Celebrate Sauvignon Blanc on May 17

There’s no doubt about it, Sauvignon Blanc is special. It is the varietal that awoke the world to New Zealand wine and continues to dazzle wine critics across the world. Accounting for 84% of wine exported from New Zealand, the world seems to have an insatiable thirst for Sauvignon Blanc’s crisp acidity and unmistakable ‘zing’.

May 17 2013 marks the fourth annual International Sauvignon Blanc Day – an online initiative that started in California with St Supery Winery as a global social media wine tasting. The event gets bigger every year and New Zealand Winegrowers is now involved to ensure New Zealand wine is well represented.

Restaurants, retailers and consumers around the world – along with global wine brands – will be celebrating Sauvignon Blanc for the day and participating in the Twitter conversation by using the “hashtag” #SauvBlanc .

New Zealand Winegrowers are working in collaboration with St Supery winery in Napa Valley to facilitate a live panel discussion and tasting of the different styles of Sauvignon Blanc from 1-2pm Pacific Standard Time. Panellists include US wine journalists, wine retailers and winemakers. Flying the flag for New Zealand will be Bob Campbell MW, who will be tweeting at the online tasting. The panel discussion will be broadcast online live at http://toutsuite.com.

“A huge number of wine consumers are active on social media and events such as Sauvignon Blanc Day provide great opportunities to raise awareness of New Zealand wine globally” said New Zealand Winegrowers Communications Manager Sarah Thornton. “Anyone can join the celebration by enjoying a glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc on May 17 and telling the world how good it is.”

Sauvignon Blanc is the most popular white variety in the UK off-trade and New Zealand holds a 49% share of the UK’s Sauvignon Blanc market.  Two out of three bottles of Sauvignon Blanc purchased in Australia is from New Zealand and the kiwis have a 22% share of the US Sauvignon Blanc market. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc exports are worth $950 million annually.

Mountford Estate Liaison Pinot Noir 2009

Although this wine is not estate grown, it comes from neighbouring vineyards, it doesn’t detract from the quality. Matured for 18 months in French oak barrels, and bottled unfiltered and unfined. Quite a masculine wine, with rich Doris plum colouring and powerfully rich palate.

Many people would consider $35 for a bottle of wine expensive, but when you’re saving $20 you’re getting a real bargain. Not the type of bargain that supermarkets tell you about, but a real saving of $20. Is it worth spending the money, you bet it is. Grab it whilst you can. Stick it under the house for when the time is ready to drink it, for it will keep for another 5+ years.

Click to buy it here for $35 from Advintage

89 Points
4 Stars
RRP $60

Waipara Hills Equinox 2012 Chardonnay

Made from grapes, of the Home Block vineyard, that were whole bunch pressed. The juice then fermented in 30% new French oak barrels. The barrel certainly adds complexity and roundness to this wine. 2012 in Waipara witnessed a cool Summer, but lovely warm Autumn.

Generous white peach and freshly baked apple strudle are the most obvious aromas. The palate is also generous and full. The acid balance is spot on, with large amounts of fruit and oak this wine could easily have gone either way. Everything about this wine is generous, but in a good way. It sits in the middle of the road, and will not offend those that like large Chardonnays, nor will it offend those that prefer the more lean wines.

87 Points
4 Stars
RRP $27

In the first episode of unscrewed in 2013 I taste Huia Pinot Noir 2003 from Marlborough. A great winery from Marlborough. A member of the Mana group of artisinal Marlborough wineries where organics and biodynamics are core values.

Cloudy Bay 2007 Pelorus

As we draw near the end of Summer, there’s no better way to celebrate, what has been truly amazing weather, than with some of New Zealand’s finest bubbles. It certainly is a wine that warrants celebration.

Reminiscent of small French village aromas of brioche and freshly baked croissant on the nose. The zing of French golden delicious apples, then stewed and caramelised with vanilla pods, are the characters on the palate.  It’s a wine for more than celebration. It lifts te spirit after a hard days work. Well balanced and worthy of being one of NZ’s premier bubbles, although much more palatable at $39 than $50.

91 Points
5 Stars
RRP $49.99

Misha’s vineyard New Release Wines 

Café Hanoi is a great fit for the recent release of Misha’s Vineyard wines. Their wines were recently used as an example of great wines at tasting in Vietnam, hosted by Reidel glasses for 120 people, and for $110 per person for the master class, run by George Riedel himself.

Working with riedel, and being used in their masterclass, is very prestigious. “Vietnamese people are excited about exploring wine. We’re in love with Vietnam” said Andy. They seem very passionate about Vietnam. Maybe because of its French heritage, or maybe the warmth of its people. Whatever it is, both Misha and Andy seemed very excited by the country.

Misha and Andy sent the wine to team at Café Hanoi prior to tasting, asked to match aromatics. Whilst the aromatics all worked with the accompanying food, the Pinot Noirs didn’t. That’s not to say the food wasn’t great, merely they seemed a little mismatched.

This tasting had a little bit of luxury surrounding it. A little exotic. A little bit of Vietnam in central Auckland. The fresh and bright sunny day reminds one of their wines. Their whites are youthful and bright. They’re full of character too. Don’t let their young age put you off, for their wines bely their youth.

