I was going to title this article ‘Six top drops for the NZ winter,’ but today as I write it’s a balmy 19 degrees in Auckland despite a
fresh westerly! However, by the time you read this it may indeed be a bit
cooler.
Anyway, no Big Theme for this month’s column. Just
some very good wines for you to enjoy, including two fab bubblies. I do believe
that our NZ traditional method sparkling wines are hugely under-rated. Crowds
of Kiwis rush off to grab industrial scale French fizz at $70.00 a bottle on
special, while we have some gorgeous hand crafted sparklers here which stack
upon very well in comparison, for twenty bucks less.
Cheers!
Loveblock
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014 $NZ 26.00
From Kim and Erica Crawford’s organic vineyard, this is an atypical savvie versus the ‘smack in the mouth with a gooseberry flavoured lemon style.’ Lovely and elegant with shy aromas of stone fruit, citrus and hint of ripe black currant. It opens up on the palate with gooseberry, crisp lemon, with a hint of green bell pepper and pineapple.
Availability: Possibly Glengarry or direct from Loveblock www.loveblockwine.com
From Kim and Erica Crawford’s organic vineyard, this is an atypical savvie versus the ‘smack in the mouth with a gooseberry flavoured lemon style.’ Lovely and elegant with shy aromas of stone fruit, citrus and hint of ripe black currant. It opens up on the palate with gooseberry, crisp lemon, with a hint of green bell pepper and pineapple.
Availability: Possibly Glengarry or direct from Loveblock www.loveblockwine.com
Spade Oak Voysey Gisborne Chardonnay 2014 $NZ 16.00
Light nose – apple, stone fruit. Easy drinking light
style with a hint of oak, and fresh fruit flavours of quince, lime and stone
fruit.
Available: Fine Wine Delivery Company, Spade
Oak Wine www.spadeoak.co.nz
Made by the Spade Oak folk. Spent 12 months maturing in French oak barrels. Enticing aromas of ripe peach, marzipan. Opens up on the palate with ripe nectarine, lime and grapefruit. Crisp clean finish with lingering toasty oak.
Available: Fine Wine Delivery Company, Spade
Oak Wine www.spadeoak.co.nz
Hawkshead
Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014 $NZ 30.00
Smells of toasted oak, black cherry and tamarillo,
with a bit of forest floor and spice. Generous palate of black berry fruits and
ripe black currant, with medium soft tannins and lengthy dry palate. Very
classy wine that would reward cellaring for another 3-4 years.
Available: Scenic Cellars, Vino Fino, City Centre
Wine & Spirits Wgton.
Spade
Oak Gisborne Methode Traditionelle Blanc de Blanc NV $NZ 38.00
‘Blanc de blanc’ translates as ‘white from white’
i.e. a bubbly made entirely from white chardonnay grapes. The traditional mix
is chardonnay blended with clear wine made from pinot noir. This is a lovely
balanced and rich NZ fizzy. Pale gold with persistent fine beaded bubbles and
aromas of apple, minerality and a hint of herbs. In the mouth it’s a party of
foamy bubbles with flavours of strewed pear & apple, clover honey, nougat,
nectarine and lime crispness.
Available: Spade Oak Wines www.spadeoak.co.nz
Named after Dawn Ibbotson, matriarch of Saint Clair, who accomplished 100 years in December 2014. This is the tradional blend of pinot noir and chardonnay and was rested on yeast residue in the bottle for 35 months.
Dry, crisp and elegant – this wine has a delicate nose of Nashi pear and minerality. One the palate it’s subtle lime citrus, nougat, brioche and poached pear with a tangy, clean dry finish.
Available: Negociants NZ ordersnz@negociants.com,
Saint Clair Wines www.saintclair.co.nz
Phil operates wine tours in Auckland to Waiheke, Kumeu and Matakana
