Posted in January 21st, 2010
Saint Clair, Marlborough, Vicar’s Choice, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 In the nose you’ll find apricot and green pepper spiced up with floral notes. In the mouth the acidity is vibrant and the body light with a bit of petillance – a nice refresher.
Vicar’s Range is positioned as the family’s lifestyle range emphasizing value for money. Owned [...]
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Posted in August 29th, 2009
Sauvignon Republic, Marlborough, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 The current vintage shows plenty gooseberry and freshly cut grass. In the mouth, it is racy as ever, with added depth of flavor and a sense of citrus peel – very nice. Notes on the ‘07: This wine pulls no punches with its intense honoring of Sauvignon’s grassy side [...]
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Posted in May 12th, 2009
Oyster Bay, Marlborough, Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Like the ‘07, This is in-your-face Sauvignon with bell pepper and lots of acid. All stainless with some lees contact. 13% $10.49 at Bottle Barn Oyster Bay
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Posted in January 29th, 2009
Cloudy Bay, Marlborough, Pinot Noir 2006 In the nose there are fresh and lightly stewed cherries. This wine demonstrates the tart character that Pinot can display and how refreshing and food-friendly that can be. The mouthfeel is creamy as well, with a sense of the tannins framing the wine yet fully ripe they are. From [...]
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Posted in January 29th, 2009
Saint Clair, Marlborough, Pinot Noir 2007 Give this new vintage a little air to blow off a bit of reductive character. The fruit is quite alive in the mouth, clean and lively with a price that makes it a great value! The previous vintage was the class favorite on the night it was served almost [...]
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Posted in November 21st, 2008
Sherwood Estate, Marlborough, Pinot Noir 2007 Brambles, earth and green spices mark the nose and the fruit is still in the background, waiting to come out. In the mouth though, the fruit is poignant, framed by lots of acidity. Proprietors Dayne & Jill Sherwood. P&B in Waipara 13% $14.99 at K&L Sherwood Estate Wines
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Posted in September 11th, 2008
The Drylands and Omaka Springs shine in this flight and show two slightly different taste profiles.
Drylands, Marlborough, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 A pungent rush of gooseberry jumps out of the glass when you pour this wine with cut grass in the background. The same flavors follow in the mouth with the addition of citrus and racy [...]
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Posted in August 14th, 2008
Whitehaven, Marlborough, Sauvignon Blanc 2007 This is full-throttle gooseberries and herbaceousness with loads of acidity – a delicious mouthful of citrus fruit and green peppers. Our friends Chuck and Barbara brought over the ‘06 version to share with us at dinner. This was also a winner with the intensely acidic edge and the pungency of [...]
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Posted in April 24th, 2008
2 flights of Pinot from New Zealand and here is number 1
Daniel Schuster Waipara Pinot Noir Selection 2006
Intense acidity marks this Pinot to drink with food today or lay down in the cellar. P&B in Waipara 14% $26.99 at Bottle Barn Daniel Schuster
Saint Clair Marlborough Pinot Noir 2006
The class favorite of this flight, the wine [...]
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Posted in December 14th, 2007
No.1 Family Estate Marlborough Cuvee No.1 Blanc de Blanc Sparkling Wine nv
Crisp and concentrated, like biting into a green apple. As with Blanc de Blancs from Champagne, this is 100% Chardonnay, aged two years en tirage. Owner & winemaker Daniel Le Brun. Produced in Blenheim 12.5% $27.29 at Bottle Barn No.1
Huia Marlborough Brut 2000
A [...]
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Posted in December 7th, 2007
Cloudy Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Intense green characters, like cutting grass in the summer on a windy day with plenty of acidity. There is full concentration on the palate. Machine harvested, fermented in stainless and aged on the lees for two months. P&B in Blenheim 13.5% $19.99 at Bottle Barn Cloudy Bay
Spinyback Nelson Sauvignon Blanc [...]
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Posted in December 3rd, 2007
Saint Clair Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Vibrant grapefruit and grassy aromas are flanked by ample acidity and citrus on the palate – mouth-tingling. Owned by the Ibbotson family; winemaker Matt Thomson. P&B in Blenheim 13% $13.49 at Bottle Barn Saint Clair
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Posted in November 9th, 2007
Their is ample acidity in both wines in this flight. The WW adds a slight richness whereas the Sauvignon Republic pulls no punches with its intense honoring of Sauvignon’s grassy side.
Woop Woop South Australia Verdelho 2006
Winemaker Ben Riggs. Produced in McLaren Vale 13.5% $10.99 at Bottle Barn Woop Woop
Sauvignon Republic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007
This [...]
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Posted in November 2nd, 2007
Steve Bird Marlborough Old Schoolhouse Vineyard Gewurztraminer 2006
P&B in Tauranga 13.5% $12.49 at Bottle Barn Steve Bird
Lucien Albrecht Alsace Gewurztraminer Reserve 2006
Winemaker and proprietor Jean Albrecht. Bottled in Orschwihr 13% $14.49 at Bottle Barn Albrecht
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Posted in November 2nd, 2007
This flight provides some noticeable contrast in PG styles. The Shaky Bridge has a bit of onion-skin color and herbaceous characters with some of that BO we associate with Sauvignon. The Albrecht Alsatian is quite rounded and lower in acidity. The Hui has great depth of flavor.
Shaky Bridge Central Otago Pinot Gris [...]
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Posted in November 2nd, 2007
More recently we tasted a variation on the original revue below. This flight features 3 wines. First there is the 06 Aurum then the 06 Polish Hill from Grosset and last a more mature bottle of the Pewsey Vale. Notes for the latter two wines follow directly below and the Aurum is [...]
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