The gallery Gewürztraminer 2012

Deliciously rich with honied and lychee nose. Off dry palate with full fruit and definite oiliness. Slight hint of alcohol on the finish, but finish is long.
89 points

Dress circle Pinot Gris 2012

Bottled in October. 25% natural yeast ferment. Off dry. Rich and punchy pear and dried fruit characters on the nose. Fruit hangs perfectly on a back drop of precise acid and minerality.
91 points

Limelight Riesling 2012

Delicacy is the operative description for this wine. Very well balanced . Lovely candied citrus fruit. Pinpoint acid. Good length, but very youthful enthusiasm for pleasing. A Labrador puppy, just hope it ages well.
91 points

The starlet Sauvignon Blanc 2012

Light colour doesn’t hint at the punch that this wine delivers. Mealy citrus fruit. Well balanced. Mineral finish, with fruit sweetness. A textural Sauvignon Blanc. Great balance and poise.
89 points

Impromptu Pinot noir 2011

Hint of carbonic maceration on the nose. Reminiscent of Beaujolais. Designed for en-premise entry into central otago Pinot noir. Creaminess with slightly bitter fruit. Sour cherry.
86 points

The High Note Pinot Noir 2009

Delicate aromatics more savoury aspect given that most wines are fruit driven from Misha’s. the palate displays dark cherry and spice. Good length.
90 points

Verismo Pinot Noir 2009

More aromatics on the nose than the high note. More intense fruit. Power yet seductive velvet fruit. More red than black fruit. Balanced, smooth tannin profile. A real step up.
92 points

Verismo Pinot Noir 2010

Very masculine nose. Dense dark fruit. More developed than its youth suggests. Great palate weight. Mature beyond its years. Great balance and poise. A regal Pinot. A fruit sweetness that makes this wine very seductive. A classic in the making. The question is how many bottles will last in ten years time when the wine finally hits its mark?
93 points.

A very impressive range of wines all from one vineyard!

GIMBLETT GRAVELS – the best of both worlds?

Is it possible to make world class wines from Syrah and Bordeaux varietals grown in the same area?

In France, you would have to drive almost 500km between Bordeaux and the Northern Rhone. Yet in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, GIMBLETT GRAVELS wines from these grape varieties – growing, literally, side by side in an area less than 800 hectares (2000 acres) – continue to receive acclaim from leading international wine critics.

Each year, the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Association (GGWA) releases to key wine influencers a limited number of their Annual Vintage Selection, comprising an independent selection of the members’ red wines that best represent the given vintage. The current 2010 vintage, selected by Andrew Caillard MW, comprises nine blended reds (from Bordeaux varieties) and three Syrah’s.

In her recent review, published on the www.jancisrobinson.com website (subscription), Jancis Robinson MW commented that “…(GIMBLETT GRAVELS) is just as good at its original Bordeaux grapes as at the more recently planted and much scarcer Syrah ….grape”

Her top two ranked wines were a Cabernet Sauvignon blend and Syrah, respectively. A further GIMBLETT GRAVELS Syrah, not part of the Annual Vintage Selection but reviewed simultaneously, achieved an even higher rating.

In another review by leading international wine judge and author, Stephen Brook, a Merlot blend was his top rated wine.

Commenting on the reviews, GGWA Chairman, Tony Bish says” Receiving critical review from such experienced international palates is essential towards helping us achieve our vision to be internationally recognised and acclaimed for consistent production of exceptional quality and highly valued wines.

Whilst we often debate internally whether our Syrah or blended reds are better, the reality is that we are blessed with having the best of both worlds. Thankfully, we are unencumbered by politics or arcane rules that restrict the planting of certain varieties to certain regions and we can let our unique terroir truly express itself. So much so that the Merlot blend that Stephen Brook rated highest includes a proportion of Syrah!

What is also pleasing to see is that there is a recognition that such wines will continue to develop with cellaring, in some cases over 10 years.  American wine critic, Alder Yarrow, recently tasted various aged Hawke’s Bay wines back to 1998 and praised them for “….aging beautifully, effortless testaments to the quality of winemaking that has been going on in this region for several decades.”

It means GIMBLETT GRAVELS wines can offer wine lovers the option to drink young or cellar with confidence. Again, the best of both worlds.”

The 2011 Annual Vintage Selection will be announced early August 2013.

New Zealand Vineyard Estate Enters into the Lightweight Category 

With the release of the 2012 Mud House Chardonnay, New Zealand Vineyard Estate (NZVE) is one of New Zealand’s first wineries to partner with O-I Glass using a new lightweight 407g bottle.

“By adopting the latest light packaging option we will be reducing our environmental and social impact by reduced overall glass use, more efficient transport and health and safety benefits for our distribution partners, something I am sure they will appreciate.” said MJ Loza, CEO, New Zealand Vineyard Estates.

The lightweight 407g bottle is approximately 10% lighter than the previous bottle, with a total reduction of up to half a ton per container of wine exported.  The lightweight bottle retains its premium look and NZVE is using the lighter bottle across all their brands including Mud House, Waipara Hills, Dusky Sounds and Haymaker.  Wines in these new lightweight bottles will be hitting the market in the coming weeks.

The move to a lightweight bottle complements other initiatives within NZVE as part of a broader sustainability programme. “Our Sustainable Responsible Business programme recognises that true sustainability means not only looking after our business and shareholders, but also our staff, business partners and the environment, industry and communities we operate in.” says Loza.

Sustainable Responsible Business initiatives underway at NZVE include;

• Reducing power use through optimising operations and using efficient equipment and by benchmarking against other local and international winegrowers to achieve best practice.
• Accurate monitoring of water use, reducing water used throughout the vineyard and winery.
• Composting grape marc.  New Zealand Extracts, one of NZVE’s sister companies in the Mud House Wine Group, adds value to this winemaking byproduct by extracting bioactives from grape skins and seeds for sale to dietary supplement, functional food and cosmetic companies.
• Involvement in ‘Greening Waipara Project’ – using NZ native plants in and around the vineyard as natural alternative to pest and disease management.
• Conversion of selected blocks at one of the company’s Waipara Vineyards to organics.
• Recent plantings of native trees and shrubs on company vineyards in Waipara.
• Matching charitable donations made by staff dollar-for-dollar.