| | Going back to London for the annual NZ Trade tasting - 2015 Esk Valley Pinot Noir - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Red fruit, a bit spity, soft with a touch of alcohol. In the palate the wine is again quite mellow, clear red fruit, straightforward, not much complexity
88+ (88 pts.)
- 2015 Tohu Pinot Noir - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough, Awatere Valley
Red fruit, some vegetal notes with the spices sitting in the back. The palate shows loads of ripe red fruit flavors, med to high acidity, silky tannins.
88+ (88 pts.)
- 2014 The Boneline Pinot Noir Waimanu - New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury, Waipara
Ripe red fruit, deeper and more complex than Esk Valley and Tohu tasted prior to this, some spices and a touch warm. The palate shows loads of ripe red fruits, some spices, the acidity feels high, nice tannins, long finish (89 pts.)
- 2013 Ceres Pinot Noir Composition - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
Red fruit and floran notes, sweet spices with inside a thin oaky frame, black cherries.
The palate shows powerful acidity, red fruit, alcohol burn, spices and tannis more upfront, tighter, med to long finish. Needs time (89 pts.)
- 2014 Burn Cottage Pinot Noir Burn Cottage Vineyard - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
Rich red fruit, sweet spices and ripeness all around, some floral notes, very rich and attractive profile.
The palate shows richness, clean red fruit, nice acidity and oak treatment, attractive, tasty, offering complexity, smooth tannins with long finish. (92 pts.)
- 2011 Mount Edward Pinot Noir Morrison Vineyard - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
Very rich and extrovert profile, ripe red fruit, sweet notes from the oak, sweet spices, mint freshness, very impressive.
The palate shows richenss again, red fruit, sweet spices, nice tannins, elegant and silky smooth, long finish (92 pts.)
- 2014 Mahana Pinot Noir Clays and Gravels - New Zealand, South Island, Nelson
Rich red fruit, beautiful sweet spices, the oak is more upfront here, loads of cinnamon and nutmeg.
The palate is rich, offering high intensity, powerful acidity, buckets of ripe red fruits, high oak presence, long spicy finish
93+ (93 pts.)
- 2013 Paddy Borthwick Pinot Noir Right Hand - New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa
Rich red fruit, nice sweet spice character, the oak is more upfront than the rest and a bit thinner.
The palate is clean with clear red fruit, feels somehow easier to drink, less spices in the palate than the nose, but the intensity of the fruit is the same, nice acidity, straightforward but also complex, nice structure, delicate. (92 pts.)
- 2014 Craggy Range Pinot Noir Aroha - New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
50% whole bunch, 30% barrique for 10 months
Ripe red fruit straight from the start, delicate with some sweet spices, a thin oak frame.
The palate shows soft tannins, its mellow, clear red fruits, some spices with a touch of oak, straightforward. Easy to like, easy to drink on its own but could also work with food, med finish.
I did expect more complexity though due to its name and fame (91 pts.)
- 2014 Trinity Hill Syrah - New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay
Clear purple color, full fruity, some pepper notes while in the palate cherry and sour cherry, feels somehow very fresh and underripe, a bit green, med body, green tannins, short (86 pts.)
- 2014 Trinity Hill Syrah Gimblett Gravels - New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay, Gimblett Gravels
Denser fruit, sour cherry again, red and black cherry, sweet spices.
The palate follows the same pattern, very fresh, ripe and bright red and black fruits, med body, med to high acidity, med and slightly bitter finish. (88 pts.)
- 2014 Trinity Hill Homage - New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay, Gimblett Gravels
Very big and rich in the nose, tight as well, the oak is thight, the fruit is ripe, sweet spices in the back, feels very fresh still.
The palate is full of sweet spices, tight oak, the tannins are still very evident, med to full body, med acidity, med to long finish.
The wine seems quite young still but shows promise. (91 pts.)
