Rock Ferry 2013 and 2011 Marlborough Whites and 2012 Central Otago Reds

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Rock Ferry Marlborough Pinot Blanc 2013
  Pinot Blanc from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 13-Jan-2015

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, pale straw-yellow colour with slight green hues on edge. The nose is finely concentrated with good depth of white stonefruit aromas infused with complexing chalky, minerally lees and nutty oxidative notes. Dry to taste and medium-full bodied, the flavours of white stonefruits are subtle, but exude a degree of succulence and richness. The fruit flavours are entwined with nutty, oxidative and smoky elements to match. The palate is well-balanced with fine textures and fresh acidity which contribute to the richness and energy. The wine flows along a fine line to a soft, nuanced finish. This is a soft, dry Pinot Blanc with gentle richness and nutty interest. Match with antipasto and most white meat courses over the next 3 years. Hand-picked fruit from the ‘Orchard’ vineyard, WBP and predominantly stainless-steel fermented with 12% by indigenous yeasts in seasoned puncheons to 13.5% alc. and 5.5 g/L RS. Certified BioGro organic. 17.5+/20 Jan 2015 RRP $27.00
• Rock Ferry Marlborough Pinot Gris 2013
  Pinot Gris from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 13-Jan-2015

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Fruit from ‘The Corners’ and ‘Orchard’ vineyards, hand-picked and WBP, mainly stainless-steel barel-fermented with 20% by indigenous yeasts in with seasoned puncheons to 13.5% alc. and 7.0 g/L RS, the wine aged 6 months on lees. Bright, even straw-yellow colour with slight green hues, paler on rim. The nose is fresh with tightly bound aromas of ripe white and yellow stonefruits lifted by white florals, revealing piquant minerally detail. Dry to taste and elegantly proportioned, the flavours of white and yellow stonefruits form a bright core, unfolding floral and mineral elements through the mid-palate. The wine is fresh with soft acidity and possesses some underlying alcoholic drive, and flows smoothly with good liveliness, carrying the flavours to a long, lingering finish. This is an elegant and lively, finely concentrated dry Pinot Gris with good linearity and flow. Serve with poultry and pork dishes, and Asian fare over the next 3-4 years. Certified BioGro organic. 18.0+/20 Jan 2015 RRP $27.00
• Rock Ferry Marlborough Riesling 2013
  Riesling from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 13-Jan-2015

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright straw-yellow colour with light green-gold hues, pale edged. This has well-concentrated nose of lime fruit melded harmoniously with subtle secondary toast and honied elements, unfolding mineral nuances in the glass. The aromatics blossom, growing in depth and volume. Dry to taste and light-medium bodied, the palate features a softly packed heart of lime fruit, honey and toast. The mouthfeel is soft in texture with a suggestion of unctuousness, but good acid liveliness underlines the palate, providing balance and carries the wine to a dry, very fine-textured, sustained finish. This is a refined, softly concentrated dry Riesling with some secondary toasty nuance. Serve as an aperitif and with seafood over the next 4+ years. Hand-picked fruit from ‘The Corners’ vineyard, WBP and stainless-steel fermented to 12.5% alc and 6 g/L RS, TA 7.6 g/L and pH 3.19. Certified BioGro organic. 18.0/20 Jan 2015 RRP $27.00
• Rock Ferry Marlborough Chardonnay 2011
  Chardonnay from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 13-Jan-2015

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, even straw-yellow colour with light golden hues. The bouquet is full, rounded and well-concentrated with aromas of white stonefruits and citrus fruit interwoven with creamy barrel-fermentation, lemon curd MLF and nutty, oxidative complexities. Medium-full bodied, rich and luscious flavours of citrus fruits are melded with layers of nutty oak and butterscotch and lemon curd MLF notes. The mouthfeel is rounded and creamy from the barrel-ferment and has good depth and weight. Soft acidity adds to the richness on palate, and the wine flows to a long and sustained finish with lingering toast oak and nutty elements. This is a rich and complex Chardonnay with layers of rich citrus fruit and creamy, nutty flavours. Match with roast poultry and pork over the next 4+ years. Fruit from ‘The Corners’ vineyard, hand-picked and WBP, indigenous yeast fermentation started in French oak cuve, the wine transferred to 20% new French oak barriques for MLF. 13.5% alc. Certified BioGro organic. 18.5-/20 Jan 2015 RRP $30.00
• Rock Ferry Central Otago Tempranillo 2012
  Tempranillo from New Zealand - Otago

  Review Date : 13-Jan-2015

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Full, very dark, garnet-hued red colour with good depth, showing some brick on edge. The nose is full with softly packed and deep aromas of savoury and earth dark cherry fruit along with subtle raspberry and leathery elements, the nose developing some secondary interest and complexity. Medium-full bodied, the palate features layers of sweet and savoury dark red berry and cherry fruit flavours interwoven with dried herb and leathery notes. Oaking is subtle and integral. Grainy tannin textures and fresh underlying acidity provide a lively mouthfeel and near-robust structure that fills the palate, encasing the fruit, carrying the wine to a fulsome, textured finish with dark cherry, leather and oak notes. This is a textural and lively Temranillo with plenty of grip and acid enlivening the cherry and leathery fruit flavours. Match with roasted game meat and semi-hard cheeses over the next 5-6 years. Fruit from the ‘Trig Hill’ vineyard, vines planted in 2004, destemmed, given a cold soak and indigenous yeast fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 14 months in 30% new French oak. Certified BioGro organic. 17.0/20 Jan 2015 RRP $40.00
• Rock Ferry Central Otago Pinot Noir 2012
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Otago

  Review Date : 13-Jan-2015

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Clones Abel, 115, 777, 5 and 667 from the ‘Trig Hill’ vineyard, destemmed and given a cols soak and indigenous yeast fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 14 months in 40% new French oak. Dark, deep ruby-red colour, lighter on edge. The nose is soft and restrained in expression but firmly concentrated with savoury dark red berry fruits interwoven with complex layers of dried herbs and oak spices in the background. Medium-full bodied and elegantly proportioned, the palate features a softly concentrated core of savoury dark red berry fruits in a complex amalgam of dried herbs with nuances of sweet, secondary whole cluster-like stalk elements. The fruit is supported by fine-grained, supple tannins and subtle, lacy acidity, and there is good depth and weight. The wine flows smoothly, leading to a stylish, restrained finish with secondary dried herb notes. This is a softly concentrated Pinot Noir with some savoury dried herb complexities appearing. Serve with coq au vin and casseroles over the next 5+ years. Certified BioGro organic. 18.0-/20 Jan 2015 RRP $45.00