Like so many areas of achievement, New Zealand’s wine industry punches well above its weight. Out of relative obscurity only 20 years ago it has become one of the most admired quality producers in the world of wine today. The initial push came through the auspices of Marlborough sauvignon blanc where the pungeant, effusive style captured the imagination of the average wine drinker to a point where it is one of the world’s most recognisable brands.


Building on this success, the industry spread its wings, expanding into new areas and reinventing established areas through the introduction of better vineyards practices and technology in the winery. Along the way regional characteristics were being identified and matched to certain varieties and new stars were emerging. Like the Syrah’s and Bordeaux varieties in Hawkes Bay or the suitability of the diverse Central Otago region for the production of world class pinot noir. There are of course others examples and variables on that theme but it is suffice to say that the Kiwi industry has showed a propensity for a thoughtful approach to the way they’ve expanded their industry so today it ranks as one of the most exciting wine countries in the world.


The mixed dozen offers a selection of new and established producers showcasing the varieties that they do best.



Cheers



The team at Prince Wine Store



Chauvet Sparkling NV


Central Otago, New Zealand


Crafted by Rudi Bauer, using the ‘Methode Traditionnelle’, this has to be one of New Zealand’s finest examples of Sparkling. Using pristine fruit from the Bendigo sub-region of Central Otago this wine has spent two years on lees. Showing fresh and vibrant fruit, the wine is focused and crisp, which is superbly balanced with fantastic texture and weight! PWS



Vavasour Riesling 2006

Marlborough, New Zealand


This is a pretty wine; it is clean, fresh and fairly sweet Riesling with delicate citrus, wild flower and mineral flavours. I like the wine's racy, mouth-watering acidity! Bob Campbell MW



Fromm Riesling Auslese 2006 375ml

Marlborough, New Zealand


What a fantastic wine! This wine is sweet, refreshing with great balance and focus. It shows the extra ripeness that can only be achieved through individual bunch selection. Showing fine apricot flavours and hints of spice, this is a classic example of the contradicting qualities that does characterise the Auslese style, very sweet yet with a cleansing, mouth-drying finish. PWS



Quartz Reef Pinot Gris 2008

Central Otago, New Zealand


Made in a dry, rich, oily style, the fruit is hand picked in ideal conditions and ripeness on 13th and 19th April the Estate Bendigo vineyard. The fruit is whole bunch pressed and experiences minimum settling followed by warm fermentation until dryness is achieved. The wine is lees stirred regularly for six months before bottling in September and the result is a classic pear bomb that is delicious! PWS


Seresin Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Marlborough, New Zealand


Made from low cropped, hand picked fruit this wine is partially barrel-fermented, which adds depth and complexity to this wine. Displaying classic capsicum, gooseberry and grassy herbaceous character, this wine also shows melon and lychee, its acid is fresh and mouth watering and the finish is dry. It delivers the Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc experience and a little more. PWS



Kumeu River Village Chardonnay 2007


Kumeu, New Zealand


Whilst this wine is not even from Central Otago or Marlborough, we just had to include it as a great value, great quality wine. From the Kumeu region on the North Island and crafted by the Brajkovich family, Kumeu River is widely regarded as New Zealand’s greatest Chardonnay producer and this wine is a tribute to that. It is a full weighted wine that shows baked apple, lemon and butterscotch, with great palate cleansing acidity. PWS



Gravitas Pinot Noir Saignee Rose 2007

Marlborough, New Zealand


This Rosé is light garnet-red in colour with an intense aroma of raspberries and cherries. Exuberant fruit flavours and gentle tannins are perfectly balanced by fresh acidity and a long dry finish. This is a wine that will compliment food, especially summer salads and smoked salmon. Chris Young (wine maker) GRAVITAS



Anthem ‘Discover’ Pinot Noir 2006

Central Otago, New Zealand


(aged in 30% new French oak for ten months) Good deep red. Smoky red fruits show a musky quality. The palate offers intense, sweet red raspberry fruit that builds nicely toward the back, and finishes with noteworthy grip. Left behind a whiff of gunflint in the empty glass. With its combination of strong, fresh fruit and smoky minerality, this struck me as midway between Central Otago and Martinborough in style-hardly surprising as winemaker Claire Mulholland was the winemaker at Martinborough Vineyard from 1998 through 2005. STEPHEN TANZER


Anthem is one of the most exciting Central Otago producers to emerge from this region in some time. The wines are full-fruited and spiced by subtle oak spice, finishing with good ripe tannins. The Discovery is the entry level wine from the estate. The packaging is also exceptional. PWS



La Strada Pinot Noir 2005

Marlborough, New Zealand


Swiss-born and resident George Fromm, wife Ruth, and former Matawhero winemaker Hatsch Kalberer have formed a dynamic team to produce exceptionally full-flavoured wines. Fromm has 21 hectares of estate vineyards and, while the emphasis remains on Pinot Noir, produces an utterly eclectic range of wines. JAMES HALLIDAY.


The Fromm style in pinot noir emphasises the structural elements and rather than making a simple fruit-driven style of wine, winemaker Kalberer, always produces a wine of depth structural depth. They have the ability to age for 8 years plus. PWS



Desert Heart Seduction Pinot Noir 2007

Central Otago, New Zealand


A superbly delicate wine showing rose petal aromatics, cherry and strawberry perfume on the nose; the freshness of the nose does come through on the palate with hints of maraschino cherry. It is a youthful wine that does show restraint and finesse that is wonderfully easy to drink! PWS



Wild Rock ‘Angel Dust’ Syrah 2007

Hawkes Bay, New Zealand


This wine is fantastic value showing hints of butterscotch and coffee from the oak beneath the rich concentrated pure fruit that is soft, almost jammy berry fruit and a crisp, firm, tingly finish. Offers value at the price. Bob Campbell MW


Wild Rock is the second-label of the Craggy Range operation based in Hawkes Bay. The wines are always varietally correct, ripe and balanced examples.



Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2005

Hawkes Bay, New Zealand


This wine displays a deep garnet colour with a bouquet of plum and raspberry with hints of cedar and vanilla notes. Firm and fine soft grained tannins underscore the palate's weight. The fresh, bright acids add power and persistence. The small portion of Cabernet Franc lends some spice and complexity. PWS


Our Gimblett Gravels Vineyard is in the heart of the famous Gimblett Gravels Winegrowing District in Hawkes Bay. In this district the climate is significantly warmer than most surrounding districts, particularly at night, meaning the vineyard is more classically warm climate than classically cool. This is due to its relative distance from the sea and low altitude but also the warming nature of the very gravely soils that are the cornerstone of these vineyards. All these terroir characteristics allow us to ripen our grapes up to three weeks earlier at full physiological ripeness. www.craggyrange.co.nz