- 2014 Trinity Hill The Gimblett - New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay, Gimblett Gravels
49% Cabernet Franc, 39% Cabernet Sauv, 9% Merlot, 3% Malbec
The nose is rich and impressive, filled with ripe red and black fruit, sweet spices and oak derived notes.
In the palate the oak seems more upfront, the spicy element is more obvious, young, slightly grippy tannins, dense red and black fruit core, med body and med to long finish. Nice future ahead
89+ for now (89 pts.)
- N.V. Hunter's Miru Miru - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough, Wairau Valley
50% Chardonnay, 46% Pinot Noir, 4% Pinot Meunier
The nose shows some richness, white fruits, lime and lemon, some yeast notes, the palate feels creamy, yeast notes, lime-y acidity, short to med finish. Nice and tasty (87 pts.)
- 2016 Hunter's Riesling - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough, Wairau Valley
Soft at first, citrus and tropical fruit, pineapple, lime, some dried citrus later on. The palate is round, lemon, lime, sweet tropical fruits, nice acidiy, med body and finish
88+ (88 pts.)
- 2014 Hunter's Riesling Hukapapa Dessert Wine - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough, Wairau Valley
10% alcohol, 123 RS
Ripe tropical fruit, ripe to overripe lemon, lime, with some tea leaves for extra complexity.
The palate is rounder, lime, ripe lemon, pineapple, I'd like a bit more acidity, med finish (88 pts.)
- 2014 Summerhouse Pinot Noir - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
A strange array of red fruits, floral notes, biscuit and sweet spices. The palale is thin, straightforward, clear red fruits, slightly reductive, nice tannins, thin body, short to med finish (87 pts.)
- 2015 Brancott Estate Pinot Noir Letter Series "T" - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Attractive nose at first, red fruit and some spices, a bit of oak.
The palate shows red fruit again, spices, sweet, light and easygoing in general, niec acididy, med body, short to med finish (88 pts.)
- 2015 Framingham Pinot Noir - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Red fruit in the nose with some reduction, spicy, oak, the palate is cleaner, mostly red fruit with some floral notes, light end easy, lean, not many things going on, short finish. (87 pts.)
- 2015 Elephant Hill Le Phant Rouge - New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay, Gimblett Gravels
Merlot based plus Syrah & Cab Sauvignon
Simple and straightforward in the nose with red fruit, the same profile in the palate too, med to high acidity, soft tannins, red fruit, med body (at best), short finish (87 pts.)
- 2014 Elephant Hill Syrah - New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay
Red fruit with spices, sweet oak notes, the palate shows ripe red fruit, nice oak frame, powerful acidity, rich, med to long finish
88+ (88 pts.)
- 2013 Elephant Hill Syrah Reserve - New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay
Syrah with a tiny bit of Viognier cofermented.
Rich and impressive in the nose, ripe red and black fruit, spicy, cinnamon, very attractive. The palate is equally rich, nice balance between ripeness of fruit and oak, a touch of alcohol (13.5%), tannins with a grip and long finish (92 pts.)
- 2012 Clos Marguerite Pinot Noir - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough, Awatere Valley
Red fruit, tobacco, spicy and oak notes, the palate feels sweeter, with higher intensity of flavors, red fruit, lean, lack cimplexity for the price, pleasant though, light to med body, med finish (89 pts.)
- 2015 Tinpot Hut Pinot Noir Marlborough - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Light red fruit, sweet spices, cinnamon, fresh and so is in the palate with bright red (and slightly sour) fruit, light body, easygoing, drink now (88 pts.)
- 2013 Tinpot Hut Syrah - New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay
Very light, a few red fruits here and there, sweet spices in the back. The palae in again very light, red cherry, dry, cinnamon, med+ acidity, med tannins and short finish (87 pts.)
- 2014 Blank Canvas Winery Pinot Noir - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Red fruit, milky notes, sweetness from the oak, strangely attractive though. The palate shows the same flavors with bright red cherry, milky, oak, sweet spices, medium body, med tannins and short to med finish (87 pts.)
