Fromm La Strada Rosé, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Syrah, and Fromm Vineyard Syrah

27-Sep-2017

The Fromm Winery has evolved slowly but surely since it was established by Swiss wine lovers Georg and Ruth Fromm in 1992. Fromm is now under the ownership of the Fromm’s family friend Pol Lenzinger and Swiss business partner George Walliser. The Hoare family who had a shareholding have now left the Fromm operation. Recently taking on the general manager position is Stephan Walliser, George Walliser’s cousin. Stephan, a wine enthusiast, comes from a long career in hospitality and business management, and brings his expertise to Fromm Winery. The constant thread over Fromm’s 25 years has been the winemaking of founding winemaker Hatsch Kalberer, who continues to craft elegant, complex wines which stand among the best of international company. The single vineyard wines are the flagships, but equally successful and more accessible are the ‘La Strada’ range. Fromm remains one of the special wineries of Marlborough, and their new releases are always eagerly anticipated. Here, I review from the ‘La Strada’ tier, the 2017 Rosé, and Pinot Gris, the 2016 Chardonnay and 2015 Syrah, plus the single vineyard ‘Fromm Vineyard’ Syrah 2015. www.frommwinery.co.nz

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

Fromm ‘La Strada’ Marlborough Rosé 2017
Rose from New Zealand - Marlborough
Review Date : 26-Sep-2017
☆☆☆☆☆
Very pale strawberry pink colour with a little depth, pale on rim. The nose is initially light and delicate with fine detailing, showing strawberry, quince and watermelon fruit with subtle hints of red florals and a mouthwatering mineral edge. The floral fragrances grow in depth with aeration. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate has good depth and presence, with flavours of strawberries, quince and watermelon fruit along with floral and mineral nuances. The flavours are gently mouthfilling and are lifted by fresh acidity. The palate flows with good linearity along a fine, phenolic-threaded line, leading to a thirst-quenching, dry finish. Initially shy, especially on the nose, this dry rosé soft softly mouthfilling and thirst quenching flavours of strawberries, quince and watermelon along with mineral elements on a fresh, fine-textured palate. Serve as an aperitif, with canapes and antipasto over the next 2 years. Predominantly Pinot Noir with Malbec and Syrah, from the Southern Valleys and Wairau, the Pinot Noir and Syrah saignee, tank-fermented to 13.5% alc. and dryness. Certified BioGro organic. 17.5-/20 Sep 2017 RRP $23.00
Fromm ‘La Strada’ Marlborough Pinot Gris 2017
Pinot Gris from New Zealand - Marlborough
Review Date : 26-Sep-2017
☆☆☆☆☆
Bright, light golden-hued straw-yellow with a suggestion of blush, pale on the edge. This has a soft nose. Somewhat subdued, with aromas of white stonefruits, and white and yellow florals, unfolding subtle nutty notes and a little savoury honeysuckle. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate possesses light and subtle flavours of white and yellow stonefruits, floral elements, and savoury honeysuckle suggestions. The palate has vinosity, body and presence, with light phenolic textures, and balanced, refreshing acidity. The flavours recede as the wine carries to a light, crisp, nutty finish. This is a dry Pinot Gris with subdued stonefruit, floral and savoury honied notes, and underlying body and vinosity. Match with poultry dishes over the next 2-3 years. Pinot Gris from the Wairau Valley, given overnight skin contact, 80% stainless-steel fermented and 20% in demi-muid to 13.5% alc. and 4.87 g/L RS, the wne aged 6 weeks on lees. Certified BioGro organic. 16.5/20 Sep 2017 RRP $28.00
Fromm ‘La Strada’ Marlborough Chardonnay 2016
Chardonnay from New Zealand - Marlborough
Review Date : 26-Sep-2017
☆☆☆☆☆
Bright straw-yellow colour with lemon-green hues, lighter on the rim. This has an elegantly proportioned, intense and penetrating nose of citrus fruit and yellow stonefruits along with a complex amalgam of creamy barrel-ferment, mealy notes and nutty oak. The flavours are harmonious and integrated with layers of complexity forming a well-packed heart, with balanced acidity. The flavours carry with plenty of drive and power along a very fine-textured line carrying to lingering, concentrated finish. This is a rich and concentrated, mouthfilling, complex Chardonnay with harmonious citrus and stonefruit flavours along with creamy and nutty oak. Match with roast pork over the next 4+ years. Fruit from the confluence of the Brancott and Omaka Valley, indigenous yeast barrel-fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine 14-16 months in <10% new French oak with 100% MLF. Certified BriGro organic. 18.5/20 Sep 2017 RRP $37.00
Fromm ‘La Strada’ Marlborough Syrah 2015
Syrah from New Zealand - Marlborough
Review Date : 26-Sep-2017
☆☆☆☆☆
Full, very dark, deep, black-hued purple-red colour, very youthful in appearance. The nose is softly full with deep and densely packed, up-front aromas of blackberry fruit with notes of blue fruited melded with liquorice and black pepper notes, spices, unfolding violet florals. Medium-bodied, the palate has bright and lively, ripe blackberry fruit along with dark raspberries and suggestions of blue fruits entwined with liquorice, black pepper and spices unfolding lifted violet florals. The mouthfeel is lively with fresh, lacy acidity, and fine, grainy structure and grip supports the fruit. The wine has plenty of body and carries to a light, nuanced finish. This is a bold, up-front Syrah with ripe black, blue and raspberry fruit flavours along with spices and florals on a grainy-structured, fresh palate. Match with slow-cooked red meats and Middle Eastern fare over the next 5-6+ yeas. Predominantly MS clone with clones 174, 470, Grippat and Chave, mainly from the ‘Fromm’ vineyard with ‘Clayvin’ vineyard fruit, vines 10-23 y.o., hand-picked, and co-fermented with 4% Viognier, with indigenous yeasts, the fruit destemmed, but with a large portion of uncrushed berries to 13.0% alc., the wine aged 18 months in barriques and 500 L puncheons, approx. 10% new. Certified BioGro organic. 18.0+/20 Sep 2017 RRP $39.00
Fromm ‘Fromm Vineyard’ Marlborough Syrah 2015
Syrah from New Zealand - Marlborough
Review Date : 26-Sep-2017
☆☆☆☆☆
Dark, deep, purple-hued ruby-red colour, a little lighter on the edge, and youthful in appearance. The nose is soft and full with gentle volume of near-ethereal aromas of blackberry fruit and dark raspberries, entwined with dark-red and violet florals and hints of spices. This is very refined in expression. Medium-full bodied, the palate is finely proportioned with an elegantly concentrated core with flavours of black-berried fruits and dark raspberries, melded with dark-red and violet florals and hints of spice and liquorice. The mouthfeel is very fine, featuring powdery tannin extraction and integrated acidity. The flavours carry with harmony, finesse and linearity to a very long and sustained, tightly concentrated finish of black fruits, spices and violet florals. This is an ethereal Syrah with underlying concentration and depth and refined black and raspberry fruits, violet florals and spices. Serve with pork, lamb and beef dishes over the next 7-10 years. Predominantly MS clone fruit with a small portion of clone 174, vines over 20 y.o., hand-picked and indigenous yeast co-fermented with 3% Viognier to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 18 months in seasoned 228 L pieces. Certified BioGro organic. 4 barrels made. 18.5+/20 Sep 2017 RRP $65.00

Fromm La Strada Rosé, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Syrah, and Fromm Vineyard Syrah

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