Rockburn Tigermoth Riesling
This vintage Riesling was harvested from the Central Otago wine region. It has an alcohol level of 8.4% and the colour of this medium-sweet white wine is a glittering pale white gold. Primary fruit aromas of nectarine, apricot, honey-crisp apple, citrus, spring blossoms and plum flow off the nose, with underpinned fragrances of honeycomb, ginger and clove. The palate features flavours of apple, pear and mineral nuances, with a touch of honey that fills the mouth and leaves a fresh taste. The mid-palate is filled with notes of tangerine and lime. The balanced sweetness and fine acidity are brought to fruition by a long and cleansing finish. This wine is best served at 43°F. Here are a few food suggestions: honey-roasted pork with braised vegetables, stir-fried shrimp with bacon, fried semolina dumplings with apricots, and snapper with charred tomatillos.
Wirra Wirra Hiding Champion Sauvignon Blanc
Very pale with pristine clarity and flashes of green. Nose of passionfruit, gooseberry and freshly squeezed citrus dominate, followed by more subtle grassy, leafy notes and a touch of kafir lime. Wonderfully fresh and showing precise varietal fruits: tangy passionfruit, grapefruit and lemongrass. Long and punchy with great purity, line and a mouth-watering, lime-juice acidity. VineyardsSourced from Jeff Gowers Lenswood Vineyards, the sauvignon blanc plantings on gravelly clay loam over red clay subsoil date back to 1999. Vinification Handpicked grapes were destemmed, crushed and cooled to five degrees Celsius while being transferred to the airbag press. The juice was then pressed into stainless steel tank, keeping the free run and pressings separate. Juice was cold settled for a week at around two degrees and then racked from gross juice lees. The free-run juice parcel was warmed and inoculated with yeast to begin fermentation. Fermentation temperature was kept low to maintain delicate aromatics. Once fermentation was dry the wine was then chilled and stabilised prior to filtration and bottling Wirra Wirra was originally established in 1894 and though abandoned after several decades of production was revived by the late Greg Trott in 1969. The winery produces exceptional value, fruit driven wine styles that dont shy away from ripeness, intensity and oak usage. Wirra Wirra is located approximately four kilometres outside of the township of McLaren Vale in the McLaren Vale wine growing region of South Australia. Wirra Wirra source fruit from estate and selected grower vineyards. Wirra Wirra is the core range but the wines are delineated by tiers including Flagship wines, RGT collection, Church Block, Mrs Wrigley range and the entry level Scrubby Rise wines. The production of these wines is overseen by Chief Winemaker Paul Smith, with able assistance from Tom Ravech and Kelly Wellington. The winery employs modern technology and new world technique to produce expressive wines of intensity, bold flavour and McLaren Vale profile.
Te Tera Sauvignon Blanc
Bob Campbell Master of Wine writes; 'Quite a concentrated wine with a mix of ripe tree fruit/ nectarine and citrus/ lemon flavours. Very pure with a long and linear finish. Steely dry wine that's very food friendly. Offers value at this price.' Why not judge for yourself.
Greywacke Pinot Gris
An exotic Middle-Eastern mélange of poached quinces, sticky dates and tree-ripened figs, laced with vanilla bean, cardamom and hints of black licorice. This is a ripe, opulent expression of the pinot gris grape in a voluptuous off-dry style that has considerable concentration and a long, luscious finish. The three clones were hand-picked separately at high ripeness levels and whole-bunch pressed using very low maceration press cycles. The resulting juice was cold settled, then racked to fermentation vessels. Most of the juice went through a natural indigenous yeast fermentation in old French oak barriques and the balance was fermented in stainless steel tanks using cultured yeast. Towards the end of fermentation all the wine was transferred to stainless steel tanks where the fermentations were stopped, retaining 10 g/l residual sugar. The wine then spent a year on yeast lees (seven months in old barrels and the remaining time in stainless steel tanks) prior to blending and bottling. Kevin Judd is one of Marlboroughs pioneer winemakers whose career is intrinsically linked with the global profile of New Zealand wine. Kevin was born in England and grew up in Australia, where he studied winemaking at Roseworthy College and first made wine at Reynella in South Australia. He moved to New Zealand in 1983 and joined Selaks Wines. Subsequently, he became the founding winemaker at Cloudy Bay, a pivotal role during which he directed the companys first 25 vintages. In 2009 he established his own label, Greywacke, named after New Zealands prolific bedrock. The Name: New Zealand does not have a designated national rock, but if one was ever chosen it would have to be greywacke (pron: grey-wacky). This drab grey stone is found everywhere in New Zealand on the mountains, in the rivers, on the beaches. It consists of layers of hard, muddy grey sandstone alternating with thinner layers of darker mudstone (argillite). Technically the term greywacke refers to the sandstone (wacke is a German name for a type of sandstone), but it is also used as a general term for the entire rock.
Storm Bay Sauvignon Blanc
Isabel Estate Wild Barrique Chardonnay
Finely poised and with stylish French oak nuances, offering attractive notes of rockmelon, fig, vanilla and a touch of struck match flint the palate is enhanced by a sleek and refined mouthfeel leading to a sublime finish.
Pyramid Valley North Canterbury Sauvignon +
Framingham F Series Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
The 2022 season was not without challenges with significant rain events leading into harvest. Careful fruit selection was required from two sections of organically grown vines around the winery (90%) and Andalane vineyard further down Conder Bend Road a mere 500m from the estate. Soils here are of the old riverbed type with fist sized stones composed of greywacke (a hard, dark type of sandstone streaked with quartz and feldspar), mixed alluvial gravels and silt. Consequently, vine canopies lack vigour, the fruiting zone is more exposed to the elements and yields are naturally lower. These factors produce an atypical style of Sauvignon Blanc.
Framingham Noble RIESLING Marlborough
The 2024 Framingham Noble RIE 375ml Marlborough is a true masterpiece from the renowned New Zealand winery. This wine exudes an alluring golden hue, enticing the senses with its luscious appearance. Upon the first sniff, notes of honey, ripe apricot, and candied citrus peel dance on the nose, enchanting the palate with their delicate sweetness. On the palate, the wine reveals layers of flavors, from juicy stone fruits to mellow caramel and a touch of spice. The mouthfeel is velvety smooth, with a perfect balance of acidity and residual sugar. This wine is a true reflection of Marlborough's terroir, showcasing its unique microclimate and soil. With its elegant yet complex profile, the 2024 Framingham Noble RIE is undoubtedly a must-try for any wine connoisseur.
Framingham Pinot Gris Marlborough
Aromatics of red apple, nectarine and flinty savoury elements. Intense, richly textured and supple palate with elements of stone fruit and ginger whilst finishing with vivid quartz like persistence.