Wine-Ark Cellar Club Tasting 1 - February 2011. Weingut Jager, Akarua and Albino Rocca

Standard Wine-Ark tasting. As usual our host tells us that all of the wine's are marvellous. Yawn.

Very pleasant experience with these Austrian wines. The winemaker explained that they were from the same slope at different heights. And also about the new quality demarcation levels for Austrian wines.

• 2009 Weingut Jäger Grüner Veltliner Steinfeder

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  On the nose grapefruit, spice esp. cinnamon, perhaps green apple. In the mouth quite green, slight acidity on the finish and some tongue coating. Not for me.

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• 2009 Weingut Jäger Grüner Veltliner federspiel selection

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  On the nose, grapefruit, pear, apple, cheese, mineral - wet stone and spice. In the mouth green apple and spice. Medium plus acidity with white pepper. Very nice indeed.

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• 2009 Weingut Jäger Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Achleiten

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  Green orchard fruit and Christmas spice on the nose - which oversimplifies a rather interesting selection of aromas. In the mouth it's a little less interesting with hints of unripe peach and white pepper. Disappointing.

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Central Otaga producer.

• 2009 Akarua Pinot Gris

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago

  Elderflower, slight yeastiness and pepper. Medium acidity, slight bitterness on the finish. Nah.

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• 2009 Akarua Pinot Noir Rua

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago

  Alcohol heat and ripe cherry juxtaposed against a slight green toughness on the nose - almost as if it's been done on the stalks but the stalks are still green and the fruit is too ripe. No fruit in the mouth, just a certain leatherness and alcohol. Short to medium finish.

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• 2009 Akarua Pinot Noir Bannockburn

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Bannockburn

  Ripe cherry, green toughness, earthiness and leathery tones on the nose. In the mouth acrid and bitter, dry cherry peeking through, course tannin and not really that good.

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• 2009 Akarua Pinot Noir Reserve

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago

  Earthy, red fruit; especially cherry for me which is slightly jammy, some alcohol heat on the nose. Cream as well. In the mouth more cherry and spice. Medium plus acidity. Okay but not brilliant.

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Piedmont producer.

• 2009 Albino Rocca Moscato d'Asti

  Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Moscato d'Asti

  Peach, nectarine, cream soda, candy floss, rose on the nose. In the mouth I get red candy apple with some residual sugar. Short finish with low acidity. A nice example of a quaffing Moscato d'Asti.

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• 2009 Albino Rocca Dolcetto d'Alba Vignalunga

  Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Dolcetto d'Alba

  On the nose alcohol, spice and red cherry. Dry, bitter, touch of aniseed. Nah.

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• 2009 Albino Rocca Piemonte Rosso Di Rocca

  Italy, Piedmont, Piemonte DOC

  Floral; violets. Cherry, candy floss and rose on the nose. Candied fruit, white pepper and medium plus tannin. Hmm.

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• 2007 Albino Rocca Barbaresco Duemilasette

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Plum/prune, little 'Porty', roast meat, tar and fennel. In the mouth savoury, dry, long finish. Subdued red cherry, dark fruit, leather and a certain meatiness. Lovely.

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• 2007 Albino Rocca Barbaresco Ovello Vigneto Loreto

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Prune more than plum, dried fruit - figs? - cloves, cherry, citrus peel and roast meat. Perhaps even a very odd touch of rancio to it. I also get some meatiness and tar. Lots going on here on the nose. In the mouth plenty of tannin and acid. Tongue coating. Clove studded cherry steeped in Darjeeling. For me, happiness in a glass.

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The Italian Barbaresco was v.pleasant. The Akarua was (yet another) disappointing NZ Central Otago Pinot Noir - There are some things I am just guilty of not really enjoying. Kiwi Pinot Noir falls into this category. One day I will be happily proved incorrect. Gruner Veltliners were interesting.