- 2014 Blank Canvas Winery Syrah - New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay
A selected parcel of Syrah co-fermented with 7.5% Gruner Veltliner skins ?!?
Clear red fruit, sweet spices, nice oak frame, light and intoxicating nose.
The palate shows red fruit, slightly elevated acidity, the oak is more upfront than the nose, sour cherry, red cherry, bits of strawberry, medium body, tannins and finish.
Very interesting
88+ (88 pts.)
- 2015 Delta Vineyard Pinot Noir - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Ncie cherry red fruit, spicy nuances, cinnamon, pepper, some oak notes.
The palate is light, clean, a bit alcoholic, spicy, mild, straightforward, easydrinking, red cherry, light to med body, short to med finish (88 pts.)
- 2012 Delta Vineyard Pinot Noir Hatter's Hill - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
The color seems rather pale ("aged"), sweet spices, some alcohol notes, the palate offers complexity, fruit, spies, oak, nice tannins, elegant, structrued, far better in the palate, smooth, cinnamon flavored med finish (89 pts.)
- 2013 Greywacke Pinot Gris Botrytis - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
The wine shows offers beautiful nose, white fruit, lemon, tropical fruit, lime, overripe pineapple and white chocolate.
The palate is rich, white chocolate again, overripe peach, pineapple, apricot, lime, lemon-pie, nice balancing acidity with a long finish.
Beautiful, would have this any day. Too bad its not imported (91 pts.)
- 2016 Akarua Pinot Noir Rua - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
Very pale color, light red fruit, restrained, light body, red currant, cherry, easygoing, short finish (87 pts.)
- 2013 Akarua Pinot Noir Central Otago - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
Darker color than the RUA one, big flavors, spicier, all sorts of small black fruits, cinnamon, nice palate, spicy with all the fruits of the nose, earthy notes too, serious structure, med body and long finish (92 pts.)
- 2014 Wild Earth Pinot Noir - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
Brilliant nose, decadent, spicy, earthy, dark fruits, smokey too. The palate is more fruit forward, sour cherry, med to high acidity, nice oak frame, med body with med to long finish. Still quite fresh (92 pts.)
- 2014 Burn Cottage Pinot Noir Moonlight Race - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
Clear red fruit, a bit smokey, the palate is clean, rich red fruit, nice tannins and acidity, tobacco, oak and fruit, easygoing, med finish (90 pts.)
- 2015 Akitu Pinot Noir A1 - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
26% whole bunch, 22% new french oak
70% F Block Abel, 30% C Black UCD 5
Dense nose, ripe fruit, red cherry & berry, oak, sweet spices, the palate shows ripe fruit again, nice oak frame, complex, nice acidity, med to long finish.
Overall a bit fresh still, sweet-ish, nice structure (92 pts.)
- 2015 Akitu Pinot Noir A2 - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
31% whole bunch, 13% new french oak
57% B Block Abel, 39% C Block UCD 5, 4% F Block Abel
Very spicy at first, light thin red fruit, nice oak, easygoing in the palate, firm acidity, spicy, oak, red fruit, med body and finish (89 pts.)
- 2012 Archangel Pinot Noir - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
The nose is quite spicy, red and black fruit, oak, a bit decadent, the palate is not in the same level though, red fruit, drying oak, lighter body than expected, med finish (88 pts.)
- 2014 Coopers Creek Pinot Noir - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Beautiful nose showing red cherry, some spices and oak. The palate is quite easy, fruity, nice acidity, light body, easygoing and pleasant to have on its own (89 pts.)
- 2013 Coopers Creek Shiraz SELECT VINEYARDS CHALK RIDGE - New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay, Gimblett Gravels
Dense nose, ripe black cherry showing spices and toast too.
The palate is rich, ripe black fruit, nice tannins, juicy, full body, nice structure, sweetish overall so could be drank on its own or with food, med to long finish (92 pts.)
