western australiaTalisman Gabrielle Singlefile Family Fifth Estate Trevelen Farm The T EWINESTATE INTERNATIONAL CABERNET TASTINGFerguson Valley Reserve Denmark Krugers Block Maritime GreatChardonnay Chardonnay Geographe Southern Pinot HUON HOOKE TYSON STELZER MIKE BENNIE2013 ####1/2 2014 ####1/2 Chardonnay Noir 2012 ####A complex, fresh and A good food wine 2011 #### Good varietal fruit 95 95 95very rich style with a with subtle layers A beautifully expression withlovely lifted bacony oak of powerful melon seamlessly integrated forest floor-like fruit POINTS POINTS POINTSbouquet and a tight oak and peach fruit, figs, wine. Good oak aromas characters on the nosepalate with some great dried herbs and slatey with leesy complexity. and the soft, warm,peach/stonefruit-like mineral elements. Fruit richness on the weighty palate. Plentyvarietal fruit. $29 Lifted aromas and mid-palate. A lovely of acidity. $23Xanadu Margaret warming flavoursome drink. $19River Chardonnay palate. $50 other red varietals2013 ####1/2 Pepperilly Ferguson rosé & blendsStunning concentration Valley Chardonnayof citrussy/stonefruit 2014 #### Sandalford Fifth Estatearomas with similar Wine has both Margaret River Wines Geographecharacters on the freshness and Rosé 2014 Tempranillovery tight, dry palate complexity, bright ####1/2 2014 #####showing bacony/spicy melon/stonefruit Big cabernet-like A very pretty fragrantoak complexity and a characters and subtle aromas and a bouquet with a touchnice ripe edge. $35 use of oak with seductive palate with of smoky bacon oak.Domaine honey notes. \"A clever excellent savouriness, The palate has the lotNaturaliste Artus wine.\" $28 intensity and grip and - attractive sweet redMargaret River Killerby Margaret brimming over with fruit, chocolaty oak,Chardonnay River Chardonnay flavour. \"Very Margaret hints of violets, big2013 ####1/2 2013 #### River,\" thought one chalky tannins and lotsBig oak-driven style. Pungent style with a judge. $20 of acid. $19.99Smells of cashews certain funkiness. Has Deep Woods Vinaceous Voodooand vanilla with some some tropical/citrus Estate Harmony Moon Margaretlemon jelly crystal fruit freshness and Margaret River River Malbecnotes. Classy palate nice, well-handled, oak Rosé 2014 #### 2013 #####with \"respectful adding complexity. $30 Good fruit intensity to A youthful winewinemaking to the Plantagenet the nose and very good with vibrant aromasfruit\". $42.99 Great Southern depth of flavour to the reminiscent of fruitHoward Park Chardonnay palate which shows compote and someWestern Australia 2013 #### hints of crushed herbs beetroot. Palate isChardonnay An interesting, long, and a nice spicy finish. rich and tannic with2013 ####1/2 textured and layered $14.95 mouthfilling juicy fruitLots of attractive oak wine. Powerful Pemberley flavours and well-that is tending to dried herb fruit Pemberton Rosé handled, top quality,dominate the elegant with a lemony lift, 2014 #### oak. $25.99fruit - for the moment. barrel ferment and Dry savoury style with Palmer MargaretSoft and creamy in integrated oak and a big berry nose. Lots River Malbecthe mouth with great acid. $32 of textural interest to 2011 ####1/2length of delicious Domaine the fruit-driven palate. A big wine on allflavours. $42.99 Naturaliste Purus Has leesy complexity fronts. Classic darkMillbrook Margaret River and tight acidity. $25 brooding nose showingLimited Release Chardonnay great charisma.Western Australia 2013 #### pinot noir Excellent black jubeChardonnay An elegant wine with fruit palate with super2013 ####1/2 restrained citrus/melon Marchand & ripe tannins and cedaryA delicious old school aromas and punchy up- Burch Australian oak on the finish. $30style of chardonnay; front fruit on the finely Collection Mount Settlers Ridgeseamless and slippery layered palate with Barrow Mount Organicwith excellent cleansing acidity. $42.99 Barker Pinot Noir Preservative Freeintegration and Howard Park 2013 #### Margaret Rivercomplexity of fruit and Allingham Soft, rounded and Sangiovese Blendoak characters. Lovely Western Australia well-balanced wine 2013 ####long lingering finish. $45 Chardonnay with good power and Good varietal fruit 2013 #### intensity of varietal expression of cherries A complex commercial fruit, elegant oak and red berries. The style of chardonnay and lovely creamy palate is savoury and with a big oak structure. $50 tannic with a drying contribution but there finish that \"befits a is plenty of soft creamy sangiovese\". $25 fruit sitting below. $89 Annual 2016 W I N E S TAT E 151 BRA042_POC_GrandeReserve_WineState_67x274_Ad_FA.indd261/11/2015 2:24 pm
WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2015 western australiaMandalay Road Deep Woods Red Gully Palmer Margaret shirazGeographe Durif Estate Margaret Nannup Cabernet River Cabernet2013 #### River Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Sauvignon VinaceousLifted earthy beetroot Sauvignon Merlot ##### 2011 #### Right Reverendbouquet with a big and 2012 ####1/2 A gorgeous ripe A very pretty wine, V Benevolentiaflavoursome sweet Excellent cabernet chocolaty bouquet and well-balanced and Frankland Riverbeetroot-like palate nose; perfumed and a firm, rich and complex stylish with lovely ripe Mount Barkerwith dusty tannins and ripe with a touch of palate in a Bordeaux- berry tones showing Syrah 2013 #####supporting oak. $29.99 violets. Beautifully like style with lovely a herbal edge and A bright perfumedMillbrook Margaret focused fruit flavours minty fruit, dusty oak restrained tannins. mulberry bouquetRiver Nebbiolo layered with oak and and a good tannic grip Easy drinking. $37.50 and a silky smooth2012 #### ripe tannins. A fine with a long lingering palate with intenseTypical varietal fruit example for now or finish. $19.95 shiraz blends spicy varietal fruitcharacters of cherry cellaring. $35 and peppercorn-likestones, roses and Clairault Margaret Deep Woods elements integratedviolets. Warm powerful Evoi The River Cabernet Estate Shiraz with the oak andtannic palate with good Satyr Reserve Sauvignon 2012 Et Al Margaret finishing warm. $25.99backbone of acid. Margaret River ####1/2 River Shiraz Blend Cabernet Merlot A very elegant wine 2013 ##### Brygon Reserve 5+ $22 2012 ####1/2 with briary/smoky A really lovely wine Third Wheel Superb blackberry aromas and a long firm - long and layered. Reserve Margaretcabernet blends intensity to the complex palate with Aromatically perfect; River Shiraz nose supported by plenty of mouthcoating masses of black fruit, 2012 #####Knee Deep in spicy cedary oak flavours and a lovely showing a stalky kick, A big ripe traditionalMargaret River with leathery age Brygon Reserve Bin fine tannin structure. licorice elements, style with lifted spicyCabernet Merlot developing and layers 822 Margaret River smoky oak and dusty peppery aromas2013 ##### of fruit/oak flavours on Cabernet Merlot 5+ $27 tannins. $20 showing underlyingA deep magenta a \"sublime\" brooding 2013 #### Palmer Kracker savoury oak. Palatewine with a powerful palate. 5+ $49 A really good example Vinaceous Jack Bin 212 delivers punchydark fruit/cedary oak of the style with Right Reverend Margaret River varietal fruit with nicelybouquet and densely Sandalford beautiful brooding Patientia Mount Shiraz Cabernet controlled tannin andpacked forest fruit Margaret River dense dark plum fruit. Barker Cabernet 2012 ####1/2 oak characters. $24.99flavours on a luscious Cabernet Merlot It has balance and Sauvignon A fresh spicy shiraz Smallwater Estatepalate that's balanced 2013 #### poise and plenty of 2013 #### nose with some leafy Geographe Shirazby oak and fine Interesting black fruit length. $19.99 Big charry oak lift to cabernet notes. \"A 2013 ####1/2tannins. $24 nose with some high- Brygon Reserve the nose and a lovely really lovely lively Terrific magenta huesHouse of Cards end perfumed notes. Hummingbird classy palate rich with palate.\" Sweet spicy and magnificent noseThe Joker Plenty of merlot fruit Series Margaret fruit and silky smooth fruit, good oak use. $25 that's all oriental spicesMargaret River obvious on the palate River Cabernet in the mouth. Good Aravina Estate matched with darkCabernet Merlot with a fine tannin Shiraz Merlot cellaring potential. Margaret River berries. Elegant and2013 ####1/2 structure. $20 2012 #### Shiraz Tempranillo stylish palate withStill a baby with years Spicy perfumed 5+ $25.99 2013 #### pristine fruit showingto grow yet. Has a lively Brygon Reserve bouquet and a lovely An attractive medium violet nuances. $35blackberry fruit nose Third Wheel smooth palate bright Robert Bowen bodied blend with brightwith some dusty oak Reserve Margaret with fruit and nicely Margaret River sour cherry fruit, somenotes and a smooth River Cabernet controlled tannins. Cabernet spiciness and stalkinesspalate full of dense Shiraz Merlot \"Very gluggable,\" noted Sauvignon and bold tanninrich fruit with well- 2013 #### one judge. $19.99 2012 #### structure. $20structured tannins. $21 A vibrant broody A lovely cabernet Vinaceous RedPepperilly Bordeaux style cabernet sauvignon bursting with cool dark Right HandFerguson Valley bursting with red berry fruit showing violet- Margaret RiverCabernet Malbec fruits and moderate Domaine like nuances and some Shiraz Grenache2013 ####1/2 tannins. It shows Naturaliste dried herbs. Lifted TempranilloBrooding dark excellent restraint and Rebus Margaret nose and silky palate. 