A roundup of exceptional NZ white wines
White wine is what we do best. Sure – pinot noir,
syrah and other reds have their intermittent good years. But the overwhelming
bulk of our acclaimed exports, year after year are white wines – pretty well hugely
dominated by sauvignon blanc which represents about 75% of our grape plantings.
Having said that, given our cool climate, other more obscure white grapes deserve a mention. I have long been a fan of our (formerly unfashionable) chardonnay grape variety. We also do fantastic pinot gris, viognier, riesling, gewürztraminer and others.
Having said that, given our cool climate, other more obscure white grapes deserve a mention. I have long been a fan of our (formerly unfashionable) chardonnay grape variety. We also do fantastic pinot gris, viognier, riesling, gewürztraminer and others.
Here is a selection of recent samples.
Ngatarawa
Stables Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2014 $NZ 15.00
Pinot gris has become a hugely popular wine in NZ as a mid-range option on the scale from dry, crisp and citrusy sauvignon blancs - to oaky rounded soft buttery chardonnays. This one smells like citrus fruit and nectarine. In the mouth it has a full and generous palate, with ripe nectarine and stone fruit flavours. Yet it has a dry and crisp finish.
Pinot gris has become a hugely popular wine in NZ as a mid-range option on the scale from dry, crisp and citrusy sauvignon blancs - to oaky rounded soft buttery chardonnays. This one smells like citrus fruit and nectarine. In the mouth it has a full and generous palate, with ripe nectarine and stone fruit flavours. Yet it has a dry and crisp finish.
Pegasus Bay Waipara Gewürztraminer 2013 $NZ 29.50
A lovely complex style of gewürz. Barrel aged for a while and including some botrytised (i.e. late picked and sweet) grape juice. Aromas of jasmine and spice, it opens out in the mouth with guava, quince and an off-dry finish.
A lovely complex style of gewürz. Barrel aged for a while and including some botrytised (i.e. late picked and sweet) grape juice. Aromas of jasmine and spice, it opens out in the mouth with guava, quince and an off-dry finish.
Coopers Creek Hawkes Bay Limeworks Chardonnay 2014
$NZ 22.00
Aromas of toasty brioche,
vanilla, toffee apple and some florals. Showing nice characters for such a
young chardonnay, with soft acid, Baba Rhum, creamy yeast and vanilla. Mouth
filling with a dry lengthy finish.
Peacock
Sky Chardonnay Waiheke 2014 $39.00
Smells like marzipan, vanilla, and citrus. In the
mouth - flavours of peach, apricot, mandarin, toast and toffee apple and a lovely
lengthy palate. This one’s a keeper.
Hide it for 3-4 years.
Saint Clair Omaka Reserve Chardonnay 2013 $NZ 38.90
Aromas of grapefruit and spicy oak. Creamy and complex flavours of nectarine and mandarin with little a hint of clover honey.
Ransom
Rousanne 2014 $NZ 26.00
Rousanne is a quite obscure French grape from the southern Rhône.
Rousanne is a quite obscure French grape from the southern Rhône.
Yet, North Auckland’s boutique Ransom Vineyard produces
a tiny amount.
Smells very complex - with toffee apple, funky spicy yeast and citrus lemon. Once swished around the mouth - complex and lush, mouth filling. Chardonnay-like, with crisp finish and lengthy palate.
Smells very complex - with toffee apple, funky spicy yeast and citrus lemon. Once swished around the mouth - complex and lush, mouth filling. Chardonnay-like, with crisp finish and lengthy palate.
