New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Palest straw. Green apple, spice top notes. Bone dry palate (5g/l) but with considerable extract, the win e has a very linear mouthfeel and demands time in the bottle to flesh out. Currently very un-evolved. 89++
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Deep yellow/gold. Very honied nose of great minerality, touches of apricot and apple and a hint of petrol. Gorgeous mouthfeel, honied notes echo on palate. A cool vintage that has aged beautifully over two decades and does not feel tired in any way. The wine of the tasting by a considerable margin.
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Light straw. Slightly dumb, mineral chardonnay fruit aromas. Tight and acid lightly oaked style in the manner of chablis (but with brighter and sharper acids). In the mouth, pretty simple but a very strong malic acid profile suggests this may repay cellaring. 82+++
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Palest straw. White pepper and a clear expression of PG fruit that veers towards the stoney and herbaceous end of the spectrum. A phenolic wine with 15g/l that is currently slightly hard in the mouth and simple but I have every expectation that this will improve with time in the bottle. 86+++
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Light straw. Bright nose of talcum and lychee. A residual sugar level of 25g/l, combined with generous and controlled alcohol and bright acid results in a classy and slightly phenolic Gewurtz that speaks of its terroir.
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Purple/ruby. The product of a hot vintage, the nose is very ripe, exhibiting candy cane and sweet cherry notes. Masculine mouthfeel with warm fruit and firm tannins. This is very confectionary in style - although not in the more focused style of Central Otago. This is a well made, very new world wine that should age quite well. 88+
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Dense purple/ruby with some age apparent at the meniscus. Very developed nose with considerable VA. Lots of round fruit sweetness but not a classic style. The wine displays a long finish with excellent presence in the mouth. A few over-ripe aspects in evidence combined with a hint of faded fruit suggest that this wine is just slightly pat its prime, although it will clearly last for a few more years, no problem.
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Intense purple/ruby. Bright nose of cool climate syrah, featuring floral, animal, pepper and lean raspberry fruit. Excellent palate with great definition. This is outstanding New Zealand syrah with gorgeous high toned nuances. Very lifted, great structure and presence. Nicely judged proportion - this will age well. The product of a cool and wet vintage. Very Crozes-Hermitage is style.
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Purple/ruby with hints of development. Lifted nose with some VA, marzipan and smoke. Quite smooth texture but a little facile. The product of a warm and dry year, this is good but lacks a bit of complexity and definition.
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Purple/ruby with clear aged notes at edge. Very lifted nose of menthol, dark berries, tobacco, leather and pepper - very nice! Smooth texture with some coffee bean notes on the palate. Whilst this does not relate to the wines of France, it is an enjoyable bottle of wine in an easy going way. Certainly ready.
2012 Dry River Riesling Craighall 89 Points
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Palest straw. Green apple, spice top notes. Bone dry palate (5g/l) but with considerable extract, the win e has a very linear mouthfeel and demands time in the bottle to flesh out. Currently very un-evolved. 89++
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1992 Dry River Riesling Craighall 92 Points
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Deep yellow/gold. Very honied nose of great minerality, touches of apricot and apple and a hint of petrol. Gorgeous mouthfeel, honied notes echo on palate. A cool vintage that has aged beautifully over two decades and does not feel tired in any way. The wine of the tasting by a considerable margin.
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2012 Dry River Chardonnay 82 Points
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Light straw. Slightly dumb, mineral chardonnay fruit aromas. Tight and acid lightly oaked style in the manner of chablis (but with brighter and sharper acids). In the mouth, pretty simple but a very strong malic acid profile suggests this may repay cellaring. 82+++
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2012 Dry River Pinot Gris 86 Points
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Palest straw. White pepper and a clear expression of PG fruit that veers towards the stoney and herbaceous end of the spectrum. A phenolic wine with 15g/l that is currently slightly hard in the mouth and simple but I have every expectation that this will improve with time in the bottle. 86+++
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2012 Dry River Gewürztraminer 88 Points
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Light straw. Bright nose of talcum and lychee. A residual sugar level of 25g/l, combined with generous and controlled alcohol and bright acid results in a classy and slightly phenolic Gewurtz that speaks of its terroir.
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2011 Dry River Pinot Noir 88 Points
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Purple/ruby. The product of a hot vintage, the nose is very ripe, exhibiting candy cane and sweet cherry notes. Masculine mouthfeel with warm fruit and firm tannins. This is very confectionary in style - although not in the more focused style of Central Otago. This is a well made, very new world wine that should age quite well. 88+
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2003 Dry River Pinot Noir 86 Points
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Dense purple/ruby with some age apparent at the meniscus. Very developed nose with considerable VA. Lots of round fruit sweetness but not a classic style. The wine displays a long finish with excellent presence in the mouth. A few over-ripe aspects in evidence combined with a hint of faded fruit suggest that this wine is just slightly pat its prime, although it will clearly last for a few more years, no problem.
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2011 Dry River Syrah Lovat Vineyard 90 Points
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Intense purple/ruby. Bright nose of cool climate syrah, featuring floral, animal, pepper and lean raspberry fruit. Excellent palate with great definition. This is outstanding New Zealand syrah with gorgeous high toned nuances. Very lifted, great structure and presence. Nicely judged proportion - this will age well. The product of a cool and wet vintage. Very Crozes-Hermitage is style.
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2008 Dry River Syrah Lovat Vineyard 84 Points
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Purple/ruby with hints of development. Lifted nose with some VA, marzipan and smoke. Quite smooth texture but a little facile. The product of a warm and dry year, this is good but lacks a bit of complexity and definition.
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2004 Dry River Syrah Amaranth Lovat Vineyard 87 Points
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Purple/ruby with clear aged notes at edge. Very lifted nose of menthol, dark berries, tobacco, leather and pepper - very nice! Smooth texture with some coffee bean notes on the palate. Whilst this does not relate to the wines of France, it is an enjoyable bottle of wine in an easy going way. Certainly ready.
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