- 2015 Mt Holdsworth Pinot Noir - New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa
Attractive nose, very clear fruit, toasty but not overly so.
The palate shows the same profile, red fruit, toat, oak, rich, nice structure and acidity, med to long finish (92 pts.)
- 2013 Julicher Estate Pinot Noir 99 Rows - New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Very reductive in the nose showing an onion/garlic note, the palate shows red fruit, again reductive character, very strange as I don't usually find this in kiwi wines, med body, acidity and finish
- 2013 Julicher Estate Pinot Noir - New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
It seems there is a pattern here with the wine showing again (after 99 Rows) reductive character, red fruit in the back, sweet spices, thin oak frame, the palate shows tart red fruit, oak, reduction and a strange acidic finish
- 2015 Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Starting with a bit reductive nose, spicy and oaky, red fruit and spices in the palate. The wine feels better in the palate, med body and finish (89 pts.)
- 2014 Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir Te Wahi - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
The wine shows density in the nose, red and black fruit, spices and oak.
The palate is equally rich, showing the same red and black fruit notes, loads of spices, impresive but also playful, med acidity, med to long finish (92 pts.)
- 2015 Felton Road Pinot Noir Bannockburn - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Bannockburn
Soft in the nose, red fruit, the palate is straightforward, easydrinking, high acidity, feels simple, red fruit, nice to have on its own (88 pts.)
- 2015 Felton Road Pinot Noir Cornish Point - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
A step up from the "plain" Pinot Noir, red fruit, spicier, the palate is at the same level with the nose, round, clean red fruit, tasty, balanced, med finish (89 pts.)
- 2015 Felton Road Pinot Noir Calvert - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
Spicier, caramel, cinnamon, clean red fruit with some toasty notes sitting in the back. The palate is again quite lovely, showing red fruit, spices, nice acidity, round and attractive, nicely balanced and structured, med body and med to long finish (90 pts.)
- 2015 Felton Road Pinot Noir Block 5 - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
Needs time to open up in the glass, ripe red fruit, sweet spices, with a beautiful oaky frame. The palate is rather tricky since it seems light at first but give it some time and it grows and expands in the glass, balanced, nice acidity, nice tannins and body, structured, med to long finish. (92 pts.)
- 2014 Seresin Pinot Noir Leah - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Nice sweet red fruit, light, spicy, the palate is easy, light, red fruit, lacking complexity, light body, med finish (88 pts.)
- 2013 Seresin Pinot Noir Rachel - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Red fruit, spices and sweet oak, the palate is light, tasty, red fruit and spices again, straightforward and easygoing, lacking complexity but would be nice to have on its own, med finish (88 pts.)
- 2013 Seresin Pinot Noir Noa - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
More tobacco in the nose than Leah & Rachel, ripe red and black fruits, sweet spices. The palate shows density, all sorts of ripe red cherries and berries, delicate, nice acidity, med finish (89 pts.)
- 2013 Seresin Pinot Noir Tatou - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
This feels more european in both nose and palate, the bright red fruit is not so upfront, more earthy and spicy, somehow leaner palate, med finish (88 pts.)
- 2013 Seresin Pinot Noir Raupo Creek - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Tobacco and red fruit, toast, cinnamon and caramel. The palate shows red fruit, more tannins than the other Seresin Pinot Noirs tried before, higher acidity, the oak sits higher too, more body, tighter, med to long finish. (89 pts.)
- 2014 Urlar Pinot Gris - New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Gladstone
Ripe tropical fruit, a touch of yeast, the palate shows enough acidity, med body, lemon, lime, med to long finish. Would be nice to have on its own, drink now (88 pts.)
- 2015 Quartz Reef Pinot Gris - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago Bendigo
Rather mild in the nose, lemon (leaves and fruit), the palate is nicer, filled with lime, lemon, med+ body, med to long finish
88+ (88 pts.)
