Category Archives: new zealand

Sea Pearl Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

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Brand: Sea Pearl is a brand of acclaimed importer Winesellers, LTD. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the family run company was awarded “2015 Importer of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Sea Pearl takes its name from the unique abalone found in the shallow waters of New Zealand. Considered to have the widest color spectrum of any abalone in the world, they can also produce stunning pearls.

Winemaking: Certified sustainable, with minimal intervention. Grapes are sourced from vineyards close to the sea, in the southern Wairau River valleys of Marlborough. Grapes were pressed with minimal skin contact; the resulting juice was cool fermented in stainless steel to retain freshness and aromatics.

Tasting Notes: Pale gold in colour with vivid aromas of pineapple, melon, lime and tomato leaf. An explosion of flavour, with lemon, pineapple, passionfruit and lime laced with herbaceous tomato leaf and complimented by racy acidity. Citrus peel and clean minerals linger delightfully between each sip. Classic Marlborough, refreshing and bright!

Pairing Suggestions from the Winery: Great on its own, pairs well with a variety of dishes, including summer salads, spicy Asian cuisine or grilled fish and seafood.

100% Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
Imported and Bottled by Sea Pearl, Healdsburg, CA
13% Alcohol
$12 [average price]
Enjoy now thru 2018

Rated 88 points by Wine Spectator

 

Sample submitted for review purpose.

Mud House Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014

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Winery: Established in 1996, with a focus on the earth and environment, the Mud House name reflects their “origin and link to the earth, where the wine begins”. Mud House has vineyards in 3 different regions of New Zealand’s South Island; Marlborough, Waipara Valley and Central Otago, along with two wineries, one in Marlborough and one in the Waipara Valley. Employing a combination of innovative technology along with the “passion and artisan skill of the winemakers” they strive to capture the essence from where the grapes come from, “ensuring the unique complexities of each region travelled through the earth through the vineyard to the glass”. The Mud House range of wines are crafted to be “everyday wines to enjoy at any occasion”.

Winemaking: Grapes were sourced from sustainably farmed vineyards planted in 2003, with free draining sandy loam over schist glacial gravels rich in minerals. Fermented with a combination of wild and cultured yeasts. A portion of the wine was aged in French oak barriques, while the balance was aged in stainless steel “to retain fruit character”.

Tasting Notes: Highly aromatic with cherry, sour cherry, raspberry, woods, black pepper and a trace of wildflowers. Bright cherry, tangy pomegranate and red currant are enveloped in silky tannins and baking spice. Earth, peppery spice and a wisp of oak linger between each sip.

100% Pinot Noir
Central Otago
New Zealand
Produced and Bottled by Accolade Wines
13.5% Alcohol
$15
Enjoy now thru 2019

Rated 90 points by Wine Spectator

Fault Line Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015

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Brand: Fault Line takes its name from an earthquake of an estimated 7.5 magnitude that shook the Marlborough region in 1848. The earthquake left behind a fault line of at least 105 km [65 miles] in the Awatere Valley, where many of the grapes for the Fault Line brand are grown.

Winemaking: Grapes were sourced from sustainably vineyards in lower Wairau, Rapaura and the Brancott Valley, all in the Marlborough region. Cool fermented in stainless steel “to retain freshness and zing”.

Tasting Notes: Light gold in color with summertime aromas of fresh peach, pineapple, lime zest and tomato leaf. Tasting delightfully similar to the aromas with peach, pineapple and lemon accented by bright acidity and tomato leaf hints, lemon zest and apricot linger on the energizing finish. Immediately recognizable as the classic Marlborough style, this is a refreshing, tropical sip for a hot summer day.

Pairing Suggestions from the Winemaker: Fresh seafood, summer salads.

100% Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
Produced & Bottled by Marlborough Valley Wines Ltd.
13% Alcohol
$12 [average price]
Enjoy now

Sample provided for review purpose.

Walla Walla Meets Wairau: The Expressive Single Vineyard Wines of Hillersden

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Hillersden is located in the Upper Wairau Valley in Marlborough, New Zealand. The estate takes its name from the now long forgotten settler’s town of Hillersden, which was one of the country’s largest sheep stations. Owned today by the Forlong family, the winery is known for being the first family owned, single estate, wine label in the Upper Wairau Valley. Passionately committed to sustainability, solar energy, irrigation technologies, innovation in frost management and repurposing vineyard waste for productivity are just a few of the many methods and approaches they utilize in creating a fully sustainable vineyard. The entire family is dedicated to the honoring the rich history of the land and “creating a new legacy and home for the modern wine lover”. The 3 sons now each have a role in managing the estate, from creating the label art to marketing and vineyard and farm guidance.

I had the pleasure of a guided tasting with their passionate and friendly winemaker, Adam Kubrock. Adam began his wine journey crafting single vineyard Syrah and red wines in Walla Walla, Washington State. Enamored with the cool climate winegrowing in Marlborough, he spent the past 6 years at Indevin, New Zealand Wineries and Mahi “learning the heart and soul of Marlborough wine”.

Winemaker Adam Kubrock.

Hillersden Single Vineyard Legacy Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015

Winemaking: Fermented in stainless steel, aged on light lees.

