New Zealand's wine fair comes in two parts: the "seminar" and the general tasting.
Seminar Wines ...
This year's seminar was all about Pinot Noir - from all over New Zealand. Pinot is New Zealand's second most planted variety, but a distant second to Sauvignon Blanc. With the most Pinot planted in Marlborough followed by Central Otago and Wairarapa. During the seminar we taste wines from all three regions. plus a few others - let's take a look:
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| Waimea Estate 2012 Pinot Noir (Nelson) nose of ripe cherry and plum followed by earthy, sour cranberry and spice (*** 1/2+) |
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| Mount Riley 2012 Pinot Noir (Marlborough - Wairau Valley) plenty of raspberry, cherry and strawberry with elegant oak and spice on the finish (****) |
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| Auntsfield 2012 Single Vineyard Pinot Noir (Marlborough - Southern Valleys) ripe cherry, cocoa, spice and vanilla; but the cherry is the star here (****+) |
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| Pegasus Bay 2011 Pinot Noir (Waipara Valley) ripe cherry, cocoa, spice and vanilla; but the cherry is the star here (*** 1/2+) |
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| Greystone 2011 Pinot Noir (Waipara Valley) the chill on this wine really brings out that superb fruit backed by cherry and cranberry (*** 1/2+) |
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| Ostler 2011 Caroline's Pinot Noir (Waitaki Valley) very Pinot-esque from the earthy to the spicy with cranberry, strawberry and good acidity - balanced and well-integrated ... best wine of the seminar and quite possibly the day (**** 1/2) |
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| Amisfield 2011 Pinot Noir (Central Otago - Lowburn) blueberry, blackberry and black cherry highlight the dark fruit while there is also a hint of mocha; good tannins, acidity and a nice balance, but there is a little leafy note (*** 1/2+) |
I try to stay away from the Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir - but that's really difficult when it comes to New Zealand wine - so I try Sparkling, Pinot Gris and others ... but when it comes to a New Zealand wine fair it's tough to stay away from those Noirs and Blancs ...
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| Akarua NV Brut Sparkling (Central Otago) 70/30 Chardonnay/Pinot Noir with 18 months on lees this is quite a bitey sparkling, refreshing with fresh bread and green apple (****) |
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| Akarua 2012 Rua Pinot Noir (Central Otago) 7 months of aging in 1-2 year old barrels approachably dark fruited, smoky with good acidity, spice, black licorice, cherry and a peppery finish (****+) |
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| Astrolabe 2013 Province Pinot Gris (Marlborough) starts off like a Sauvignon Blanc but ends with sweet white fruit with apple and pear (*** 1/2+) |
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| Babich 2012 Winemakers' Reserve Pinot Noir (Marlborough) strawberry, raspberry with a touch of plum and spice - there's also nice acidity for balance - this wine has real drinkability (****+) |
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| Elephant Hill 2013 Sauvignon Blanc (Hawke's Bay) with 5% oak has given this wine a hint of some creaminess but also a gentle grass and citrus with a balance of fruit and acidity - not bracing but delicious (****+) |
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| Eradus 2013 Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough - Awatere Valley) good minerality and acidity; rich in grapefruit with a grassy backing (****) |
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| Hunter's 2012 Chardonnay (Marlborough) rich and buttery with oaky notes, apple, and grilled pineapple; pleasantly toasty (****) |
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| Lawson's Dry Hills 2013 Pinot Gris (Marlborough) 23% barrel aged 3 months and wild fermented orange zest and spice with hints of baked apple; weighty and elegant (****+) |
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| Marisco 2013 The King's Thorn Pinot Gris (Marlborough) lovely aromatics with a touch of tropical spice on the palate (*** 1/2+) |
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| Marisco 2012 The King's Wrath Pinot Noir (Marlborough) certainly shows some wrath but also some delicacy with acidity and sour red fruit (****) |
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| Marisco Vineyards 2011 Pinot Noir (Marlborough) gentle with sweet fruit, balanced acidity and spice - friendly on the palate (****) |
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| Middle Earth 2012 Pinot Noir (Nelson) savoury strawberry with a balance of cherry and smoke (*** 1/2+) |
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| Middle Earth 2013 Pinot Gris (Nelson) very nice mouthfeel with honey, peach pit and apple core (*** 1/2+) |
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| Oyster Bay NV Sparkling Cuvee Brut (Hawke's Bay) nice refreshing bubble with bread crust and lime zest (****) |
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| Ten Sisters 2013 Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) orange, lime zest, floral and grassy with good acidic balance; very drinkable (****) |
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| te Pa 2013 Pinot Gris (Marlborough) nice pineapple, peach and lemon pith (*** 1/2+) |
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| te Pa 2011 Pinot Noir (Marlborough) delicate cherry and raspberry (*** 1/2+) |
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