Fifth Bridge and Charcoal Gully Central Otago Wine

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Fifth Bridge Central Otago Riesling 2012
  Riesling from New Zealand - Otago

  Review Date : 16-Jul-2013

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, pale straw-yellow colour, lighter on rim. The nose is light and elegant with aromas of savoury lemon and lime fruit, along with subtle nutty interest. Medium-dry to taste, this has savoury, sweet and sour flavours of limes and lemons enriched by some honied elements. The mouthfeel is brisk and racy, and carry the flavours through the mid-palate as the builds in weight and depth. Some subtle textures emerge and carry through to a fulsome, slightly sweet and honied finish. This medium-dry, savoury Riesling builds in richness, presence and texture through the palate. Serve with Chinese cuisine over the next 3-4+ years. Cromwell Basin fruit cool-fermented to 12.0% alc. and 11 g/L rs. Winemaker Jen Parr. 17.5-/20 Jul 2013 RRP $20.00
• Fifth Bridge Central Otago Pinot Noir 2011
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Otago

  Review Date : 16-Jul-2013

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bendigo fruit, 50% from ‘Folding Hills’ and 50% from ‘Highwater’ the wines made respectively by Fred Reinds and Dean Shaw, seeing 9-12 months in barrel, blended to 14.0% alc. Moderately deep ruby-red colour with light purple hues on edge. The bouquet is slender in proportion but well-packed with aromas of dark red cherry and berry fruits, lifted with some floral perfumes, revealing undertones of dried herbs, earth and oak spices. Medium-bodied, the fruit flavours of dark red berry fruit, herbs and earth form a concentrated core. The fruit is a little subdued in expression, but is supported by a soft extraction and fresh, balanced acidity that provides good drive. The wine finishes gently with an amalgam of red fruits, spices and game. This is an elegant, supple and shy Pinot Noir with red berry flavours with dried herb interest. Match with poultry and pork over the next 4-5 years. 17.0+/20 Jul 2013 RRP $26.00
• Charcoal Gully ‘Sallys Pinch’ Central Otago Gewurztraminer 2012
  Gewurztraminer from New Zealand - Otago

  Review Date : 16-Jul-2013

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, very pale straw-yellow colour with slight green hues. This has a pure and penetratingly tight bouquet of exotic florals, rose-petals and musk, along with a refreshing, steely mineral and cool herb melange. Off-dry to taste, elegantly concentrated flavours of spices, musk, florals and minerals flow smoothly on the palate. The mouthfeel is near unctuous and the textures rounded and very fine, the wine possessing good depth and presence. There is good underlying acidity and a little alcohol heat carries through to a moderately long finish. This is an elegant and finely concentrated off-dry Gewurztraminer with a little alcohol warmth. Match with fine Asian fare or with semi-hard cheeses over the next 3-4 years. Charcoal Gully fruit from Pisa, given 24 hours skin contact and tank fermented to 14.8% alc. and 5.5 g/L rs. 18.0-/20 Jul 2013 RRP $22.00
• Charcoal Gully ‘Sallys Pinch’ Central Otago Pinot Noir 2011
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Otago

  Review Date : 16-Jul-2013

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Clones 5, 115, 667 and 777 from vines planted in 2003, fully destemmed, given a cold soak and fermented to 14.1% alc., the wine aged 11 months in 32% new French oak. Full, dark ruby-red colour with some youthful purple hues. The nose is softly full and voluminous with fresh, fragrant aromas of strawberry and raspberry fruit lifted with floral detail, revealing subtle herb notes in the glass. Medium-bodied, soft, lush fruit flavours of red berry fruits and red florals are complexed by subtle herb nuances. Oaking is unobtrusive adding some spice elements. The mouthfeel is supple, soft and smooth with fine-grained tannins in support. Good acidity enlivens the fruit and carries the flavours to a very long and sustained finish with sweet fruit detail. This is a fragrant, lush and supple Pinot Noir with the flavours of soft red fruits. Serve with tuna and salmon, or with poultry over the next 4-5 years. 18.0/20 Jul 2013 RRP $29.00