SOHO Wines Show Diversity, Breadth and Quality

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• SOHO ‘Pink Sheep’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018
  Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 11-Oct-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, very pale straw colour with slight green hues, near colourless on the rim. The nose is softly packed with gently concentrated and deep aromas of pungent passionfruit and tropical fruit with dark and fresh herbs. This has freshness, cut and aromatic lift, and shows very attractively in balance. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate has softly rich and concentrated flavours of ripe, pungent passionfruit and tropical fruit harmoniously melded with fresh herbs and a little floral lift. The fruit is enlivened by brisk, racy acidity that provides good cut and tension. The wine flows along a fine-textured line leading to a long, lingering pungent finish. This is a softly rich and concentrated Sauvignon Blanc with pungent passionfruit flavours with harmonious detail on a bright, vibrant, lively palate. Serve with Pacific Rim fare over the next 2 years. Wairau and Awatere Valley fruit cool-fermented in stainless-steel to 12.5% alc. 18.5/20 Oct 2018 RRP $25.00
• SOHO ‘Jonny’ Marlborough Chardonnay 2017
  Chardonnay from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 11-Oct-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, pale golden-hued yellow colour, a little lighter edged. The nose is elegantly presented with an elegant core of yellow stonefruits and citrus fruit entwined with subtle creamy barrel-ferment and nutty oak notes, along with a layering of lemon-curd MLF. This has freshness and vibrancy. Medium-bodied, the palate has a rich, deep and firm-hearted, but rounded core of yellow stonefruits, citrus fruits, hints of complexing mealiness, allied to creamy and nutty oak with lemon-curd and buttery MLF. The fruit is enlivened by fresh, lacy acidity and the wine flows along a light-textured line with balanced acidity providing freshness and cut, leading to a buttery-flavoured finish. This is a fresh, deeply flavoured Chardonnay with stonefruit, citrus fruit, nutty oak and lemon-curd like MLF. Serve with grilled and roasted seafood over the next 3+ years. Marlborough fruit fully barrel-fermented to 13.0% alc., the wine aged 10 months on lees with batonnage in 20% new oak and 100% MLF. 17.5/20 Oct 2018 RRP On-Premise only
• SOHO ‘White Collection’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018
  Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 11-Oct-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, even, pale straw-yellow colour with hints of green. The nose is elegantly proportioned with deep and intense aromas of pungent passionfruit entwined with white florals, fresh herbs, suggestions of nettle and cut-grass with mineral detail. This is fine in expression and has cut and intensity. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate has a soft, but refreshing core of pungent passionfruit with fresh herbs and cooler cut-grass and nettle detail, unfolding white florals and mouthwatering minerals. The palate flows smoothly with fresh, lacy acidity providing plenty of energy and lift. The wine carries to an elegant, lighter finish. This is a refreshing, pungent Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of cool-spectrum character and some fragrance. Serve as an aperitif and with seafood over the next 2 years. Wairau Valley fruit fermented in stainless-steel to 13.0% alc. and 3.0 g/L RS, the wine aged 3 months on light lees. 18.0-/20 Oct 2018 RRP $19.00
• SOHO ‘White Collection’ Marlborough Pinot Gris 2018
  Pinot Gris from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 11-Oct-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, light straw colour, lighter on the edge. The nose is a little light and shy, but shows a positive core with softly entwined aromas of white and yellow stonefruits and subtle exotic floral notes, and some nutty and thirst-quenching chalky mineral nuances. Off-dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate possesses flavours of white and yellow stonefruits and exotic florals unfolding a little pear and honeysuckle. The fruit forms an elegant core with linearity. The palate is smooth-flowing and carries along a very fine-textured line with balanced, fresh acidity, leading to a soft, lingering finish. This is a finely concentrated off-dry Pinot Gris with stonefruit, floral and pear flavours on a soft, smooth-flowing palate. Serve with Asian cuisine over the next 3 years. Fruit from the Southern Valleys and Awatere Valley, fermented in stainless-steel to 13.0% alc. and 6 g/L RS, the wine aged 3 months on light lees. 17.5/20 Oct 2018 RRP $19.00
• SOHO ‘White Collection’ Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 11-Oct-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Dark-hearted light ruby-red colour, pale on the rim. The nose is elegant in concentration with aromas in the cooler spectrum, showing red cherry fruit entwined with fresh herbs. The aromatics build to form a firm core with dark-red berry and violet floral nuances. Medium-bodied, the palate is sweetly-fruited with red cherry flavours melded with fresh herbs. The fruit is enlivened by fresh, lacy acidity and supported by light, supple tannin extraction. The wine flows smoothly, unfolding dark-red fruit flavours and red florals as it carries with good linearity to a lingering finish. This is a juicy, sweet-fruited Pinot Noir with cool cherry and herbal flavours on a fresh palate and light structure. Serve with tuna, salmon and poultry over the next 3 years. Fruit from Rarangi and the Southern Valleys, fermented with approx. 5% whole bunches to 13.0% alc., the wine predominantly aged in barrel for 10 months with 10% new oak. 17.5-/20 Oct 2018 RRP $25.00
• SOHO ‘Stella’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018
  Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 11-Oct-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, very pale straw colour with slight green hues, near colourless. The nose is softly full and voluminous with refined, but intensely packed aromas of pungent passionfruit, tropical fruit and fresh herbs, unfolding subtle notes of white florals and minerals. This is an expression of finesse. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate is rich with full and softly concentrated pungent passionfruit and tropical fruit flavours along with fresh herbs and florals. The palate is refreshing and mouthwatering with crisp acidity lending linearity, and the wine flows along a very fine phenolic line, leading to a long finish of herbs and minerals. This is a refined, but rich and intensely packed Sauvignon Blanc with passionfruit, herb and floral flavours and a crisp mouthfeel. Serve with seafood, salads and vegetables and Asian cuisine over the next 2 years. Fruit from three sites, in the Lower Wairau, Middle Wairau and Awatere Valley, fermented in stainless-steel to 13.0% alc. and 3 g/L RS, the wine aged 3 months on light lees. 18.5/20 Oct 2018 RRP $25.00
• SOHO ‘Caviar’ ‘Jomara Vineyard’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017
  Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 11-Oct-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, even stra-yellow colour with slight green hues, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is firmly concentrated with a taut core of white and green stonefruits along with gooseberries and fresh herbs, subtle nutty and flinty lees detail and chalky minerals. This is a little disjointed on nose, and will come together yet. Dry to taste and medium-full bodied, the palate has a rich and layered core unfolding ripe green stonefruits with greengages and gooseberries, subtle nutty and creamy oak with fresh herbs, minerals and lifted florals. The mouthfeel is fresh and lively, and the wine flows aling a rich, but fine-textured line, leading to a long finish of green stonefruits, nuts and minerals. This is a complex, oak-influenced Sauvignon Blanc with an array of flavours of green stonefruits, herbs and nutty oak on a richly-textured palate with fresh acidity. Match with herb-marinated seafood and white meat dishes over the next 3+ years. Hand-picked fruit from the ‘Hillside’ block on the company’s ‘Jomara’ vineyard in the Southern Valleys, indigenous yeast barrel-fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 8 months in seasoned French oak undergoing batonnage and partial MLF. 18.5+/20 Oct 2018 RRP $38.00
• SOHO ‘Carter’ Waiheke Island Chardonnay 2017
  Chardonnay from New Zealand - Northland & Auckland

