Tuesday 19 April 2005
Tasting Notes - Murray Street GSM 2003
This wine has plenty of appeal and is quite lively but the 'reco' tag will depend largely on price. Lightish red in the glass and very fresh, fruity nose. Sugary feel in a nice way. Slightly disjointed mouthfeel, more sweet notes, nice feel but lacks penetration. Slightly bitter back palate, probably alcohol driven. Worth a look around $14.
Tasting Notes - Clyde Park Pinot Noir 2001
This baby sells for $120 a case at cellar door so the tasting was always going to have a high degree of interest given the potential to shoot the lights out on
Colour looks about right, blood red with a little fade at the rim. Nose is quite expressive, some obvious ripeness and some touches of stewed fruits (remebering of course that 2001 was a bloody hot season). Lighter in the palate than expected, a touch of acid and spice but structure is quite mellow, almost a touch weak. Some varietal notes lurk (spice and faint gamey traits) but are essentially covered over with some generic dry red notes. Not a world beating pinot but one we will be willing to recommend if we can a retail price in the $10 - $12 region.
Colour looks about right, blood red with a little fade at the rim. Nose is quite expressive, some obvious ripeness and some touches of stewed fruits (remebering of course that 2001 was a bloody hot season). Lighter in the palate than expected, a touch of acid and spice but structure is quite mellow, almost a touch weak. Some varietal notes lurk (spice and faint gamey traits) but are essentially covered over with some generic dry red notes. Not a world beating pinot but one we will be willing to recommend if we can a retail price in the $10 - $12 region.
Friday 1 April 2005
Tasting Notes - NZ Wine Show 2004 - Brief Notes
Te Whare Ra Gewurztraminer 2004 (Recommended)
Classic text book nose although a touch on the restrained side. Excellent palate of spice and musk, some heat but well balanced.
Hunters Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (Marlborough) (Recommended)
Classic regional style that few have been able to achieve at this showing. Shows nice balance and appropriate levels of ripe varietal fruit.
Huia Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (Marlborough) $22
Bristling high acid style just lacks fruit power to back sufficiently.
Huia Gewurztraminer 2004 (Marlborough) (Recommended)
Nice broad mouthfeel, very filling. Low acid drink now style.
Highfield Curvee Brut 1998 (Marlborough) $45
Mega toasty nose - nice. Pongy palate, seems way to funky for the style.
Highfield Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (Marlborough) $30
Big fruity style with strong sweaty notes, a touch overwhelming. Palate progressively gets lighter.
Gravitas Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (Marlborough) $27 (Recommended)
Long palate, heaps of balance, very even flavour profile and has a robust structure. Lives up to the hype.
Gravitas Unwooded Chardonnay 2004 (Marlborough) $27
Long, fairly high acid feel. Travels through the mouth well. Good for the style but as per its peers not a totally convincing option.
Carrick Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (Central Otago)$23
Ripe, some fruit punch but thins out at the end of the palate.
Carrick Chardonnay 2003 (Central Otago) $29 (Recommended)
Lucious, high worked, oaky ripe style. Fairly full on but has some obvious appeal. Good value if it indeed retails in the high $20's (ie $5 lower than the 2002).
Craggy Range Fletcher Riesling 2004 (Marlborough) $29
Relatively dry style with nice hints of sweetness. Pretty good but will struggle against OZ wines at the price.
Craggy Range Te Muna Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (Martinborough) $29 (Recommended)
Good, classy style. Served too cold but has that underlying stamp of quality that impacts most Craggy Range wines.
Craggy Range Old Renwick Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (Marlborough) $29 (Recommended)
Classy, long palate style. Excellent winemaking at work.
Wild Rock Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (Marlborough) $19
Mainstream style. Ok but not great. Better options at the price.
Wild Rock Chardonnay 2004 (Hawkes Bay) $19 (Recommended)
Nice worked notes and appropriate ripe fruit levels. Shows good complexity at the price.
Voss Chardonnay 2003 (Martinborough) $35 (Recommended)
White wine of the night. Shy nose but palate opens up superbly. Great balance of ripe fruit and structure. Finishes long.
Francis Cole Gewurztraminer 2004 (Marlborough) $24 (Recommended)
Bang in line with other GW's tasted (all excellent). Big musky, immediate appeal style.
Classic text book nose although a touch on the restrained side. Excellent palate of spice and musk, some heat but well balanced.
Hunters Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (Marlborough) (Recommended)
Classic regional style that few have been able to achieve at this showing. Shows nice balance and appropriate levels of ripe varietal fruit.
Huia Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (Marlborough) $22
Bristling high acid style just lacks fruit power to back sufficiently.
Huia Gewurztraminer 2004 (Marlborough) (Recommended)
Nice broad mouthfeel, very filling. Low acid drink now style.
Highfield Curvee Brut 1998 (Marlborough) $45
Mega toasty nose - nice. Pongy palate, seems way to funky for the style.
Highfield Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (Marlborough) $30
Big fruity style with strong sweaty notes, a touch overwhelming. Palate progressively gets lighter.
Gravitas Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (Marlborough) $27 (Recommended)
Long palate, heaps of balance, very even flavour profile and has a robust structure. Lives up to the hype.
Gravitas Unwooded Chardonnay 2004 (Marlborough) $27
Long, fairly high acid feel. Travels through the mouth well. Good for the style but as per its peers not a totally convincing option.
Carrick Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (Central Otago)$23
Ripe, some fruit punch but thins out at the end of the palate.
Carrick Chardonnay 2003 (Central Otago) $29 (Recommended)
Lucious, high worked, oaky ripe style. Fairly full on but has some obvious appeal. Good value if it indeed retails in the high $20's (ie $5 lower than the 2002).
Craggy Range Fletcher Riesling 2004 (Marlborough) $29
Relatively dry style with nice hints of sweetness. Pretty good but will struggle against OZ wines at the price.
Craggy Range Te Muna Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (Martinborough) $29 (Recommended)
Good, classy style. Served too cold but has that underlying stamp of quality that impacts most Craggy Range wines.
Craggy Range Old Renwick Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (Marlborough) $29 (Recommended)
Classy, long palate style. Excellent winemaking at work.
Wild Rock Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (Marlborough) $19
Mainstream style. Ok but not great. Better options at the price.
Wild Rock Chardonnay 2004 (Hawkes Bay) $19 (Recommended)
Nice worked notes and appropriate ripe fruit levels. Shows good complexity at the price.
Voss Chardonnay 2003 (Martinborough) $35 (Recommended)
White wine of the night. Shy nose but palate opens up superbly. Great balance of ripe fruit and structure. Finishes long.
Francis Cole Gewurztraminer 2004 (Marlborough) $24 (Recommended)
Bang in line with other GW's tasted (all excellent). Big musky, immediate appeal style.
Tasting Notes - William Downie Pinot Noir 2003
Cherry red fruited style. Lacks a touch of varietal character tending to dry red (at the moment). Firm palate, slightly tannin, some strawberry and cherry fruits. Some savoury notes poke through late. Big, riper style that needs time to show its best.
Tasting Notes - Blanche Barkly Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Lightish blood red in the glass, much more pale that I would had expected. Sweet nose; penetrating, ver ripe and almost sugary. Funny palate, starts off sweet but progressively gets tighter and firmer. Dark fruits emerge and some tannins kick in. Finishes long and with a little heat. To be honest not totally impressive right now but will almost certainly improve over the medium term.
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