Rock Ferry Methodes, the 3rd Rock Range and Tempranillo 2013

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Rock Ferry Methode Traditionnelle Brut NV
  Sparkling Wine from New Zealand - Other

  Review Date : 12-Jun-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, light golden-yellow colour with a suggestion of blush, paler on edge, with persistent and fine bead. The bouquet is full, even and broad with up-front yellow stonefruit and citrus fruit aromas melded with bready, brioche-like yeast autolysis forming a deep core, revealing subtle nutty aldehyde complexities in the glass. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate is fine in proportion with a tightly bound heart of white and yellow stonefruits and integrated, fine, bready autolysis. The mouthfeel is smooth in texture and flow with creamy effervescence, and piquant, balancing acidity. A fine phenolic thread carries the stonefruit, citrus and bready flavours to a long, dry finish. This methode traditionnelle has a fulsome nose with bold autolysis and an elegant, fine-featured mouthfeel. Serve as an aperitif and with canapes over the next 3 years. A blend of 60% Marlborough Chardonnay and 40% Central Otago Pinot Noir, hand-picked fruit, WBP and fermented in seasoned oak and stainless-steel barrels with MLF. The wine was triaged and aged 3 ½ years on lees and is 12.5% alc. with 6 g/L RS. Lot L00035. 18.0+/20 Jun 2016 RRP $35.00
• Rock Ferry Marlborough Methode Traditionnelle Blanc de Blancs 2010
  Sparkling Wine from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 12-Jun-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, light straw-yellow colour with light gold hues, pale on the rim. The bubbles are very fine and moderately persistent. The nose is finely proportioned and well-concentrated with intense aromas of white stonefruits and white florals subtly entwined with refined aromas of bready autolysis. The bouquet has finesse, clarity and focus. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate is tightly bound and concentrated with refined, intense flavours of white florals, citrus and white stonefruit flavours. The bready autolysis is beautifully integrated and balanced with the finesse of the fruit. The mouthfeel is soft and creamy with a lively mousse, with soft acidity allowing a fine, phenolic line to carry the flavours to a long and sustained finish. This is a refined and elegantly concentrated blanc de blancs method with balanced and integrated autolysis. Serve as an aperitif and with seafood over the next 4+ years. 100% Chardonnay, hand-picked fruit from ‘The Corners’ vineyard, WBP and fermented in seasoned oak and stainless-steel barrels , with full MLF and aging 11 months on lees. After tirage, the wine was aged 4 years on lees. The wine is 12.5% alc., and carries 4.5 g/L RS. Certified BioGro organic. Lot 0007. 18.5+/20 Jun 2016 RRP $40.00
• Rock Ferry ‘3rd Rock’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015
  Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 12-Jun-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright straw-yellow colour, a little lighter on the rim. This has a finely concentrated nose with reserved aromas of greengages, nectarines and green stonefruits, with subtle layers of dark herbs, nutty oak suggestions and mineral nuances. Medium-bodied, the palate features an elegant and restrained core of greengages and green stonefruits, with herbal flavours complexed by nutty oak and mineral elements. The mouthfeel is fresh and lively with lacy acidity providing energy and tension. The fruit extract lends some texture and grip to the line, and the wine carries to a dry finish with lingering nuances of green stonefruits and nuts. This is a restrained and stylish oak-influenced Sauvignon Banc with a textured core of green stonefruit flavours and fresh mouthfeel. Serve with seafood and herb-marinated white meat dishes over the next 3 years. Fruit from estate vineyards, fermented in stainless-steel with 12% in seasoned oak, this portion by indigenous yeasts, to 13.0% alc. and 3.1 g/L RS, the wine aged 4 months on lees. Certified BioGro organic. 17.5/20 Jun 2016 RRP $25.00
• Rock Ferry ‘3rd Rock’ Marlborough Chardonnay 2014
  Chardonnay from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 12-Jun-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, light straw-yellow colour with pale, green-golden hues, lighter edged. The nose is fresh and lively with tightly bound aromas of citrus fruits entwined with yellow stonefruits and nuances of tropical fruit, revealing savoury secondary development complexity, along with nutty oak, toasty elements and a little lemon-curd MLF detail. Medium-full bodied, the palate features bright and vibrant citrus fruit and stonefruit flavours entering the savoury secondary stage, melded with nutty and toasty oak. The mouthfeel is lively with lacy acidity, and the wine follows an elegantly concentrated core and line. Fine textures underline the fruit and wine flows with drive nd tension to a dry, fine-textured finish with toasty oak and some MLF elements. This is a fresh, lively and bright Chardonnay with some secondary development detail, and nutty, toasty oak. Match with grilled and roasted seafood, poultry and pork dishes over the next 4 years. Fruit from estate vineyards, hand-picked, WBP, indigenous yeast fermentation initiated in cuve, then transferred to barrique, the wine at 14.0% alc. The wine was aged 8 months in 25% new oak with MLF conversion. Certified BioGro organic. 17.5/20 Jun 2016 RRP $30.00
• Rock Ferry ‘3rd Rock’ Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Otago

  Review Date : 12-Jun-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Moderately deep, dark ruby-red colour with some garnet, lighter on the rim. This has an elegantly concentrated bouquet with aromas of savoury dark-red berry and cherry fruit with subtle notes of plums, liquorice and thyme herbs adding complexing detail. Harmoniously entwined secondary game, earth and mushroom elements unfold and build in aromatic interest. Medium-bodied, the palate features an finely concentrated core of savoury and spicy dark-red berry fruits with plum, liquorice and thyme herb nuances. Layers of complexing secondary game, earth and undergrowth flavours emerge. The wine flows along a light, textured line with fine tannin extraction and integrated acidity, leading to an elegant, lingering finish of savoury red fruits and complexing, secondary, dried herb notes. This is an elegantly concentrated Pinot Noir with complex savoury red fruits and secondary game and earthy flavours. Match with wild duck and pork, and game meats over the next 4+ years. Fruit from Bendigo, clones Abel, 115, 777, 5 and 667, destemmed, given a cold soak and indigenous yeast fermented to 13.0% alc., the wine on skins approx. 3 weeks and aged 14 months in 30% new French oak. Certified BioGro organic. 17.5+/20 Jun 2016 RRP $45.00
• Rock Ferry ‘Trig Hill Vineyard’ Central Otago Tempranillo 2013
  Tempranillo from New Zealand - Otago

  Review Date : 12-Jun-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Very dark ruby-red colour with black hues and some garnet on the rim. The nose is elegantly proportioned with intense and concentrated aromas of dark raspberry fruit harmoniously interwoven with dark herbs, plums, liquorice and spices, and fragrant dark red florals. Some game and minerally detail add detail. Medium-full bodied, the flavours of dark raspberries and cherry fruit are layered with lifted dark herb, plum, liquorice and spice elements, unfolding ethereal complexity and interest. The fruit is sweetly rich with enlivening acidity, and the extract forms a fine, concentrated core, with fine-grained tannin structure in support. The flavours carry to a long, lingering dry-textured finish This is an elegantly concentrated Tempranillo with sweet flavours of raspberries, plum and spice, and fine-grained textures, finishing dry. Match with lamb and beef dishes over the next 5+ years. Tempranillo fruit destemmed and indigenous yeast fermented to 14.5% alc., the wine aged 20 months in 30% new, 30% 1 y.o. and 40% 2 y.o. French oak puncheons. Certified BioGro organic. 18.0-/20 Jun 2016 RRP $40.00