  Review Date : 11-Oct-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright straw-yellow colour with pale golden hues at the heart, lighter on the rim. The nose is subtly presented with gently voluminous and harmoniously integrated aromas of citrus fruits and yellow stonefruits, along with an amalgam of creamy barrel-ferment and nutty, toasty oak, unfolding a fine thread of minerally freshness and cut. Medium-bodied, the palate is rich and lush with a gently packed heart of citrus fruit and yellow stonefruits harmoniously entwined with creamy and nutty oak notes. The palate possesses elegant presence and weight and refined, mouthfilling flavours, and fresh acidity enlivens the wine as it flows along a fine-textured line, leading to a long, stylishly restrained finish. This is an elegant, harmoniously layered, complex Chardonnay with gentle mouthfilling flavours of stonefruits, citrus fruits and creamy, nutty oak. Match with roast poultry and pork over the next 4 years. Fruit from the ‘Jomara’ vineyard, Onetangi, fully barrel-fermented to 13.0% alc., the wine aged 10 months in 37% new oak, undergoing batonnage and partial MLF. 18.5/20 Oct 2018 RRP $40.00
• SOHO ‘George’ Waiheke Island Merlot/Malbec/Cabernet Franc 2015
  Blended Red from New Zealand - Northland & Auckland

  Review Date : 11-Oct-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Full, dark, deep black-hued ruby-red colour. The nose is deeply concentrated and packed with a firm core of ripe blackberry and black plum fruit along with subtle notes of earth and minerals, unfolding curranty fruit with pencilly oak detail. This has impressive density. Medium-full bodied, the palate has a richly concentrated and lusciously packed core of ripe blackberry fruit with black plums, iron-earth complexities, minerals, unveiling black and redcurrant fruit with subtle pencilly oak. The fruit is firmly extracted and there is considerable fine-grained tannin extraction lending mouthfilling texture and grip. The acidity is integrated and the wine carries to a long, sustained finish. This is a concentrated and intensely packed Merlot-blend with ripe black fruits and earthy, minerally complexities on a well-structured palate. Match with slow-cooked game meats and hard cheeses over the next 7-10 years. A Waiheke Island Bordeaux red varietal bottling under cork to commemorate John Carter Senior’s importing of corks in 1973. George is the Carters’ oldest grandchild. A blend of 44% Merlot, 27% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Franc and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon from the ‘Jomara’ vineyard, fermented to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 9 months in 28% new oak. 18.5+/20 Oct 2018 RRP $58.00