Tohu and Aronui 2013 and 2012 Releases

15-Aug-2013

Owning vineyards in Marlborough and Nelson, it was logical for Kono Beverages to introduce the ‘Aronui’ brand for the Nelson sourced wines earlier this year to complement the ‘Tohu’ label for the essentially Marlborough wines. Their catchphrase is "two wines, two regions, one whanau”. The new branding reflects the continued growth of Kono’s wine interests guided by Mike Brown, now having acquired the former winery of ‘The Crossings’, and the continued confidence of the viticultural team and winemaking under Bruce Taylor. Here, I review the first 2013 vintage wine and a bevy of 2012 new releases under the ‘Tohu’ and ‘Aronui’ brands. www.tohuwines.co.nz www.aronuiwines.co.nz

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

Aronui ‘Single Vineyard’ Nelson Chardonnay 2012
Chardonnay from New Zealand - Nelson
Review Date : 13-Aug-2013
☆☆☆☆☆
Mendoza clone fruit from 15 y.o. vines from a single site in Brightwater, hand-picked and WBP, fully barrel-fermented with full solids to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 12 months in new and seasoned French oak, undergoing batonnage and MLF. Brilliant, light golden-hued yellow colour, lighter on edge. The bouquet is full and gently rich with complex, aromatic layers of ripe citrus and yellow stonefruits harmoniously melded with creamy, nutty barrel-ferment elements, flinty lees and butterscotch MLF notes. Medium-full bodied, bold and luscious flavours of citrus and stonefruits are entwined with nuts, butterscotch and flint. The mouthfeel is smooth and unctuous with creamy textures, allied to slippery acidity, and the flavours are driven by some alcoholic power. This has real drive and the palate leads to a nutty, buttery finish enlivened by fresh acidity. This is a bold and flavoursome Chardonnay with complex, buttery, nutty flavours and creamy, racy textures. Match with roasted poultry and pork dishes over the next 4-5 years. 18.5-/20 Aug 2013 RRP $24.95
Tohu Gisborne Chardonnay 2012
Chardonnay from New Zealand - Gisborn
Review Date : 13-Aug-2013
☆☆☆☆☆
Bright straw-yellow colour with pale lemon-green hues. This has a fresh, tightly packed and firm nose of citrus fruits along with nutty notes and buttery MLF elements. Medium-full bodied, this is slender and elegant in proportion with tightly bound flavours of citrus fruits, white stonefruits, nuts and MLF butterscotch, forming a firm core with linearity. The mouthfeel is dry, with some grainy phenolic textures and acid carrying the palate to a mouthwatering, firm finish that features nutty nuances. This is a tight, firm and thirst-quenchingly dry Chardonnay with citrus and MLF flavours. Serve with antipasto and seafood over the next 3+ years. Predominantly clone 6 fruit from the Patutahi district, tank-fermented with 20% in old French oak to 13.5% alc., the wine aged on lees with MLF. 16.5+/20 Aug 2013 RRP $21.95
Tohu Awatere Valley Marlborough Pinot Gris 2013
Pinot Gris from New Zealand - Marlborough
Review Date : 13-Aug-2013
☆☆☆☆☆
Pinot Gris from two sites in the Awatere Valley, fermented in tank to 13.5% alc. and 6.5 g/L RS, the wine given some lees stirring. Bright, pale straw colour with slight green hues, pale on rim. The nose is fresh and tightly bound with aromas of white stonefruits with hints of exotic tropical fruits, flinty lees work and lifted fermentation esters. Dryish to taste, mellow stonefruits, florals and flinty minerals are enriched by honeysuckle detail. The mouthfeel is mellow and rounded, but balanced by soft, ripe, lively acidity. This has good weight, with a little textured line, some alcohol and acidity providing energy, leading to a dry finish with floral nuances. This is a soft-textured, weighty, dry Pinot Gris with stonefruit flavours. Serve with antipasto, white meats and Mediterranean fare over the next 3-4 years. 17.0+/20 Aug 2013 RRP $21.95
Tohu ‘Single Vineyard’ Marlborough Pinot Noir 2012
Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Marlborough
Review Date : 13-Aug-2013
☆☆☆☆☆
Moderately deep ruby-red colour with soft, youthful purple hues. The nose is softly full with deep aromas of ripe dark berry and plum fruits, lifted with whole berry raspberry liqueur and floral notes. A little earth and dried herb interest unfolds in the glass. Medium-bodied, the fruit expression is a little subdued and soft, showing red berries, earth and fresh herb flavours. Grainy tannins provide a full, structured mouthfeel, and along with restrained acidity, results in dry textures, which carry through to the finish. This is a softly flavoured, densely weighted and dry textured Pinot Noir. Match with rich pasta and casseroles over the next 4+ years. Mainly clones 667, 777 and 5 from four blocks from the company’s Awatere vineyard, hand-picked and destemmed, given a cold soak and fermented naturally to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 12 months in 22% new French oak. 17.5/20 Aug 2013 RRP $27.95
Tohu ‘Mugwi Reserve’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand - Marlborough
Review Date : 13-Aug-2013
☆☆☆☆☆
Fruit from four blocks from the company’s Awatere vineyard, fully fermented by indigenous yeasts in seasoned oak to 12.5% alc. and 2.3 g/L RS, the wine undergoing batonnage with 80% MLF. Bright, pale straw-yellow colour with light lemon-green on rim. Finely concentrated and lifted nectarine, greengage and stonefruit aromas are melded with passionfruit notes forming an intense, elegant bouquet. Dry to taste and medium-weighted, this is well-concentrated with flavours of nectarines and stonefruits on a fine-textured, smooth flowing, linear palate. There is some sweetness and lusciousness, balanced by lacy, refreshing acidity. Detailed nuances of nuts and flint unfold, adding layers of interest as the flavours grow and blossom. The wine finishes with nuance and real length. This is an elegant and refined, complex-flavoured, oak-influenced Sauvignon Blanc with subtle succulence. Match with seafood and herb-marinated white meat dishes over the next 3-4+ years. 430 dozen made. 18.5/20 Aug 2013 RRP $29.95
Tohu ‘Rore Reserve’ Marlborough Pinot Noir 2012
Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Marlborough
Review Date : 13-Aug-2013
☆☆☆☆☆
A selection of the 12 best barrels. Clone 777 and 667 from the ‘Tohu’, ‘Araroa’ and ‘Taumaui’ blocks from the company’s Awatere vineyard, hand-picked, detemmed, given a cold soak and partially indigenous fermented to 13.0% alc., the wine aged 12 months in new and season French oak. Bright, moderately deep ruby-red colour with light purple hues on rim. The bouquet is concentrated with bright, ripe dark berry and black cherry fruit aromas, alongside notes of violet florals, plums, oak toast and a little reduction complexity, expressed with clarity. Medium-bodied, tight and focussed flavours of black berries and cherries form a concentrated core with minerally elements, oak detail and some charry reduction, all integrated and interwoven. The fruit is supported by fine-grained tannin extraction and lacy acidity providing a lively, supple mouthfeel with good tension and linearity. The flavours are carried to a long and elegant, black-fruit nuanced finish. This is an elegant and vibrant black-fruited, nuanced Pinot Noir with fine textures. Serve with duck and pork, or Asian cuisine over the next 6-7 years. 300 dozen made. 18.5-/20 Aug 2013 RRP $38.95

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

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