New Zealand Wines

[helenjp]

The Thor Iverson blog makes very interesting reading if you are interested in NZ wine - worth tracking down the other instalments. I think NZ wine reviewers are too soft - time to start delivering a few wake-up calls to boutique makers of pricey but far from stellar wines.

Even more than the notes on individual wines/wineries (and there are scattered mentions of Pinot Noir), I was interested by the general trend of his comments. The NZ wine industry is still very young, and a LOT of wineries are only 10-15 years old, or even less. I expect that the resources of even a high-flying boutique winery mean that they will have more variation in their wines/years than bigger wineries (guess alert). And then there are all those people who started up wineries without doing the headwork....

I've had some good and some poor wine while I've been in NZ this time (not many absolute duds, partly because I made the decision to mostly stay away from the under $NZ18.00 area). I do think the overall quality has improved, (although 2004 wasn't a great year, especially for reds). So much of the best wine is exported that you probably have a better selection (though at higher prices) than I do here in NZ (though I admit I'm not shopping at specialist outlets - the local wine shop now sells beer, a few wines, and Indian candies...).

[wattacetti]

Shoot. This serves me right for not checking diligently on threads I create.

I forwarded Carswell's information along to the travelers before they left, but chances are slim that they'll want to check mail while vacationing. Well, maybe I'll get lucky.

Thank you Helen and Carswell for the additional information.

[Phil Ward]

One NZ PN I like is Cloudy Bay 2003.

Just had a bottle on Friday night. Quite nice with beautiful aromas and flavors.

Drinking nicely now but should develop over the next few years.

For value, Matua Valley is pretty good.

Phil

[davidbdesilva]

Being a Pinot Noir lover but never having had a NZ PN (but wanting to try them), could someone tell me what they are like? I know that is a difficult question but, e.g. do they resemble west coast PN? French Burgundy? or none of the above? Do they tend to be heavily oaked (which I dislike) or not? Thanks for helping out this novice and for any and all input!

[Shalmanese]

For those of you who love the Cloudy Bay, try tracking down some Dog Point. It's a smaller winery made up of renegade winemakers from Cloudy Bay who have been producing a very good product.

[kiwimaven]

I just received an invitation to a wine fair sponsored by the New Zealand Consul General and New Zealand Winegrowers. They will have tastings of over eighty wines from at least twenty-five wineries. The notice says that many will be featuring white wines from the 2001 vintage and reds from the 2000 and 2001 vintages.

I'm not that familiar with New Zealand wines and was wondering what more knowledgeable folks have to say about them. What are some of your favorites? How do they compare to Australian wines?

←

we are well known for our sauvignon blancs which often show a lot of citrus and often gooseberry notes.

also our pinot noirs are becoming very hot property. the event is a great oportunity to try a huge selection and see what you think and even have chat to the winemaker.

nz pinots are not heavily oaked, and show qutie a lot of berry character. some are a bit earthy like mt difficulty and others are smoother like rockburn.

[mangosteen]

I will be going to work harvest at Kim Crawford's winery in Marlborough this year. Supposedly they work crazy hours (2 12 hour shifts 7 days per week) down there, but hopefully I will get some time to do some tasting while I'm there. I will definitely take notes and I would be happy to share the names of the wines that I particularly liked.

Cheers,

Lisa

p.s. I started out in the Cooking forums and just found my way over here.

[helenjp]

There's a handy source of news on NZ wine and wine events at the Fine Wine Delivery Company.

I can't comment on their service, although they do ship outside New Zealand, but appreciate the news summary on their site!

NZ has had hot, dry weather from mid-summer onward (I don't think it was dry in spring/early summer, but I wasn't paying attention to the NZ weather then, sorry), so I'm looking forward to this year's wines.

[helenjp]

Just back from NZ, didn't have a lot of time to try wine, continue to think that Sileni are good value for money.

On the way out of the country I raced through the airport duty free and grabbed 2 bottles each of Schubert B Block Pinot Noir 2007 and Puriri Hills 2004 Estate blend (not the reserve).

I need help with a decision...3 of these bottles are gifts, and I get to keep one. Which should it be, the Schubert or the Puriri Hills?!

I wanted to try some of the Italian-style wines that are being made, and finally grabbed one Clevedon Hills Chiara (Chardonnay/Arneis blend), not realizing that it was in fact wine made by Vin Alto, the very maker I was trying to find. It was just what I was expecting, flowery and fresh and light, and I wish I had another bottle to give away!

One last bottle to try...Craggy Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Yacht Club Vineyard...but no rush with that one, I think.