Te Whare Ra 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling ‘D’, Pinot Gris, and 2015 Pinot Noir

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Te Whare Ra Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016
  Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 15-Jun-2017

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, pale straw-yellow colour with slight green hues, lighter on the rim. The nose is very elegant and finely proportioned with very good depth of pure gooseberry and passionfruit aromas along with notes of fresh herbs and snow peas. This is taut and concentrated, showing minerally elements. Dry to taste and medium-full bodied, the palate has a concentrated core of passionfruit and gooseberries, entwined with fresh herbs and snow peas, the fruit showing richness and sweetness. The mouthfeel possesses a stylish juiciness with fresh, racy acidity, the wine flowing briskly along a refined phenolic line. The flavours retain restraint, and the palate carries to a sustained, dry, mouthwatering finish. This is a stylishly concentrated and refined Sauvignon Blanc with fresh passionfruit and gooseberry flavours along with herb nuances on a fine-textured, thirst-quenching palate. Serve with Pacific Rim fare over the next 2+ years. 79% of the fruit from the ‘Trelawne Farm’ vineyard Awatere and 21% from the TWR ‘Home Block’, Renwick, cool-fermented in tank with 6% in older French oak demi-muids to 13.5% alc., the wine aged on fine lees. 2,950 cases made. 18.5+/20 Jun 2017 RRP $26.00
• Te Whare Ra ‘Single Vineyard 5182’ Marlborough Riesling ‘D’ 2016
  Riesling from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 15-Jun-2017

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Brilliant pale straw colour with slight green hues, very pale edged. The nose is very elegant and refined with very good depth and intensity of pure lime fruit entwined with white florals a a subtle layering of thirst-quenching savoury minerals. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate is taut and tightly concentrated with flavours of lime fruit, white florals and savoury minerals. The mouthfeel is thirst-quenchingly dry with crisp, racy acidity, and the wine has fine fruit extract providing a refined line. Flavours of apples emerge and carry with the limes and minerals to a long, elegantly proportioned finish. This is a refined, taut, mouthwatering dry Riesling with lime, floral, apple and savoury mineral flavours and fine fruit extraction. Serve as an aperitif and with shellfish over the next 4-5 years. Fruit from the TWR ‘Home Block’, vines planted in 1979, hand-picked and hand-sorted, a portion WBP, and fermented in stainless-steel to 12.4% alc., 3.3 g/L RS, TA 6.8 g/L and pH 3.01. Certified BioGro organic. 781 cases made. 18.5+/20 Jun 2017 RRP $28.00
• Te Whare Ra ‘Single Vineyard 5182’ Marlborough Pinot Gris 2016
  Pinot Gris from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 15-Jun-2017

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, even, pale straw-yellow colour with some depth, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is softly full with delicate and intricate aromas of white stonefruits, lifted florals, hints of pears and honeysuckle, and a very fine minerally edge. Dryish to taste and medium-full bodied, the palate has good depth of rich white stonefruit and pear flavours, with nuances of honeysuckle and minerals. The palate is elegant in proportion with fine phenolic textures providing good linearity, and lacy acidity enlivening the mouthfeel. This has good energy and vigour, and carries to a subtly nuanced finish of stonefruits and florals featuring purity and delicacy. This is a beautifully pure and refined, dryish Pinot Gris with white stonefruit, pear, floral and honeysuckle flavours showing with a degree of vigour. Match with mildly spicy Asian and Middle Eastern fare over the next 4+ years. Fruit from the TWR ‘Home Block’, hand-picked and hand-sorted, some parcels given skin contact, the fruit fermented in stainless-steel tank with 20% in seasoned French oak, to 13.5% alc. and 5.5 g/L RS, the barrel portion undergoing batonnage, and all of the wine aged on lees. Certified BioGro organic. 805 cases made. 19.0/20 Jun 2017 RRP $28.00
• Te Whare Ra Marlborough Pinot Noir 2015
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 13-Jun-2017

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Darkish ruby-red colour, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is very elegant with a beautiful array of red floral fragrances that unfold to provide remarkable volume. The nose has a finely concentrated core of dark raspberry and dark-red cherry fruit entwined with subtle herb and mineral nuances, and suggestions of nutty oak. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegantly proportioned with rounded but intensely packed heart of dark raspberry and cherry fruit melded with red florals and subtle herb and mineral nuances. The fruit is rich and sweet, and flows seamlessly along a silky, fine-grained line, the integrated acidity lending energy and drive. The wine carries to an elegant, succulently sweet, sustained finish of dark red fruits and florals. This is a refined and beautifully fragrant Pinot Noir with rich dark-red berry fruits on a silky, seamless palate with fine, flowery tannins. Match with tuna, salmon, poultry and pork over the next 5-6+ years. Fruit from the TWR ‘Home Block’ (8 clones) and the ‘Rawiri’ vineyard in the Omaka Valley (4 clones), all hand-picked and hand-sorted, generally destemmed and fermented with a small portion of whole bunches to 13.5% alc., the wine spending 14 days on skins post ferment and aged 11 months in 30% new French oak. 571 cases made. 19.0-/20 Jun 2017 RRP $50.00