Domain Road Central Otago 2018, 2016 and 2015 Releases

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Domain Road Bannockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir Rosé 2018
  Rose from New Zealand - Otago

  Review Date : 03-Oct-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright salmon-pink colour with some depth, lighter on the rim. The nose is fresh and mouthwatering with a combination of strawberries and cream with notes of quince and suggestions of savoury minerals. Red floral and some confectionary elements emerge to provide fragrance with aeration. Dry to taste and medium-full bodied, the palate has a smooth and rich, rounded core with fresh flavours of strawberries and cream entwined with subtle quince nuances, along with lifted red florals and a little confectionary. The flavours are up-front and mouthfilling and flow along a smooth line, with enlivening acidity. The wine carries to a long, elegant finish of strawberries, florals and fruit pastilles. This is a fresh, mouthwatering dry rosé with strawberries and cream, quince and confectionary flavours on a smooth palate. Match with antipasto and tapas over the next 2 years. Hand-picked Pinot Noir fruit from the ‘Domain Road’ and ‘Defiance’ vineyards and given 2 days skin contact, and cool-fermented in stainless-steel to 14.0% alc. and 2.6 g/L RS. 18.0/20 Oct 2018 RRP $26.00
• Domain Road ‘Defiance’ Bannockburn Central Otago Pinot Gris 2018
  Pinot Gris from New Zealand - Otago

  Review Date : 03-Oct-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, even, light straw-yellow colour with slight green hues, pale edged. The nose is very elegant and tightly bound with an attractive aromatic core of fresh, vibrant white and yellow stonefruits along with hints of pears and exotic florals, and a suggestion of mouthwatering minerals. This has delicacy and clarity. Medium-dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate has an elegantly concentrated heart with rich flavours of white and yellow stonefruits with notes of pears, florals and a little honey. The palate has good linearity and flows along a smooth line, with lacy acidity lending freshness and tension. The flavours carry to an elegant, fresh finish. This is an elegant medium-dry Pinot Gris with clear stonefruit and pear flavours with floral notes on a smooth palate line with fresh, lacy acidity. Match with Asian cuisine over the next 3+ years. Hand-picked fruit from the ‘Defiance’ vineyard, WBP and fermented in tank with 14% in old oak to 13.0% alc. and 11 g/L RS, the barrel portion undergoing batonnage. 18.0-/20 Oct 2018 RRP $26.00
• Domain Road Bannockburn Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc 2016
  Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand - Otago

  Review Date : 03-Oct-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, very pale straw colour with slight green hues, near colourless on the rim. The nose has a finely concentrated heart of green stonefruits entwined with subtle notes of gooseberries and herbs, along with nutty oak and spice elements and a hint of smoke. This is fresh and possesses finesse. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate has an elegantly proportioned core of green stonefruits, herbs and gooseberries melded with a layering of nutty oak, spices and smoke. The mouthfeel shows the rounded, but concentration core flowing along a very fine line with underlying acidity, leading to a lingering finish of green stonefruits and oak. This is a finely concentrated oak-influenced Sauvignon Blanc with green stonefruit, herbs and gooseberries with nutty oak on a palate with a rounded core and balanced acidity. Serve with seafood, and herb-marinated poultry and pork over the next 3 years. Hand-picked fruit from the ‘Domain Road’ and ‘Defiance’ vineyards, fermented in tank with 22% in French oak barriques to 13.0% alc. and 1.5 g/L RS, the barrel portion undergoing batonnage. 17.5/20 Oct 2018 RRP $23.00
• Domain Road ‘The Water Race’ Bannockburn Central Otago Dry Riesling 2016
  Riesling from New Zealand - Otago

