Forrest Wines – Core Marlborough – Raymond Chan Wine Reviews

07-Feb-2013

Established in 1988, John and Brigid Forrest represent the core of Marlborough in the medium-sized wineries, with the economy of scale to provide excellent value. The Forrests also have the ability and penchant to make limited production alternative and innovative wines, and the ‘Doctors' tier houses these releases. The ‘Valleys' range represents wines from single valleys – the Brancott and Wairau – and these wines show the distinctive characteristics of these districts. The ‘Tatty Bogler' and ‘Newton-Forrest' wines are those from Otago and Hawke's Bay respectively, while the ‘John Forrest Collection' wines are the pinnacle. However, making the heart of the business are the estate Forrest wines which show the essence of Marlborough. Here are my reviews of the latest releases, from the 2012 vintage to some from 2010, held back to be put on the market following some beneficial bottle maturation. www.forrest.co.nz

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

Forrest Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand - Marlborough
Review Date : 07-Feb-2013
☆☆☆☆☆
Bright, very pale straw colour, near colourless on rim. The nose is very fresh with tightly concentrated aromas of gooseberry fruit with notes of fresh herbs, nettles, currants and passionfruit along with flinty minerals, promising to unfold more with bottle development. Very dry to taste, firm and tightly bound flavours of gooseberries, herbs, blackcurrant leaf and minerals form a core with driven line. The acidity is also firm, lively and mouthwatering, and along with a fine textural thread carries the fruit to a firmly packed, lingering finish featuring gooseberries and minerals. This is a firmly concentrated and mouthwateringly dry Sauvignon Blanc to match with shellfish, antipasto or creamy cheeses over the next 3-4 years. Fruit from four sites in Renwick fermented to 13.0% alc. and 2 g/L rs. 18.0/20 Feb 2013 RRP $22.00
Forrest Marlborough Pinot Gris 2012
Pinot Gris from New Zealand - Marlborough
Review Date : 07-Feb-2013
☆☆☆☆☆
Hand-picked fruit from two Wairau River Valley sites, WBP and cool-fermented to 13.0% alc. and 8.3 g/L rs. Bright pale straw-yellow colour with the faintest hint of blush. This has a softly packed nose with savoury yellow stonefruit aromas enhanced by minerally elements. The bouquet has purity and clarity. Off-dry to taste, gentle flavours of yellow stonefruits and honeysuckle form an elegantly concentrated core. The palate is soft in texture with sufficient acidity for freshness, liveliness and tension. The fruit flavours flows smoothly and effortlessly to a moderately sustained finish with subtle honeyed nuances. This is an elegant and gentle, off-dry Pinot Gris with good fresh depth. Match with seafood and poultry over the next 3-4 years. 17.5/20 Feb 2013 RRP $22.00
Forrest Marlborough Riesling 2011
Riesling from New Zealand - Marlborough
Review Date : 07-Feb-2013
☆☆☆☆☆
Bright, pale straw-yellow colour with slight green hues. The bouquet is finely presented with tightly bound aromas of lime and lemon fruit infused with reductive flinty and mineral elements forming a complex melange. Medium-dry to taste, the flavours of citrus fruits and white florals are well-concentrated, and along with mouthwatering, driving acidity form a strong, juicy core and palate line. The fruit extract and fine minerally textures add to the linearity, and the flavours lead to a crisp, racy and lingering finish. This is a thirst-quenching, tightly concentrated medium-dry Riesling that will develop greater richness and interest over the next 4-5 years. Serve with Asian cuisine. Fruit from three Wairau River Valley sites fermented to 10% alc. and 24 g/L rs. 17.0+/20 Feb 2013 RRP $22.00
Forrest Marlborough Chenin Blanc 2010
Chenin Blanc from New Zealand - Marlborough
Review Date : 07-Feb-2013
☆☆☆☆☆
