Cable Bay – New Waiheke Island Releases

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Cable Bay Waiheke Island Viognier 2011
  Viognier from New Zealand - Northland & Auckland

  Review Date : 07-Mar-2012

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright straw-yellow colour with some depth, a little pale on edge. Very full and softly presented on nose, this has fresh aromas of exotic yellow florals and apricots, with nuances of flint, minerals and lees. Dry on palate and medium-full bodied, the fruit flavours of citrus, apricot and exotic tropical fruits are pure and tight in expression. This builds and blossoms in mid-palate and the wine has an oiliness and richness to the mouthfeel, along with fine phenolic textures. Power and presence are allied to fine acidity, which leads to a long, nuanced finish of apricots and citrus zest. This is a fresh and elegant Viognier that grows in richness, weight, oiliness and textures. Match with Asian and Middle Eastern influenced seafood and poultry dishes over the next 3-4+ years. Viognier fruit from the ‘Edwards' vineyard, hand-picked and WBP, fermented partially in seasoned French oak to 13.5% alc. 17.5+/20 Mar 2012 RRP $36.00
• Cable Bay Waiheke Island Chardonnay 2009
  Chardonnay from New Zealand - Northland & Auckland

  Review Date : 07-Mar-2012

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Fruit from the ‘Home', ‘Edwards' and ‘Te Ara' vineyards, hand-picked, WBP and fully barrique-fermented, 25% by wild yeasts to 13.0% alc. The wine was then aged 11 months in these French oak barrels with lees contact. Brilliant straw-yellow colour with slight lemon hues, pale on rim. This has fresh, ripe citrus fruit aromas intermixed with complex flinty lees and reduction notes, the aromatics rich and vibrant. Medium-bodied and elegant in proportion, tightly bound, but sweet citrus fruit flavours are prominent, with layers of mealy, nutty notes and complementary flinty, reductive interest. Lively acidity enhances the fruitiness and provides excellent tension and palate line. Subtle creamy textures emerge, adding to the richness of the mouthfeel. The finish is long and crisp, with attractive citrus notes. Serve this elegant, lively and complex, contemporary Chardonnay with creamy seafood, poultry and pasta dishes over the next 4-5 years. 18.0+/20 Mar 2012 RRP $36.00
• Cable Bay Waiheke Island Syrah 2010
  Syrah from New Zealand - Northland & Auckland

  Review Date : 07-Mar-2012

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Very dark, near impenetrable black-hued red colour, saturated and youthful. This has a lifted and very concentrated bouquet with interwoven aromatics of black berry fruits, spices, violetty florals, clearly with much to unfold. Medium-full bodied, the tightly bound nature provides elegance to the expression, but this has considerable concentration and depth. Lush and succulent black fruits, Asian spices, pepper and an amalgam of florals and liquorice emerge in the glass and the richness is enhanced by bright acidity. Fine-grained, firm tannins underline the palate, and contribute to the structure, depth and concentration. The palate has energy and tension from the racy acidity, which carries the sweet, plush and ripe flavours on a very long finish. This is a fine-grained and concentrated Syrah with considerable freshness poise and youth, benefitting from some time to soften and open out. It will drink well with spicy duck, pork and game dishes over the next 7-9+ years. 98.5% Syrah and 1.5% Viognier from the ‘Edwards' vineyard, co-fermented to 14.5% alc., the wine aged 14 months in new and seasoned French oak barriques. 19.0-/20 Mar 2012 RRP $45.00