Sacred Hill. Wild South and Gunn Estate 2016 Releases

01-Mar-2017

One of our significant wine companies, Sacred Hill has a wide range of tiers and associated brands that enables it to market to a full range of consumers through different distribution channels. It is a successful strategy as can be seen by the company’s growth over recent years, to the extent that it has its own distribution personnel rather than partnering and sharing with other businesses. Here, I review a selection of new 2016 vintage wines, under the ‘Wild South’ label for Marlborough bottlings, Sacred Hill ‘Orange Label’ and ‘Reserve’ releases, and two Gunn Estate ‘Reserve’ wines. www.wildsouthwines.co.nz www.sacredhill.com www.gunnestate.co.nz

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

Wild South Marlborough Pinot Noir 2016
Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Marlborough
Review Date : 28-Feb-2017
☆☆☆☆☆
Light ruby-red colour with some depth, pale on the rim with slight purple hues. The nose is light and fresh with uncomplicated aromas of red cherry fruit along with nuances of raspberries and fresh herbs, unfolding some spiciness. Medium-bodied, the palate has straightforward flavours of red cherries with light raspberry elements and herb notes. The fruit is moderately sweet and lifted by red florals, revealing nutty suggestions. The palate follows a light, modestly extracted line with fresh acidity, leading to a dry finish. This is a light, straightforward, cherry-fruited Pinot Noir with raspberry and herb notes, a little grip and fresh acidity. Serve with salmon and tuna, or with charcuterie or tapas over the next 2+ years. Marlborough fruit given a cold soak and fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged in French oak and stainless-steel tanks. 15.5/20 Mar 2017 RRP $17.99
Sacred Hill Marlborough Pinot Noir 2016
Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Marlborough
Review Date : 28-Feb-2017
☆☆☆☆☆
Even light ruby-red colour with some depth and youthful purple hues. This has a soft, gently full nose with aromas of dark raspberries, cranberries and cherry fruit, along with nuances of dark herbs and liquorice elements at the core. Medium-bodied, the palate is softly packed with up-front flavours of raspberries and cranberries entwined with subtle liquorice notes. The mouthfeel is soft in texture with integrated acidity lending a smooth flow. The wine carries to a light, finish with subtle herb and nutty nuances. This is a soft, up-front Pinot Noir with light raspberry and cranberry fruit on a soft-textured, smooth palate. Serve with poultry and pork dishes over the next 3 years. Marlborough fruit given a cold soak and fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine given French oak contact. 16.0+/20 Mar 2017 RRP $19.99
Gunn Estate ‘Reserve’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016
Chardonnay from New Zealand - Hawke's Bay
Review Date : 01-Mar-2017
☆☆☆☆☆
Bright, light golden-hued yellow colour with some depth, lighter on the edge. The nose is fresh and elegantly presented with aromatic yellow stonefruits entwined with mealy, nutty and toasty detail and suggestions of creamy barrel-ferment and lemon-curd richness. Medium-full bodied, the flavours ae restrained in expression, showing a light amalgam of white and yellow stonefruits along with a subtle layering of creamy and nutty oak, with nuances of lemon-curd MLF providing interest and detail. The palate has light, grainy phenolic textures, with refreshing, lacy acidity. The flavours recede as the wine carries to a light, nutty nuanced finish. This is an elegant Chardonnay with stonefruit and nutty flavours and a grainy-textured palate. Match with poultry and pork dishes over the next 3 years. Hawke’s Bay fruit barrel-fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged on lees for 8 months in French oak barriques. 16.5+/20 Mar 2017 RRP $19.99
Gunn Estate ‘Reserve’ Hawke’s Bay Merlot/Cabernet 2016
Blended Red from New Zealand - Hawke's Bay
Review Date : 28-Feb-2017
☆☆☆☆☆
Full, even, dark purple-hued ruby-red colour, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is elegantly proportioned with tightly bound and firm aromas of redcurrants, red plums and blackcurrants, intermingling with fresh herbs and suggestions of leaf at the core. The nose builds in intensity with aeration. Medium-bodied, the palate is slender with moderately deep with up-front flavours of redcurrants, blackcurrants and plums with herbal notes. The fruit is supported by light tannin extraction and grip with balanced acidity. The wine has good line and drive, and carries to a light, lingering dry finish of curranty fruit flavours. This is an elegant and slender Merlot/Cabernet blend with good intensity of curranty and herb flavours on a light-textured palate. Match with roast lamb, beef and venison dishes over the next 3+ years. A blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the fruit fermented to 13.5% alc., and the wine aged 9 months in French oak. 16.5-/20 Mar 2017 RRP $19.99
Sacred Hill ‘Reserve’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016
Chardonnay from New Zealand - Hawke's Bay
Review Date : 28-Feb-2017
☆☆☆☆☆
Brilliant straw-yellow colour with green-gold hues, pale edged. This has a fresh, tightly bound, penetrating nose with aromas of citrus and yellow stonefruits intermixed with piquant nuttiness, saline and minerally nuances, and hints of creamy oak and buttery MLF. Medium-bodied, the palate has light citrus and stonefruit flavours entwined with nutty, saline, and creamy oak and MLF elements forming an elegant core. The wine flows along a soft-textured line with soft, underlying acid drive, carrying to a lingering, citrus fruited finish with creamy complexities. This is an elegant Chardonnay with penetrating flavours of citrus and stonefruits enriched by creamy oak and lemon-curd MLF on a soft-textured palate. Match with creamy seafood and poultry dishes over the next 3 years. Fruit from the Riflemans Terraces, barrel-fermented in French oak barriques to 13.5% alc., the wine undergoing batonnage. 17.0/20 Mar 2017 RRP $24.99
Sacred Hill ‘Reserve’ Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2016
Syrah from New Zealand - Hawke's Bay
Review Date : 28-Feb-2017
☆☆☆☆☆
Very dark, deep, purple-hued ruby-red colour, a little lighter on the rim and youthful in appearance. This has a fresh, voluminous nose of vibrant, primary fruit aromas of dark raspberries and notes of blackberries entwined with dark-red and violet florals, unfolding white and black pepper fragrances, with savoury spices and suggestions of game. Medium-bodied, the fruit flavours of dark raspberries, black and white pepper, herbs and spices are restrained in expression. The fruit is underlined by grainy tannin extraction that provides a dry moutrhfeel and line. The acidity is softly ripe and integrated, allowing the textures to prevail. The flavours recede as the wine leads to a dry, textured finish. Showing good aromatic volume, this Syrah is restrained in fruitiness, and carried by grainy textures and structure. Match with slow-cooked game meat and semi-hard cheeses over the next 3+ years. Hand-picked fruit fermented partially with indigenous yeasts to 13.0% alc., the wine aged 8 months in French oak. 16.0+/20 Mar 2017 RRP $29.99

Sacred Hill. Wild South and Gunn Estate 2016 Releases

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

Featured Reviews

STAY UP TO DATE