I was listening to one
winemaker from New Zealand and in his accent and style he referred to
his wine as a "bloody good drop". I tend to agree with him that New
Zealand is making some remarkable juice in one of the greatest places to
grow grapes and it is catching attention worldwide. The diverse
climate and soils coupled with the focus on lower yields leads to high
quality wines made from many different grapes, not just the well-known
Sauvignon Blanc. I find the wines to be fresh, elegant, and charming.
We recently added a Riesling, two Chardonnay's, and two Pinot Noirs to
our list of New Zealand wines. Otto's Constant Dream Riesling from
Marlborough (yes there is more than Sauvignon Blanc grown there) is
outstanding with bright acidity and bursting flavors of peaches, apples,
and honeysuckle. A delicious drink as an apertif with cheese. The
Craggy Range and Kumeu River Chardonnay's are both made in a Burgundian
style with a clean crisp, minerality, and little or smart use of oak
that does not overpower the ripe fruit. Stunning and very well-balanced
small production wines. As for the Pinot Noirs, they are pure
expressions of the land and the terroir similar to the premier crus and
grand crus of Burgundy. Seresin is biodynamically farmed and its
characteristics are likened to a pretty, soft and feminine Volnay,
whereas the Craggy Range Te Muna Road has a more masculine personality
with more body, deeper fruits, and an earthier tea-leaf like texture
similar to a Gevrey-Chambertin. Expand your horizons within New Zealand
and you will be surprised at what you find! ~Monica McCall
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