Waimea Estates – New 2011 Releases

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Waimea Estates Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2011
  Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand - Nelson

  Review Date : 14-Sep-2011

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, light straw-yellow with light green hues to the colour, this has a powerful bouquet of ripe passionfruit along with nuances of minerals and steel. Dry on palate, this is powerful and punchy, with excellent depth of pungent tropical fruit and gooseberry flavours, underlined by fresh, racy acidity. The wine has drive and proportion avoiding any broad coarseness, and finishes with a clean, crisp minerally finish. Fruit from the Waimea Plains cool-fermented in stainless-steel to 13.0% alc. and 4.3 g/L rs, with a little batonnage employed. Serve with seafood, poultry and tapas over the next 2-3 years. 18.5+/20 Sep 2011 RRP $19.00
• Waimea Estates Nelson Pinot Rosé 2011
  Rose from New Zealand - Nelson

  Review Date : 14-Sep-2011

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  This is made by saignee of the Pinot Noir musts, fermented to 13.0% alc. and 7.5 g/L rs, with 15% undergoing fermentation in American oak. Moderately deep, purple-tinged pink-ruby colour, this has an attractive, ripe strawberry and raspberry fruited nose with notes of glacé cherries and boiled sweets. Off-dry, this has juicy, lush raspberry and melon flavours with confectionary elements featuring. The palate has a good core of sweet fruit, enriched by the residual sugar, and there is plenty of acidity for freshness and brightness. Luscious and smooth in texture, the wine has a sustained finish of sweet red berry fruits. Drink as an aperitif on a warm spring and summer's day or with antipasto, melons and tropical fruits over the next two years. 18.0-/20 Sep 2011 RRP $21.00
• Waimea Estates Nelson Dolcetto 2009
  Other Red from New Zealand - Nelson

  Review Date : 14-Sep-2011

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Very dark, deep, purple-hued ruby-red, this is quite youthful in appearance. The bouquet has fragrant dark berry and dark red floral aromas, quite densely packed, with notes of earth, tar and minerals. Full-bodied, this has concentrated, but vibrant and juicy dark plum and violetty flavours, framed in a palate structure of fine, but firm and assertive tannins. Excellent acidity provides freshness and tension and the wine has a lively line and length. The finish is marked by dry fine tannins. Fruit from the Marr's ‘Golden Hills' vineyard on the Waimea Plains, destemmed and fermented with some whole berries to 14.5% alc., the wine added 8 months in oak, 28% new French barrels. This Piedmont variety is noted for its tannin grip and the wines from it can be low in acidity, but this has been handled extremely well. Match with most lamb and beef dishes over the next 4-6 years. 18.5-/20 Sep 2011 RRP $25.00
• Waimea Estates Nelson Late Harvest Riesling 2008
  Riesling from New Zealand - Nelson

  Review Date : 14-Sep-2011

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright green-golden colour with lemon hues, this is very fine and tightly bound, showing subtle, complex aromas of lime juice, honey and toast from some secondary development. Medium-sweet, this is a softly subtle wine with gentle flavours of limes and toast with a little kero. The sweetness is delicate and lacy, with a little creaminess to the textures appearing. There is concentration allied to elegance through the palate and the wine has a sustained and nuanced, dry, gently gripping finish. Fruit from the ‘Annabrook' vineyard cool-fermented to 13.0% alc. and 40 g/L rs, the wine aged on lees. A delicate medium sweet wine with complex nuances to serve as an aperitif, or with Vietnamese cuisine or light fruit-based desserts over the next 5-6 years. 18.0+/20 Sep 2011 RRP $20.00
• Waimea Estates Nelson Noble Riesling 2005
  Sweet Wine from New Zealand - Nelson

  Review Date : 14-Sep-2011

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Fruit from the ‘Annabrook' vineyard, botrytis infection induced by spraying spores, harvested at 44.1° Brix, cool-fermented to 9.0% alc. and 200 g/L rs. Full, deep, golden-yellow with amber hues. The nose is dense and voluminous showing very complex, fully botrytised fruit aromas of crystalized dried fruits, apricots, caramel and marmalade, with a little volatility. Extremely rich, the soft, unctuous, mouth-coating sweetness is sensational. Soft, decadent and thick with flavours of burnt caramel, crystalized fruits, toffee, dark honey, maple syrup and marmalade, the palate is seamless in texture and enveloping in richness, with a very long and luscious finish. This is over the top with complexity and richness. Serve with stick date pudding and very sweet caramel-flavoured desserts, or instead of a liqueur over the next 5-8 years. (375 ml) 18.5+/20 Sep 2011 RRP $20.00