Wairau River 2014 Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris, and 2013 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Wairau River Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014
  Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 25-Nov-2014

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, pale straw-yellow colour with slight green hues, paler on rim. The nose is softly full and broad with sweetly ripe and pungent passionfruit aromas along with harmoniously interwoven nuances of tropical fruits, fresh herbs and a minerally thread at the core. Dry to taste and medium-bodied, up-front and mouthfilling flavours of sweet passionfruit show with succulence and richness. The mouthfeel is lively with bright, lacy acidity and the wine follows a firm-textured phenolic line. The wine leads to a dry-textured, firm and lingering finish with zesty acidity. This is an up-front, fresh, passionfruity Sauvignon Blanc with a dry, textured palate and finish. Match with salads and vegetables, and Mediterranean cuisine over the next 2 years. Fruit from 5 estate vineyards cool-fermented in stainless-steel to 13.0% alc. and 3.8 g/L RS. 17.5/20 Nov 2014 RRP $20.00
• Wairau River Marlborough Pinot Gris 2014
  Pinot Gris from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 25-Nov-2014

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Fruit from the ‘Home’ block, from vines dating back to 1990 planting, cool-fermented in stainless-steel, with a portion in seasoned French oak to 14.0% alc. and 3.5 g/L RS. Brilliant stra-yellow colour with a suggestion of blush at the heart, pale on rim. This has a full and broad nose of bright and aromatic yellow stonefruits with nuts and kernels, along with exotic florals and spice notes. Dryish to taste and medium-full bodied, luscious flavours of stonefruits, florals and honeysuckle fill the mouth, forming a solid, rounded core. The wine is robust with good weight and presence, with subtle textures and soft acidity balancing the fruit. As the wine flows, the phenolics grow, leading to a soft, textured, dry finish. This is a full and robust dryish Pinot Gris with lush flvours and a dry, textured finish. Serve with most white meat dishes and Middle Eastern fare over the next 3-4 years. 18.0+/20 Nov 2014 RRP $20.00
• Wairau River Marlborough Chardonnay 2013
  Chardonnay from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 25-Nov-2014

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Full, even, pale straw-yellow colour with lemon hues, lighter on rim. Deep and firmly packed aromas of citrus and stonefruits are infused with an amalgam of toasty oak, lemon curd and butterscotch MLF that grows in richness in the glass. Medium-full bodied, up-front flavours of ripe citrus fruits are intermixed with toasty and nutty oak, along with butter and lemon curd MLF flavours, forming an elegant core. Some barrel-ferment creaminess adds richness, but is balanced by fresh acid cut and poise, lending good liveliness. Fine textures and near-racy acidity carry the wine to a long, concentrated finish of citrus fruits and nuts. This is an bold, citrussy, toasty Chardonnay that has creamy richness allied to freshness. Serve with grilled and roasted seafood, poultry and pork over the next 4+ years. Fruit from the ‘Home’ and ‘Sam Rose’s’ vineyards, WBP, and predominantly barrel-fermented in new and seasoned French oak barriques to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 10 months in oak. 17.5+/20 Nov 2014 ` RRP $20.00
• Wairau River Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Marlborough

  Review Date : 25-Nov-2014

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Moderately deep ruby-red colour with youthful purple hues. The nose is soft and full with ripe dark raspberry fruit aromas forming a rounded core, the fruit aromatic and primary with red floral and subtle oak toast elements adding detail and interest. Medium-full bodied, softly full and lusciously juicy fruit flavours of raspberries, dark plums and nuances of toasty oak feature on the palate. The mouthfeel is fulsome with soft tannins and good structure supporting the plush fruit, lending density and presence. This has good drive and line, with discreet acidity leading to a long finish with plum and raspberry flavours. This is a full, soft and ripe, dark-fruited Pinot Noir with balanced structure. Match with roasted pork, lamb and beef over the next 6+ years. Fruit from the ‘Home’ and ‘Rapaura Road’ blocks, given a cols soak and fermented to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 10 months in French oak barriques. 18.0-/20 Nov 2014 RRP $25.00