20 new release wines from NZ

Presenteed by the industry body, NZ Winegrowers, this tasting was mid September & was specifically designed to showcase new release wines from our Kiwi neighbours. The only challenge was that, perhaps befitting a new release tasting, many wines were literally just bottled (or at least tasted like it), so plus signs are particularly important.

Still, lots to like here and consistent results, particularly the whites. Particular mention to the 07 Seresin wines which were extraordinarily good.

Pegasus Bay Riesling 2008
Rich, spicy, gewurtzy, expensive aftershave nose. Rich, yet still dry palate shows full ripe fruits with a well judged edge of candied fruit. Heedy & musky palate of weight and serious richness. Nice length, with some botrytis influence on the back palate. Delicious full Riesling. Yum. 18.3

The Ned Pinot Gris 2008
Spicy & quite ripe nose, palate is rich and full but falls away considerably through the back. Great, authentic rich Pinot Gris flavours, it just needs more intensity for decent marks. 16.8

Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Sweaty nose, just bottled palate feels tight but shocked to death. Retaste required. 16.5 (for now)

Lawsons Dry Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Consistently one of Marlborough’s finest Savvies and still outrageously good value. Big, full, classically expressive nose, backed by vibrant, zingy palate of freshness and proper acidity. Excellent stuff. Well done. 18.4

Astrolabe Discovery Awatere Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Big & quite herbal nose, palate is just a bit, big and bulky with a peppery finish. Could be a bit bottle shocked, but didn’t quite blow me away like the 08 did. 17.0

Seresin Reserve Chardonnay 2007
Complex, full & nutty nose. Worked & rich, its a very attractive, big & creamy style with a layered, fresh cream drenched palate. Lightly spicy, long and pure, it’s a simply delicious new world Chardonnay. Loved it. One of the best NZ Chardonnays I have had this year. 18.6

Pegasus Bay Sauvignon Semillon 2008
Softly spicy nose with just a smidgin of herbs & some nutty oak. Tight, textural palate again has great length, even if it’s very closed. Good now & will get even better with 6-12 months in the bottle. 17.6+

Seresin Leah Pinot Noir 2008
Spicy but very ripe nose. Strawberry jam fruit is pretty & juicy but hot finish derails things a little. Good drink regardless. 17.2

Wither Hills Pinot Noir 2008
Dumb nose showing alot of oak. Oaky & ungenerous palate lacks real generosity & vinosity. Oak tannin to finish. Could well get better in the bottle, but no love at the moment. 15.5++

Wooing Tree Pinot Noir 2008
Again a very pretty nose, this is super tight, but still showing beautifully pure strawberry fruit & nice tannins. Alcohol heat the only distraction. 17.5+

Seresin Rachel Pinot Noir 2007
Perfect. Classic Marlborough Pinot from the first sniff. Lovely pure fruit, with leaves & mulch mixed in for good measure. Excellent pinosity. Beautiful red fruited wine with sappy soft tannins. Great. 18.8

Mountford Estate Pinot Noir 2007
Rich & chocolatey nose with just a hint of bacon. Palate feels a bit drawn & bacony, though still drinkable. Not quite. 16.2

Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir 2007
Very solid & tight, brawny style with lots of extract & power. Big wine, big tannins, built for the long haul. Cellar!. 17.8++

Quartz Reef Bendigo Estate Pinot Noir 2007
Very tight nose, dry, restrained and giving away little. Palate though is multi layered with richness and interest, not to mention proper length. Structured and very fine. 18.1+

Stonecroft Serine Syrah 2007
Very pretty, almost pinotish fragrance to the nose, with none of the ham sometimes shown in this wine. Restrained, peppery palate with redcurrant fruit, noticeable acidity & real tannins. I like the structure and with time this will score even higher. Nice cool clime Syrah. 17.7+

Stonecroft Zinfandel 2007
Wow! Bitumen & tar with ripe, liquered black/red fruit & vanillan oak on the nose, the appeal here is in the rich rush of brambled red fruit. Really quite modest and drinkable for a Zin & very drinkable. 18

Crossroad Elm Reserve Syrah 2007
Hammy, skinsy nose with elegant but ultimately lacking simple red fruit palate. Surprisingly one dimensional and ordinary. Might improve. 15.5+

Bridge Pa Reserve Syrah 2007
I’ve never enjoyed this wine so I’m perhaps not the best commentator about this vintage. Pepper & plenty of red meat on the nose, with a palate that is welcomely rich but it just gets more gamey by the minute. Others may love this. 16.8

Church Road Reserve Merlot Cabernet 2007
Far too young? Eucalypt and mint on the dry nose, palate seems to lack length at present, with oak dominating the lot. Retaste required. 16.5++?

Trinity Hill The Gimblett 2007
Much better. Just a baby at present with dense, slightly soapy nose, with very long yet closed palae, olive edged savouriness and very serious tannins. Long termer. 17.8+++