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Varieties: Merlot (49.5%), Cabernet Sauvignon (50.5%)Region: Hawkes Bay, NZColour: Dark purpleAlcohol: 14.5%Bouquet: Ripe fruit. Regular cherry and blackcurrant aromas.
Flavour: Sweet tasting fruit (in the New World style) according to the nose. Medium bodied although a little light in the mid palate. Very mild tannin.
Points: 83 (3+7+10+6+7+50)Notes: $AU37.00 ~ 740 Kc
Variety: SyrahRegion: Hawkes Bay, NZColour: Dark purpleAlcohol: 13.1%Bouquet: Peppery nose with dark plum flesh in the background
Flavour: A nice balance of dark plums, plum skins and white pepper. Solid fruit but a little short in the finish.
Points: 84 (3+7+11+6+7+50)Notes: $NZ34.00 ~ 570 Kc
Variety: Pinot NoirRegion: Central Otago, NZColour: PurpleAlcohol: 14.0%Bouquet: Wet cow (animal tones) with hints of bramble and concentrated fruit (cherry?)
Flavour: Strong sour cherry flavours contained by good acidity, with very mild tannins through to a good finish. Elegant.
Points: 88 (2+8+13+7+8+50)Notes: An excellent Pinot. $AUD 60.00 ~ 1,200 Kc
Variety: Pinot NoirRegion: Central Otago, NZColour: PurpleAlcohol: 14.0%Bouquet: Wet barn aromas. Restrained nose.
Flavour: Very mild in the mouth with a soft combination of brambles (sticks), sour cherry and tannins present. A little too sour for me at the end.
Points: 83 (2+8+11+6+6+50)Notes: $NZ40.00 ~ 670 Kc
Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: Central Otago, NZ
Colour: Purple with a slightly orange hue. Looks like a Cab.
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: Dusty/dry earth aromas with hints of sour cherry in the background
Flavour: Fruity - plums and mulberrys - with very nice length. Light tannins coat the tongue. Not overly complex.
Points: 84 (2+7+11+7+7+50)
Notes: The nose was better than the flavour. $NZ45 ~ 750 Kc
Variety: Pinot GrisRegion: Nelson, NZColour: Silvery YellowAlcohol: ? %Bouquet: Just ripe peach and lemon bud aromasFlavour: Lovely. Some Christmas spice (cinnamon,clove) with red apple and pear skin flavours. Very nice balance, medium body and length.
Points: 86 (3+6+12+8+7+50)Notes: $NZ 18 ~ 300 Kc. A lot in this wine and will be really nice to taste after a couple of years to see how it develops. The sixth and last of the whites tasted at the NZ wine event.
Variety: Pinot Gris
Region: Marlborough, NZ
Colour: Silvery Yellow
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: White peach aromas
Flavour: Ripe, fleshy fruit flavours of peach and pear with requisite mineral nuances as well. Nice length.
Points: 83 (3+6+11+7+6+50)
Notes: Nice wine lacking a wow factor. $AU17.00 ~ 340 Kc
Variety: Sauvignon BlancRegion: Marlborough, NZColour: YellowAlcohol: 12.5%Bouquet: Great. Smokey, like the first smoke coming from a match igniting, with hints of waterlogged wood. Flavour: Interesting and pleasing combination of some herbaceous flavours like thyme, with some candied lemon and orange sweets/lollies and wet stone
Points: 88 (3+8+12+8+7+50)Notes: The 3rd wine of the NZ wine event. Excellent wine. $AUD 36 ~720 Kc
Variety: Sauvignon BlancRegion: Marlborough, NZColour: Pale yellowAlcohol: 13.4%Bouquet: Intense aromas of late summer grass after rain and tropical fruit
Flavour: Nice and crisp with excellent acidity. Also, nice length. Typical gooseberry flavours.