The fifth Chenin Blanc release from Forrest. Fermented with 20% in barrel to 11.4% alc. and 13 g/L rs. Brilliant straw-yellow colour with pale lemon-green hues, this has a fresh and intense bouquet of white stonefruits with citrus, lanolin and waxy aromatics adding detail and interest. Off-dry to taste, the fruit flavours of stonefruits and citrus fruits are well-concentrated, with a deep core. Lively acidity lends a crisp, tingling raciness, which is counterbalanced by waxy, smooth textures. The mouthfeel is lively and poised with underlying richness of fruit and sweetness, the flavours showing very good length. This is a poised, racy and slippery, off-dry Chenin Blanc with a subtle waxy richness. Serve with tapas and Mediterranean-inspired seafood and poultry dishes over the next 4-5+ years. 18.0+/20 Feb 2013 RRP $28.00 The fifth Chenin Blanc from Forrest since 2001. Fruit from the ‘Home' vineyard in Renwick, 20% barrel-fermented to 11.4% alc. and 13 g/L rs. Brilliant pale straw-yellow colour, the nose has fresh, elegant and penetrating aromas of white stonefruits, florals, minerals and lanolin, subtly expressed, but with intensity. Off-dry to taste, this has rich, concentrated, but understated flavours of white peaches, florals, apples and lanolin underlined by racy, bracing acidity which enlivens the fruit, The palate is zesty, but carries a seamlessness and hint of creaminess to the textures, forming good density and line, carrying through to a long and sustained finish showing lush honeysuckle notes. This racy and stylish Chenin Blanc will develop more honied toast characters over the next 5-6 years. Serve with Asian seafood and poultry dishes. 18.0+/20 Dec 2011 RRP $25.00
Forrest Marlborough Chardonnay 2010
Chardonnay from New Zealand - Marlborough
Review Date : 07-Feb-2013
☆☆☆☆☆
Clone 15, 95 and Mendoza fruit, 50% barrel-fermented in a mixture of new and seasoned oak, with high solids, and 10 months maturation with MLF conversion, 50% tank-fermented, and all of the wine undergoing batonnage. 13.5% alc. and 2.5 g/L rs. Brilliant straw-yellow colour with pale green-gold hues. The bouquet is rich and lush with packed aromas of fresh citrus fruits, buttery MLF and creamy, buttery oak elements, revealing hints of nuts and toast, all expressed with a youthful steeliness. Medium-full bodied, densely packed flavours of fresh citrus fruits sit alongside butterscotch, toasty, nutty oak and steel minerals. The acidity is bright and lacy, but the palate has an underlying creaminess which enhances the weight and mouthfeel. A firm drive carries the fruit and oak flavours to a strong, long finish. This is a youthful, firm and bracing Chardonnay with creamy, butter flavours and textures that will benefit from some time to come together. Serve with roasted poultry and pork over the next 4-5+ years. 18.5-/20 Feb 2013 RRP $22.00
Forrest Marlborough Pinot Noir 2011
Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Marlborough
Review Date : 07-Feb-2013
☆☆☆☆☆
Pale ruby-red colour with garnet hues on a pale rim. The nose is elegantly proportioned with fresh, firmly concentrated, up-front aromas of strawberries and raspberries that reveal subtle fresh herbs, spices and nuts from the oak. Medium-bodied, concentrated and richly packed flavours of dark red berry fruits are entwined with herb and spice nuances. The primary fruitiness is the highlight, and shows with a strong heart on palate. Fine-grained tannins build, adding to the weight and density and the acid is in good balance. The flavours and textures combine with harmony and richness and lead to a fresh, fine-featured and sustained finish. This is a medium-bodied, well-structured and balanced Pinot Noir with the balance to keep 5-6 years. Serve with pastas, casseroles, pork and veal. Fruit from three soils types in the Wairau Valley, hand-picked and fermented to 13.0% alc., the wine aged 10 months in 20% new French oak barriques. 1,800 cases made. 18.0/20 Feb 2013 RRP $28.00

Forrest Wines – Core Marlborough

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