Te Whau Vertical tasting - The Point

Te Whau winery sits atop the Te Whau Peninsula, looking oddly similar to Auckland's old abandoned gun emplacements, with expansive views extending from Coromandel, to Auckland City and Rangitoto.  Winemaking and barrel storage is directly under the restaurant.   Just 2.5 Ha (6 acres) is planted in Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec.  

The vineyard is sited on a steep north-facing, 20-degree slope, just back from the point of the Peninsula.Owners Tony and Moira Forsyth produced their first wine in 1999 and have gained many accolades and awards for their Chardonnay and Bordeaux style reds.

This week, I was lucky enough to do a vertical tasting of four vintages of their flagship wine, a Bordeaux blend style - The Point, hosted by Moira.

2011 Le Petit Point   $NZD 39.50

After a very difficult growing season with a lot of rain and unusual cold spells, the decision was made to take a leaf out of the Bordeaux winemakers' book and 'declassify' the vintage, releasing the premium Bordeaux blend as a second label named Le Petit Point.  This wine still tastes young, fruity and light, with savoury aromas and flavours of red cherry, pot pourri and stewed plum, with medium tannins.

2010 The Point   $NZD 85.00

(63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec)

By complete contrast, the 2010 vintage was one of Waiheke's best - with a hot very dry extended late ripening period for the Island's reds.  The wine is much more intense, with a dark purple hue - ripe and generous. Aromas and flavours of black olive, black current, cherries and ripe plum with hint of minty Cabernet.

2009 The Point  $NZD 85.00
(55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec)

Shy on the nose, but opens up on the palate with plum, black cherry and cigar.  Firm tannins and lengthy palate.

2008 The Point   $NZD 95.00
(55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec)

Full bodied, soft and savoury with more black olive and a hint of dark chocolate.

My pick - The Point 2010.  These are all very classy wines with the finesse and structure of a true Bordeaux blended red.  Having sampled a number of Waiheke's reds, I have to say - Te Whau's are way ahead of almost all the Bordeaux blends on the Island (including some *ahem* famous producers).

Phil Parker is an Auckland wine writer and runs Fine Wine and Food Tours NZ