Points: 84 (3+7+11+7+6+50)Notes: A very good example of this style of NZ Sav Blanc. $AUD 26 ~ 520 Kc
Variety: RieslingRegion: Marlborough, NZColour: Pale yellowAlcohol: 10.0%Bouquet: White flowers and a hint of jasmine in the nose. Sweetness is also there
Flavour: Rich and a little syrupy lemon and honey flavours. Nice length although additional acidity would have helped hold this together better
Points: 83 (3+7+10+6+7+50)Notes: The first wine tasting at a NZ tasting event. $NZ17 ~285 Kc
Variety: Pinot GrigioRegion: Friuli - Grave DOCColour: YellowAlcohol: 12.5%Bouquet: Tropical fruit, more toward pineapple flesh and some soft lollies (candies) - see picture
Flavour: Juicy pear and thick apple skins dominate. Medium length and still fresh. Very pleasant finish with a touch of zest.Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)Notes: It is rare that I taste Pinot Grigio so nicely done. About $13.80(~276 Kc). More please.
Variety: ReislingRegion: Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare ValleyColour: Rich YellowAlcohol: 13.1%Bouquet: Kerosene aromas dominate and something like wet steel in the mix as well
Flavour: Wonderful, rich complex flavours full of aged, almost nutty tastes with bits of lemon and mineral extract. Very well integrated. Great length.
Points: 89 (3+8+12+8+8+50)Notes: It seems to be about $33.00(~660 Kc). Lovely wine.
Variety: Reisling
Region: Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Colour: Pale Yellow
Alcohol: 12.0%
Bouquet: The glass is bursting with very fresh, white flowers with secondary cirtus aromas
Flavour: Very good lemon and lime flavours with a touch of mineralilty, held together with good, firm acidity
Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)
Notes: $16.00(~320 Kc). As our little troupe of tasters included those who prefer young Riesling to aged Riesling, this was our winner.
Variety: RieslingRegion: Barossa, Barossa ValleyColour: YellowAlcohol: 12.5%Bouquet: A little closed at the start. Some citrus emerged and the smallest whiff of age-tones
Flavour: This wine deteriorated fairly quickly. Initially, I enjoyed lemon flavours and reasonable acidity. It was not complex. However, it soon became rather bland and a bit short.
Points: 80 (3+6+9+6+6+50)Notes: At $15.15(~300 Kc) this was the loser of our few Riesling's tasted. It was neither young and fresh or aged and refined.
Variety: VermentinoRegion: Corsica (Vin de Pays de I'ile de Beaute)Colour: YellowAlcohol: 13.5%Bouquet: Some tropical notes, more towards ripe pineapple
Flavour: Straightforward wine with a very sour ending. Flabby. Any remnant of the fruit is overcome by the sourness of the ending
Points: 76 (3+6+7+4+6+50)Notes: At $34.00(~680 Kc) this definitely plays on those wanting to try wines from new regions. F recommends that in general, Corsican wines should be super cool on a really hot day to enjoy.
Variety: ViuraRegio: RiojaColour: Straw YellowAlcohol: 13.0%Bouquet: Bottle age is the initial sensation, with juicy, very ripe pineapple not far behindFlavour: Generous lemon flavours in this fuller style white which has something different, almost almond like, hints of oxidation you have in a fortified wine
Points: 88 (4+8+12+6+8+50)
Notes: At $16.50(~300 Kc) this is a very reasonably priced. Interestingly, online it is recommended that this should be drunk early and has flower aromas. It has a very nice development and I think it will be appreciated by those who enjoy a good aged white
Variety: Sauvignon BlancRegion/G.I.: Although claiming to be Hunter Valley on the label, most likely this is actually from the little known Northern Slopes, New England Australia wine regionColour: Lime YellowAlcohol: 12.5%Bouquet: Asparagus and a little grassy. Flavour: Middle weight with very pleasant citric flavours and a hint of mineral extract. Pleasant complexity and nice length. Not showing ageing in nose or flavour profile.
Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)Notes: At $15 (~300 Kc) this is a tasty and interesting wine. Keen to try some of their reds which I have also been sent through the wine club
