Wines to watch for 2010
If you want to treat yourself or someone you love to a spectacular wine this year, our resident wine guru, Sam Kim shares his recommendations on ten wines worth splurging on for 2010.
Te Whare Ra TWR Gewürztraminer 2009
Anna and Jason Flowerday have taken this well established label to another level of greatness. Their 2009 whites are simply stunning and this Gewurz is a real knockout. An amazing bouquet exhibiting mango, peach, spice and heady floral characters. It's medium on the palate showing outstanding concentration, silky smooth mid palate, finely woven acidity and a gloriously long finish. A premier league Gewurztraminer showing intensity, lusciousness while remaining elegant and stylish.
At its best: now to 2016. 14.5% Screw cap. 485 cases made. www.te-whare-ra.co.nz
Misha’s Central Otago Limelight Riesling 2008
A rising star in Central Otago. Wines are made by the accomplished winemaker, Olly Masters. The nose is delicately fragrant showing floral, lime zest and subtle, flinty notes. It’s superbly elegant and pure. The palate displays medium sweetness (29 g/l), fine texture and steely acidity providing an excellent structure to this youthful wine. Beautifully poised and framed for medium term cellaring. $27.00
At its best: now to 2012. 11.4% Screw cap. www.mishasvineyard.com
Blind River Sauvignon Blanc 2009
This family-run producer (including three sisters in charge of various aspects of the operation) is making stunningly appealing savvies at the moment, and their 2009 offering is simply outstanding. A gorgeous nose displaying passionfruit, feijoa and a touch of green capsicum characters. It's concentrated and beautifully textured on the palate showing excellent mid palate weight, well harmonised acidity and an extremely long finish. The 10% barrel ferment portion hasn't masked the intensity of the fruit but seems to have added an extra dimension and mouthfeel. Most delicious.
At its best: now to 2013. $25.00 www.blindriver.co.nz.
Pegasus Bay Chardonnay 2007
Pegasus Bay is better known for their exceptional Pinot Noirs and Rieslings, but their Chardonnay is full of character and can age beautifully over many years. This is an astonishing Chardonnay exhibiting enormous dimension, complexity and character. The nose is funky and flinty displaying citrus, mushroom and chalky mineral characters. It's superbly concentrated showing excellent mid palate weight, perfectly pitched acidity and an expansive finish with subtle creamy, mealy characters compounding the pleasure. Not your usual pristine, fruit-forward Chardonnay, this is oozing in style and personality with savoury notes dominating. The impressive concentration, the overall balance and the firm structure should ensure a graceful development in the bottle, as previous vintages of Pegasus Bay Chardonnay have done.
At its best: now to 2015. $36.00 14% Screw cap. www.pegasusbay.com.
Martinborough Vineyard Pinot Noir 2007
Martinborough Vineyard’s senior winemaker, Paul Mason, has been steadily improving wines over the last few years and I suspect there’s much more to come from this exciting talent. This is a wine of imposing presence and style. The bouquet is exceptionally complex and engaging with its red/dark cherry, spice, game and mushroom characters. It's impressively concentrated, yet not heavy, showing excellent mid palate weight, velvety texture and plenty of supple tannins. The wine is multi-dimensional, extremely seductive and most satisfying.
At its best: now to 2017. $70.00 Limited availability. 14% Screw cap. www.martinborough-vineyard.co.nz.
Rippon Central Otago Pinot Noir 2007
Another well established name but the quality of wines at Rippon has improved significantly since Nick Mills returned home from Burgundy to look after the family estate, now using biodynamic practices. The bouquet is stunning! It's ripe and complex displaying dark cherry, spice, dried herb and subtle cedary oak characters. The palate is superbly concentrated and beautifully layered showing satin texture, bright acidity and fine, compact tannins. It's succulent yet firm, powerful yet graceful. A young wine destined for greatness. Rippon's 2006 was outstanding, this is even better. An exceptional wine that has soul.
At its best: now to 2017. $58.00 13% Diam cork. www.rippon.co.nz
Craggy Range The Quarry 2007
This is their Cabernet dominant prestige label, made from 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. It is not as well known or sought after as Le Sol (Syrah) or popular as Sophia (Merlot predominant) but I believe this has the making of a classic New Zealand wine, if not the world. The team at Craggy seems to improve this wine each vintage and the 2007 offering is certainly their best yet. The wine is rich and powerful with blackcurrant, dark plum and dried herb characters with discreet spicy oak notes on the nose. The palate is concentrated and sturdy yet beautifully refined and elegantly textured with an extremely long dry finish. The wine is superbly balanced and beautifully woven to show a seamless mouthfeel.
At its best: now to 2020. $65.00 www.craggyrange.com
Stonecroft Syrah 2007
A pioneer in the Gimblett Gravels and Syrah in New Zealand, Alan and Glen Limmer are making beautifully refined wines that can age magnificently. From an outstanding vintage in Hawke’s Bay, Alan has fashioned a classically framed Syrah displaying medium-deep red purple colour, aromas of dark plum, floral and savoury game with a hint of spice notes. The palate is succulent and rounded with loads of polished tannins. Beautifully structured and impeccably balanced, this refined Syrah shows outstanding line and length.
At its best: 2012 to 2024. $45.00 www.stonecroft.co.nz
Coopers Creek SV Hawke’s Bay Syrah Chalk Ridge 2008
The senior winemaker, Simon Nunns, has captured the essence of Syrah in this flavour-packed wine. An exceptionally rich and plush wine with blackberry, spice, dark chocolate and floral characters with loads of polished tannins. The wine is powerful, graceful and delightfully delicious.
At its best: now to 2016. $28.00 www.cooperscreek.co.nz.
Hatton Estate Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2006
Syrah is hot at the moment and this small producer in the heart of the Gimblett Gravels district is making astonishing wines with excellent ageing potential. Medium-deep red/purple in colour. The nose is still youthful and deeply scented exhibiting blackberry, dark plum, spice and subtle cedary oak characters. It's sumptuous and concentrated on the palate showing dense mid palate, silky texture and plenty of fine, chalky tannins. The wine is superbly structured and poised to develop magnificent complex flavours with time. A breathtaking beauty.
At its best: now to 2016. $60.00 13.5% Diam cork. www.hattonestate.com
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