Cable Bay Vineyards – Waiheke Island – Raymond Chan Wine Reviews

14-Jun-2011

Although sourcing fruit from Marlborough and Central Otago, Cable Bay's heart is based on its carefully sited vineyards on Waiheke Island, planted to the varieties that perform with proven distinction there – Pinot Gris, Viognier, Chardonnay, Syrah and the Bordeaux varietals. The shareholder base is extremely strong and established; allowing confidence in business. Neill Culley, one of the founders, is the chief winemaker. With three decades of wine industry experience, Neill fashions contemporary styles of wine that are elegant and reflect Waiheke's terroir. www.cablebay.co.nz

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

Cable Bay Waiheke Island Viognier 2010
Viognier from New Zealand - Northland & Auckland
Review Date : 13-Jun-2011
☆☆☆☆☆
100% Viognier from the ‘Browns', ‘Edwards' and ‘Home' vineyards partially barrel-fermented with wild yeasts to 14.5% alc., a portion given further aging and batonnage in oak. Bright, pale, straw-yellow with slight green hues to the colour. This has a full, voluminous nose, the fruit expression a little restrained. Apricot puree, florals, flinty lees work and minerally notes emerge in the glass. Dry to taste, this is full-bodied with some alcohol heat showing on attack. The fruit expression combines apricots and ginger with exotic herbs and citrus zest. This has weight and rich, unctuous textures, the soft acidity allowing the firm core to show that this will unfold more over the next 2-4 years. Serve with seafood, poultry and pork. 17.5+/20 Jun 2011 RRP $49.95
Cable Bay Waiheke Island Chardonnay 2008
Chardonnay from New Zealand - Northland & Auckland
Review Date : 13-Jun-2011
☆☆☆☆☆
Brilliant straw-yellow with lemon hues to the colour, this has a very rich, intense and dense bouquet with complex aromas of stonefruits, flint, nuts and reduction in the white burgundy mould. A full-bodied, powerful wine, this has mouthfilling flavours of ripe stonefruits allied to mealiness, nuts and minerals backed by substantial, toasty oak flavours. The palate has sweetness and richness, as well as excellent acid tension. A highlight is the very long nutty finish. Fruit from the ‘Home', ‘Edwards' and ‘Te Ara' sites, 20% wild yeast fermented to 14.0% alc. and matured in new and seasoned French oak 10 months. Serve this powerful, white burgundy look-alike with firm-fleshed fish, poultry and pork over the next 4-6 years. 18.5+/20 Jun 2011 RRP $45.00
Cable Bay Waiheke Island Syrah 2009
Syrah from New Zealand - Northland & Auckland
Review Date : 13-Jun-2011
☆☆☆☆☆
Very dark, deep, ruby-red colour with black hearted hues, this has an elegantly proportioned nose with intense, well-ripened black spectrum fruits with black pepper and savoury spices, along with bacony oak nuances. Rich, lush and unctuously textured on palate, this is packed with dense and concentrated flavours of black plum and berry fruits, along with spice notes and hints of floral nuances, the oak more balanced that the nose suggests. Medium-full bodied, there is good supple tannin extraction, the density of the fruit providing a rounded mouthfeel. The tight core leads to a sustained, long finish. 98.5% Syrah with 1.5% Viognier from the ‘Edwards' and ‘Carter' vineyards, given a cold soak and co-fermented to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 14 months in new and seasoned French oak barriques. Match with red game meat over the next 6-8+ years. 18.5+/20 Jun 2011 RRP $49.95

Cable Bay Vineyards – Waiheke Island

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

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