lantana notes. This is an up-front and flavoursome Sauvignon Blanc with cooler-spectrum notes and some phenolic presence. Serve with salads and vegetables and Mediterranean fare over the next 2 years. Fruit from two estate vineyards in Hawke’s Bay, cool-fermented in stainless-steel to 12.0% alc. and 3.4 g/L RS, the wine spending a short time on lees. 16.0+/20 Dec 2015 RRP $22.00
• Babich Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015
  Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 22-Dec-2015

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, very pale straw colour with slight green hues, near colourless on the rim. The nose is very elegantly presented and tightly bound with ethereal aromas of passionfruit and gooseberries enhanced by subtle herbal notes and chalky, minerally detail. The aromatics grow in breadth and depth with aeration. Dry to taste, the palate is bright, refreshing and lively with crisp acidity enlivening the aromatic gooseberry, white floral and stonefruit flavours. Juicy passionfruit elements and mineral emerge and the mouthfeel is carried by very fine phenolic textures and crisp acid drive, leading to a long, fresh finish of gooseberries, florals and minerals. This is an elegant, lively and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc with bright, aromatic fruit and fine-textured linearity. Serve as an aperitif, seafood and with Pacific Rim fare over the next 2 years. Marlborough fruit cool-fermented in stainless-steel to 13.0% alc. and 3.1 g/L RS. 17.0/20 Dec 2015 RRP $22.00
• Babich Marlborough Pinot Gris 2015
  Pinot Gris from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 22-Dec-2015

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Marlborough fruit primarily fermented in stainless-steel, with a small portion in seasoned French oak to 13.5% alc. and 1.1 g/L RS, the oak portion undergoing batonnage. Bright, light straw-yellow colour with pale golden hues, lighter edged. The nose is soft and light, unfolding good volume of fragrant pear fruit and aromatic white stonefruits and florals, along with fresh fermentation esters, all harmoniously presented. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, this has a soft, up-front and accessible core of white stonefruits and florals with pears and esters elements. The fruit is lifted by refreshing acidity, and along with light phenolic textures and grip carries the wine with good vinous linearity to a light, delicately aromatic fresh finish. This is a light, aromatic Pinot Gris with upfront pear fruit and fresh acid energy and line. Match with seafood and Asian cuisine over the next 2+ years. 16.5/20 Dec 2015 RRP $22.00
• Babich Marlborough Pinot Noir Rosé 2015
  Rose from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 22-Dec-2015

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Pinot Noir fruit from a single site in the Wairau Valley given a short period on skins and cool-fermented to 12.5% alc. and 2.8 g/L RS, the wine spending 4 months on lees with light batonnage. Bright, pale, candy-floss pink colour. The nose is fresh and light in presentation with tightly held aromas of strawberry and cherry fruit along with delicate confectionary notes, fresh fermentation esters and fragrant red florals. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate is fine in proportion with delicate, aromatic fruit flavours of red florals, red cherries and strawberries. The aromatics are enhanced by some confectionary elements and fresh, fermentation ester. The fruit is juicy in expression and follows a soft-textured core and line with slippery acidity. The wine leads to a light, lifted finish. This is a light and delicately fruited rosé with notes of strawberry confectionary, and a slippery flow. Serve as an aperitif, with canapes and dim sum over the next 2 years. 16.5-/20 Dec 2015 RRP $22.00
• Babich Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 22-Dec-2015

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, moderately dark ruby-red colour, a little lighter on the edge. This has a soft and gentle nose that grows in breadth showing easy and accessible aromas of dark red cherry and berry fruit melded with earth, dried herb and cedary oak notes. Some savoury florals and toastiness emerge in the glass. Medium-bodied, the palate shows good vinosity and mouthfeel with juicy flavours of dark red berry fruits, dark red and black cherries, dried herbs, earth and cedar. The savoury flavours are mouthfilling and supported by light tannin structure and body, along with balanced, integrated acidity. The wine carries to a dry, light finish. This is an up-front, juicy Pinot Noir with flavours of red berry fruit, herbs and earth, and a good mouthfeel. Match with pasta, pizza and antipasto over the next 2+ years. Marlborough fruit fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged several months in new and seasoned barriques. 16.5/20 Dec 2015 RRP $25.00