Tasting Notes: Light on its feet with sweet apple, peach and honeysuckle flavours balanced by bright acidity and an herbaceous streak. Fun, perky fizz carries thru to the clean mineral finish. Refreshing and light, a fun change of pace from Prosecco or Cava.
13% Alcohol
$18 [average price]

Hillersden Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Wairau Valley Marlborough 2016

Winemaking: Fermented in stainless steel, aged on fine lees to give the wine a refined texture to compliment the exuberant flavours. The wine was blended from 4 different vineyard parcels each contributing their own character.

Tasting Notes: Radiating with aromas of lemon, yellow apple, lime and grass. Apple, apricot, lemon and herbs are given a quick shake of white pepper, accenting the crisp, refreshing finish. A gorgeous balance of intense fruit and savoury elements.
13% Alcohol
$15 [average price]

Hillersden Single Vineyard Riesling Wairau Valley Marlborough 2015

Winemaking: Sheep chew the leaves to open the grapes up to the sun, grapes were picked young as they were not looking for the bell pepper flavours. Fermented in stainless steel.

Tasting Notes: Subtle petrol notes are ensconced with bright citrus, apple and honeysuckle flavours. The zippy, flinty mineral driven finish completes the refreshing character. Light, lively and changeable, it will disappear from your glass rather swiftly.
12% Alcohol
$15 [average price]

Hillersden Single Vineyard Pinot Gris Wairau Valley Marlborough 2016

Winemaking: Fermented in stainless steel, aged on light lees to build a refined texture and full palate.

Tasting Notes: Juicy and fresh, with vivid apple, pear and nectarine flavours. Cinnamon and ginger dusted pear linger tantalizingly between each summery sip.
13.5% Alcohol
$15[average price]

Hillersden Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Marlborough 2014

Winemaking: Grapes were sourced from high elevation terraced vineyards, wild fermented and aged just shy of 10 months in 25% new oak. Only 300 cases produced.

Tasting Notes: Light and elegant, with layers of blackberry, plum, cherry and raspberry spread across a floral core, accompanied by bright acidity and silky tannins. Traces of earth and baking spice linger on the fruit and floral finish.
13.5% Alcohol
$21 [average price]

 

 

Media event hosted by New Zealand Wine.

 

 

Exploring the Diverse, Vibrant Personalities of New Zealand Pinot Noir

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I was delighted to attend the Made in New Zealand Pinot Noir Seminar held at Pier A Harbor House in NYC last month. The seminar was an extension of Pinot Noir NZ 2017 held in Wellington New Zealand. The 3 day event, as described by The Drinks Business Magazine: “New Zealand’s entire wine industry gathered alongside a host of international sommeliers, buyers and writers to debate all things Pinot, letting their hair down in the process, in true Kiwi fashion. It was the sixth time that the Pinot Noir NZ event had been held, hosted every four years, with 115 New Zealand wineries showcased this year representing seven regions.”

From left to right, Joe Czerwinski, Brett Feore and Michael Henley.

Hosted by New Zealand Wine, the NYC event was under the direction of David Strada, the marketing manager for New Zealand Wines USA. The distinguished panel of presenters were Joe Czerwinski, managing editor of Wine Enthusiast, Brett Feore, sommelier and wine director at the New Zealand influenced Muskat Room in NYC, Laura Williamson, Master Sommelier and wine director at Mandarin Oriental in NYC, and Michael Henley, CEO of Trinity Hill Wines.

With such an esteemed panel, the tasting was an engaging, informative journey through the different personalities of New Zealand Pinot Noir. Here are my impressions from the seminar:

Wine regions of New Zealand. Courtesy of New Zealand Wine.

  • There is a wide range of style and diversity within New Zealand Pinot Noir. There are 10 growing regions, each displaying distinctive, regional character ranging from fresh and bright, graceful and subtle, to bold and tannic. For example, the hillside areas in Marlborough are known to have red fruits, fresh acidity, good structure and tannic backbone. Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir, with its cool climate, along with water and wind issues, tend to the more savory and earth side, with spice and supple tannins.
  • The average vine age is 15 years. Pinot Noir is a relatively new adventure in New Zealand winemaking. As Joe Czerwinski stated, “While there is a maturity being seen in both the wines and winemakers, winemakers are still figuring things out”.
  • Committed to protecting the land, nearly 100% of wines produced are certified sustainable, with many also being certified organic and biodynamic.
  • The majority of wineries take their name from the dominant feature of the land that they cultivate.
  • As seen also with many Italian winemakers, there is a drive to move away from oak to allow the fruit to come thru. Wine with oak aging generally has a low percentage of new oak.
  • Alcohol levels have to be within .5 % of what is stated on the label. For those of us familiar with the fun “11%-14%” ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ alcohol level commonly seen on Italian and French labels, the accuracy is striking.

All of the wines below are 100% Pinot Noir. Prices listed are the average online cost.

Trinity Hill Pinot Noir Hawke’s Bay 2015

Winemaking Notes: No new oak was used in order to let the fruit express itself; the structure comes from the abundant fruit, not oak.

Tasting Notes: Bright aromas of cherry, raspberry, wild flowers and clean minerals. Fresh and fruity with a streak of granite minerality, silky tannins compliment the fruity, dry finish. Accessible and fun, fantastic on its own or a great companion at the table.
13% Alcohol
$15

Te Kairanga ‘John Martin’ Pinot Noir Martinborough 2015 Continue reading →