Waimea Estates Shows Breadth and Depth

12-Apr-2012

A sign of great resource, skills and care is quality in all tiers of a wine producers' output across a wide range of varieties. Only those that are fully committed to the best, can achieve this and few realise the aim. Waimea Estates, in Nelson is one winery that seems to be able to do this. The Bolitho family clearly possesses outstanding vineyards, with some 140 ha, managed by Ben Bolitho, and the fruit is expertly handled by winemaker Trudy Sheild. Wines from the ‘Waimea Estates' range regularly figure among the winners at wine shows, and the secondary ‘Spinyback' brand are also often in the ranks as gold medal winners. Even the third tier ‘Takutai' wines capture top awards. Clearly the Waimea Estates team make their range differentiation decisions with style as a major consideration, as the fruit quality seems very high in all the levels of the wines! Here are a diverse set of new release ‘Waimea Estates' and tertiary level ‘Takutai' wines reviewed. www.waimeabrands.com

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

Takutai Nelson Riesling 2009
Riesling from New Zealand - Nelson
Review Date : 12-Apr-2012
☆☆☆☆☆
Bright pale straw-yellow with lemon-green hues, pale on edge. The bouquet is very fine and elegant, showing lime and lemon aromas integrated with subtle secondary notes of honey and toast. Medium-dry, bright and juicy, lemon and lime fruit flavours form a core and line through the palate with depth and concentration. The acidity is in good balance, providing good liveliness. A delicate textural thread grows and leads to a crisp, dry finish with flavours of thirst-quenching lemonade. Classical with its lime and lemon flavours, this is just beginning to show some development and a dry textures. Match with seafood over the next 3+ years. Fruit from the ‘Hunter' vineyard on the Waimea Plains, cool-fermented to 12.5% alc. and 10.8 g/L rs. 17.0/20 Apr 2012 RRP $12.50
Takutai Nelson Pinot Gris 2009
Pinot Gris from New Zealand - Nelson
Review Date : 12-Apr-2012
☆☆☆☆☆
Fruit from the ‘Hunter' vineyard on the Waimea Plains, col-fermented in stainless-steel to 14.0% alc. and 6.4 g/L rs. Bright straw-yellow colour with light golden hues. The nose is softly fresh with exotic floral, ripe pear and stonefruit aromas, along with savoury, secondary nuances of earth and flint. Off-dry to taste, rich and deep flavours of ripe yellow stonefruits fill the palate and flow with smooth textures, enlivened by good acidity. Some secondary nuances emerge, as well as a little alcohol warmth, adding to the generous mouthfeel and length. This is a ripe and broader Pinot Gris with developing flavour interest. Match with Middle Eastern cuisine over the next 2-3 years. 17.5/20 Apr 2012 RRP $12.50
Takutai Nelson Chardonnay 2009
Chardonnay from New Zealand - Nelson
Review Date : 12-Apr-2012
☆☆☆☆☆
Clones Mendoza, 95, 2/23 and 15 from the Waimea Plains stainless-steel fermented with a small portion in oak with high solids to 13.8% alc., the wine given batonnage for several months. Bright, light lemon-hued straw-gold colour, this has a full and broad nose of ripe yellow stonefruits with a complex buttery and flinty amalgam. Full-bodied, the palate is full, plump and packed with ripe stonefruit and citrus flavours along with buttery and savoury, nutty secondary notes. This is up-front and juicy, with excellent breadth, but lively from excellent acidity, which continues to a flinty, nutty finish. This is a flavoursome and interesting Chardonnay with the breadth to match grilled and roasted poultry and pork dishes over the next 3 years. 17.5/20 Apr 2012 RRP $12.50
Takutai Nelson Pinot Noir 2011
Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Nelson
Review Date : 12-Apr-2012
☆☆☆☆☆
