Church Road Marzemino 2010

Church Road McDonald Marzemino 2010

Every now and again I come across a grape variety I've never heard of - and here's he latest:  Marzemino.

Hailing from northern Italy's Trentino-Alto Adige region this rare red grape variety is silky and full-bodied with sour cherry flavours.
Marzemino is a late ripening variety - which you would think would make it marginal as a New Zealand wine, however 2010 was a particularly hot and dry harvest season in Hawkes Bay and subsequently Church Road has nailed it with this big but approachable red wine.


In the glass - inky deep crimson/purple.  Aromas of black cherry and almonds.  Flavours of boysenberry, black currant and Christmas fruit cake, with soft tannins but a hint of acid.  $NZD 27.00 from Glengarry.
I opened the bottle about 2 hours before we drank it and seemed a bit edgy then.  But with dinner it had softened out and was fine with the chicken and leek pie.

Phil runs food & wine tours in Auckland New Zealand