- 2015 Nautilus Estate Pinot Gris - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Round no the nose, ripe fruit, lime and lemon leaves.
The palate is rich, ripe citrus, lemon, lime, med+ acidity, body and finish
88+ (88 pts.)
- 2015 Seresin Pinot Gris - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Beautiful, round, fruit with some biscuit notes, ripe stone fruit and a refreshing herbal note.
The palate is rich, copying the nose, ripe, rich, med to high acidity, bright, lively, med finish (90 pts.)
- 2016 Rapaura Springs Pinot Gris - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
The nose is different, shows higher notes of ripe lemon, lime and then stone fruit. The palate follows the same path as the nose, 9.1 RS that show, very roung, balancing acidity med body and finish, a bit one dimensional but very good to have on its own (88 pts.)
- 2016 Waipara Hills Pinot Gris - New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury, Waipara
Quite green in the nose and the palate, some citrus notes with lime mostly, med to high acidity, med body and finish. (87 pts.)
- 2016 Seifried Riesling - New Zealand, South Island, Nelson
A bit aggressive, unripe fruit, a few petrol notes, the palate is the same, rubber, green, lime, pineapple bits, med boey, med to high acidity, med finish (87 pts.)
- 2016 Te Whare Ra Riesling 'M' Single Vineyard 5182 - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
A bit reserved in the nose, lime, lemon, tropical fruit, rubber on the back, the palate is again green and aggressive, feels that it needs time, med acidity in balance with the 4.5 RS, med body and finish (87 pts.)
- 2014 Prophets Rock Dry Riesling - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
The nose is dominated by petrol/rubber notes not leaving much room for the fruit to breathe.
The 8 RS shows a lot in the palate, green / underripe fruit, tropical fruit, pineapple, lime, lemon, med to high acidity, rich palate, long finish.
I think this one needs time in the glass to shine, if you're in a rush (or in the middle of a tasting) then you might think much of this. (88 pts.)
- 2015 Mt. Difficulty Riesling Medium Target Gully Central Otago - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
The nose shows all sorts of different types of green (flesh, juice, stalks), stone fruit, more on the fresh side rather than unripe.
The palate is interesting, balancing acidity, green apple, pear, some rubber notes, med body and med to long finish (89 pts.)
- 2013 The Crater Rim Riesling Waipara - New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury, Waipara
A strange mixture or aromas showing petrol, rubber, white fruits and backets of flowers.
The 33 RS have a massive impact on the palate, green apple, peach, rosewater, the acidity feels medium, a bit cloying overall, short finish (88 pts.)
- 2015 Huia Gewürztraminer - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Low intensity tropical fruits, some floral notes, the palate shows floral notes again, rose-liquer, rosewater, turkish delight, 14% alc that stands a bit taller, med acidity, short to med finish (87 pts.)
- 2015 Zephyr Gewürztraminer - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Low intensity on the nose, floral with the fruit standing way in the back, the palate shows the same character, 14.5% alc that shows, 8.9 RS offering sweetness, onedimensional with short to med finish.
Actually this is a very a good example of difficult it is to mame a Gewurztraminer (87 pts.)
- 2014 Babich Gewürztraminer Family Estate - New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay, Gimblett Gravels
Hard to find anything here, strangely restraint, in the palate the same thing, 7.1 RS, 14% alcohol that shows.
Is it the wine or is it just fatigue? (85 pts.)
- 2014 Giesen Gewürztraminer The Brothers - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Round, ripe small fruit, rosewater, sweet spicy notes, the palate shows the 30 RS, rosewater again, feel the 13.5% alc, med body, lacks acidity, med finish (89 pts.)
- 2016 Yealands Estate P.G.R. Seaview Vineyard - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough, Awatere Valley
Rather sweet in the nose, ripe stone fruit, white chocolate, very light palate, easydrinking, refreshingly green, lime, lemon, green apple, med body, med+ acidity med finish (88 pts.)
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