Light ruby-red colour with slight purple hues, pale on rim. The bouquet is light with red cherry, strawberry and fresh herb aromas, simply expressed. A light-bodied wine, this has light strawberry and cherry fruit flavours intermingling with herbal notes. The acidity is elevated and the extraction modest, allowing the alcohol to show, and resulting in a light, crisp finish. This is a light, fresh and uncomplicated Pinot Noir with modest ripeness. Serve with antipasto and firm flesh seafood over the next 2 years. Multi-clone and vineyard selection, the fruit full-destemmed and fermented to 13.7% alc. the wine given wood influence equivalent to 20% new oak. 15.5+/20 Apr 2012 RRP $12.50
Waimea Estates Nelson Gruner Veltliner 2011
Gruner Veltliner from New Zealand - Nelson
Review Date : 07-Oct-2012
☆☆☆☆☆
Bright straw-yellow with golden hues. This has a very full and voluminous nose showing herbs, celery and white pepper. Dry to taste, this is a full, open and accessible style. The flavours of herbs and white pepper are open and up-front, possessing breadth and some lusciousness on palate. This is rounded in texture, but there is good drive for palate line, and there is sufficient, balancing acid cut on the finish. This has developed well. Second crop from the ‘Railway Reserve' section of the ‘Annabrook' vineyard fermented to 13.5% alc. and 3.3 g/L rs. 18.0-/20 Oct 2012 The second release of a Gruner Veltliner from Waimea Esates, the fruit from the ‘Railway Reserve' section of the ‘Annabrook‘ vineyard, cool-fermented to 13.5% alc. and 3.3 g/L rs. Pale straw-yellow colour with light green-golden hues, pale on edge. This has a fresh, bright and lively aromatic nose of spicy yellow floral and tropical fruits, along with notes of herbs and minerals. Dry to taste and light in weight, this is crisply presented with light exotic herb, stonefruit and floral flavours. The wine has a soft lusciousness and gently fresh acidity, and the finish has delicate, lingering nuances. This is an elegant and pretty, crisp Gruner Veltliner with delicately exotic flavours. Match with Thai, Japanese and Vietnamese cuisine over the next 2 years. 16.5/20 Apr 2012 RRP $25.00
Waimea Estates Nelson Pinot Gris 2011
Pinot Gris from New Zealand - Nelson
Review Date : 12-Apr-2012
☆☆☆☆☆
Brilliant, pale straw-yellow colour, pale on rim. This is very tight, fine and elegant on bouquet with white floral and citrus fruits, revealing nuances of tropical fruits with detail and delicacy. Medium-dry, this is beautifully refined with subtle pear, white floral and honey flavours forming an elegant core with excellent concentration. The mouthfeel is very smooth, near seamless, and there is a building generosity and richness, leading to a long finish with real presence. This is a classy, delicate Pinot Gris with the potential to unfold more flavours and develop greater character over the next 3-4+ years. Serve with antipasto, tapas, seafood and poultry. Fruit primarily from the ‘Hope' block on the Waimea Plains fermented to 14.4% alc. and 8.5 g/L rs, the wine given 4 months batonnage. 18.5/20 Apr 2012 RRP $23.00
Waimea Estates Nelson Merlot/Malbec 2008
Merlot from New Zealand - Nelson
Review Date : 12-Apr-2012
☆☆☆☆☆
Ruby-red colour with garnet hues, lighter on edge. This is elegant and fine on bouquet, quite delicate and restrained, showing dusty red berry fruit aromas with dried herb and subtle secondary interest. Medium-bodied, this has a core of red berry fruits with oak spices and subtle dried herb notes that builds with richness. The tannins are extremely fine and the palate is silky smooth in texture. Good acidity is present for balance and the wine has a sustained finish with savoury fruit, and cedary, spicy oak. This is an elegant and fine-textured red with subtlety and secondary interest appearing. Match with roasted red meats and hard cheeses over the next 3-4+ years. 67% Merlot from Kina Peninsula, 5% ‘Railway Reserve' Merlot, and 28% Malbec from the ‘Hope' block on the Waimea Plains, fermented to 13.0% alc., the Merlot aged in new and seasoned American oak, the Malbec in 1 y.o. French barrels, for 11 months, then blended. 17.5/20 Apr 2012 RRP $25.00

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

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