  Review Date : 03-Oct-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, light straw-yellow colour, a little paler on the rim. The nose is soft but tightly bound with taut aromas of lime fruit and white florals harmoniously melded with very fine toasty secondary development notes along with a core of steely, thirst-quenching chalky minerals. Dry to taste and light-medium bodied, the palate has a well-bound core and line with flavours of mouthwatering chalky minerals infused with limes and white florals and some secondary toasty development detail. The palate shoes refined textures and elegant concentration with softly fresh acidity, indicating low pH lending energy. The wine flows with good linearity to a sustained finish. This is a taut and finely concentrated dry Riesling with chalky mineral, lime, floral and toasty flavours on a fine-textured palate with very good linearity. Serve as an aperitif, and with Thai, Vietnamese and Japanese fare over the next 4 years. Hand-picked fruit from the ‘Domain Road’ and ‘Defiance’ vineyards, WBP and cool-fermented in stainless-steel tank to 11.0% alc. and 9.1 g/L RS, TA 8.94 g/L and pH 2.87. 18.0+/20 Oct 2018 RRP $25.00
• Domain Road ‘Duffers Creek’ Bannockburn Central Otago Riesling 2016
  Riesling from New Zealand - Otago

  Review Date : 03-Oct-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, even, pale straw-yellow colour, a little lighter on the edge. The nose is soft and delicate with ethereal aromas that grow in breadth and volume to show lime and lemonade which form an accessible core, unfolding white and yellow florals and a little toasty development with mouthwatering minerals. Medium-dry to medium in taste and light-bodied, the palate has soft flavours of lime fruit with white and yellow florals and an amalgam of honey and toast. The palate has a soft mouthfeel with a gentle core and line, the wine guided by soft-textures and fresh acidity, leading to a light and nuanced finish. This is a soft, ethereal medium Riesling with delicate flavours of limes and florals, with some honey and toast on a smooth palate with balanced acidity. Serve as an aperitif and with Asian fare over the next 3-4 years. Hand-picked fruit from the ‘Domain Road’ and ‘Defiance’ vineyards, fermented in stainless-steel to 10.5% alc. and 20.5 g/L RS, TA 8.81 g/L and pH 2.86. 17.5+/20 Oct 2018 RRP $25.00
• Domain Road Bannockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2015
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Otago

  Review Date : 03-Oct-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Dark, deep ruby-red colour with a lighter edge. The nose is solidly packed with soft and deep aromas of dark-red berry fruits entwined with savoury thyme herbs, a little earthy complexity and hints of black minerals. There are the beginnings of complexing savoury secondary development aromas. Medium full-bodied, the palate has a sweetly rich core of dark raspberry fruit intermixed with dark thyme herbs and a little savoury, earthy detail. The fruit is lively and vibrant, and the freshness is enhanced by balanced acidity. Fine-grained tannins support the fruit and the wine carries along a fine-featured line revealing complexing savoury dried herb and earthy nuances as it flows to a sweet, lively finish. This is an elegantly sweet and rich raspberry-fruited Pinot Noir with thyme herb and earthy interest with a little secondary detail on a fine-structured palate with a fresh mouthfeel. Match with wild duck and pork over the next 5-6 years. Hand-picked Pinot Noir fruit, clones 115, 667, 777, 5 and 6, from the ‘Domain Road’ vineyard, destemmed and fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 10 months in 27% new French oak barriques. 18.0/20 Oct 2018 RRP $40.00
• Domain Road ‘Defiance’ ‘Single Vineyard’ Bannockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Otago

  Review Date : 03-Oct-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright ruby-red colour with youthful purple hues, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is a little restrained in expression, but with elegance of proportion, with harmoniously melded aromas of dark-red berry fruit, dark and dried herbs, subtle whole bunch stalk perfumes and some spices and red florals that emerge in the glass. Medium-full bodied, the palate has vibrantly sweet and luscious fruit flavours of dark red berry fruit with raspberry liqueur notes along with a subtle layering of dark herbs, whole bunch stalk elements and a little spice. The fruit is still youthfully fresh, and is supported by good, fine-grained tannin structure and fresh acidity enhancing the fruit richness. The flavours carry to a sustained finish. This is a sweetly rich and vibrantly luscious Pinot Noir with fresh dark raspberry fruit with subtle notes of dark herbs and whole bunch stalk detail on a palate with plenty of fine grip and freshness. Match with lamb, beef and venison over the next 6-8 years. Hand-picked Pinot Noir fruit from the ‘Defiance’ vineyard, fermented with 15% whole bunches to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 10 months in 29 new French oak barriques. 18.5/20 Oct 2018 RRP $65.00