2013 ####chocolaty richness balance. $24.99 River Cabernet Attractive dark fruiton the nose and Sauvignon 3-5 $NA aromas and vibrantdark complexity to Mad Fish Premium 2013 ##### core of fleshy softthe palate with ripe Red Western Great potential for a Greedy Sheep fruit flavours on theberry fruit characters Australia Cabernet young cabernet with Single Vineyard well-structured palatebalanced by powerful Sauvignon Merlot lovely dark brooding Margaret River with its good oakyet restrained oak. 2012 #### black berry fruits, Cabernet support. $25.99 Intense, inky and a little \"obviously old vine Sauvignon 3-5 $24 restrained but has very fruit,\" thought one 2012 #### good depth of rich fruit judge. Nice menthol Very elegant and and excellent tannin tones and oak refreshing wine, \"A structure with good prominent palate with beauty\". Smells of vinosity. $13.99 fine tannins. $28.95 earthy red berries and has generous round palate with grippy tannins. $30152 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2016
western australiaFifth Estate Brygon Reserve Paul ContiGeographe Shiraz The Bruce Margaret Mariginiup Western2011 ####1/2 River Shiraz Australia ShirazBright fresh mulberry 2012 #### 2013 ####aromas with a dash of Powerful caramel-like Cedary oak aromasspicy oak. An elegant oak drives this wine at on top of the simplepalate with good the moment giving it varietal fruit. Moremid-palate texture and savoury characters but oak on the beautifullysimple charry/plum the dark brooding fruit textured palate with aflavours with nicely is pushing through. richness of mulberryintegrated tannins. $19.99 flavours. $28$18.99 Brygon Reserve Greedy SheepSandalford Flying High Single VineyardMargaret Margaret River Margaret RiverRiver Shiraz Shiraz 2013 #### Shiraz 2013 ####2012 ####1/2 \"A cracking colour,\" Lovely perfumed nosePretty perfumed nose with very interesting - smells of rose petalswith a lovely cherry perfumed nose and with a pretty palatefruit lift. Lovely silky a lovely silky smooth of beautiful sweetpalate; sweet and palate with pretty fruit. varietal fruit andslippery with elegant A very appealing style. nicely drying oak.varietal fruit and some $19.99gravelly tannins. It's House of Cards 5+ $30stylish and polished. The Joker Margaret Streicker River Shiraz Bridgeland 5+ $20 2013 #### Block MargaretHoward Park A warm plumy style River SyrahScotsdale Great with an excellent 2011 ####Southern Shiraz core of fruit layered A lovely fresh and2012 ####1/2 with some lively fleshy wine that's inA powerful wine that spicy characters and excellent conditionneeds some more showing some meaty with stylish liftedageing. Lovely tight complexity. $21 raspberry fruit,varietal fruit characters balancing oak andwith good softness and warming alcohol. $43sweetness from the Settlers Ridgeoak and lots of chalky Reserve Organictannins. $25.90 Margaret RiverHoward Park Shiraz 2008 ####Leston Margaret Perfumed oakRiver Shiraz dominates the nose;2012 #### dark spicy fruitAttractive fruit underneath. Obviouscomplexity to the nose oak on the palatewith a nicely balanced with interesting fruit.and well-structured Excellent drinking. $26palate that has berryfruit characters andsavoury tannins. $25.90Twin CellarsMargaret RiverShiraz 2013 ####Red cherry nose thatopen up nicely withrhubarb notes. Brightjuicy palate with simplevarietal fruit and a dashof white pepper. 5+ $19 Annual 2016 W I N E S TAT E 153
Captains Paddock Vineyard.queensland THE BEST WINES OF 2015 CONTENTS Includes: Sparkling, Other White Varietals, Semillon & Blends, Verdelho, Chardonnay, Other Dry Red Varietals & Blends, Dry Red Blends, Cabernet & Blends, Shiraz Blends, Shiraz, Sweet Whites & Fortified, Museum Class, Provenance Class.154 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2016
WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2015 queenslandsparkling verdelho other red varietals cabernet & blends Granite Ridge sweet whites & & blends Wines Granite fortifiedRidgemill Estate Robert Channon Whiskey Gully Rock ShirazEloise Vintage Wines Verdelho Golden Reserve Cabernet 2009 ####1/2 Oceanview EstateBrut Sparkling 2015 ##### Grove Malbec Sauvignon Dark black fruits with Grand TawnyChardonnay Very complex nose; 2013 ##### 2012 #### some earthy characters 2003 ####2011 ####1/2 spicy, slightly graphite Spicy blue fruits, Lots of oak. Sweet and on a bright vibrant Lovely balance of fruitDusty citrus fruits aromas with gravelly, mineral and wet rich fruit on the palate plush palate. Soft round and spirit. A rich winearoma on the nose. big fruit under spice slate nose. Tight fruit with long succulent tannin palate and still with good depth, ‘veryLovely clean ripe fruit, and great length with palate of concentrated tannins. Attractive black has good length. Good old school’ with hints ofmelon and lemon texture and palate blueberries with tarry fruit makes for a drinking now. $28 licorice and aniseed. Hotpith character. Tasty richness. Fresh vibrant charcoal and chalk very intense wine. $34 Ballandean Estate and fiery alcohol backedbroad fruits on a ripe fruit, balanced with characteristics coming Mason Wines Opera Block Shiraz with elegant oak. $49palate. $35 chalky character - a through. $28 Cellar Collection 2013 #### classic style. $28 Hidden Creek Cabernet Attractive generous museum classother white Moffatdale Tempranillo Sauvignon honey aromas. A lovelyvarietals Ridge Verdelho 2012 ##### 2012 #### elegant style full of 2015 #### Dried spice and luscious Delicious blackberry/ licorice, fine spice andBallandean Estate Waxy, nutty, spicy ripe fruit aromas and mulberry fruit nose. fine grained oak. $28Messing About nose. Quite worked palate. Mid-weight Rich long tannins withFiano 2015 ##### palate but with good clean, well-made wine density and palate Clovely Estate Sirromet WinesNice lemon pith firm phenolics with nice with plenty of tannin to richness. Good quality Reserve Shiraz Le Sauvage Thearomas with slight texture and generous support. $22 fruit showing elegance 2012 #### Wild Chardonnaybitter almond and ripe fruit quality. $17 Jester Hill Wines with a minty edge. $35 Lean aroma and 2010 ####pear coming through Ravens Croft Touchstone flavours with green Big, developed andalso. A good round Wines Verdelho Petit Verdot shiraz blends bean overtones. full with rich ripepalate, with attractive 2015 #### 2012 ##### Quite angular. An peach and sweetsweet fruit and mid- Bright melon fruits, Great deep colour with Just Red Wines austere style built fruit characters inlength fullness. Well white peach and ripe leafy mulberry Shiraz Viognier for aging. $35 abundance. Verymade! $30 nectarines on the nose. aromas. Excellent 2014 #### well-made and veryRavens Croft Lovely bright fruit and luscious ripe palate, Black, jammy and drinkable. $89Wines Pinot Gris acid palate with honey with sweet seed plush, brooding2015 #### texture and a savoury tannins and a lovely cherry, berry fruits. provenance classPear skin with crisp finish. $25 long finish. $40 Lovely palate densityfresh apple aromas. Summit Estate Golden Grove and richness. Youthful What a class to judge! Amazing wines. It was likeSimilar palate with Verdelho Nero D’Avola ‘cool climate’ style choosing your favourite child. The sparkling winesslight citrus and some 2015 #### 2014 ####1/2 of white pepper with showed great consistency except for the 2009savoury character Nice lifted fruit nose Well-made and elegant nuances. $25 vintage where it appeared the maker changed stylescoming through. Nice with spicy bright acid. smooth. A good for a vintage. All in all the sparklings were criticized forand clean with a simple Fine delicate palate of medium-body drink shiraz a touch too high dosage but all believed this bracketfinish. $25 elegant fruit, well- with spicy black fruit a great start. The semillon bracket demonstrated the balanced and tight, aromas and palate. $26 Whiskey Gully greatest degree of consistency between vintagessemillon & blends with a long finish. Ballandean Estate Wines and the wines were the most consistently well made. Delicate, succulent and Messing About Black Rod Shiraz It was a joy to see the colour stay consistent fromGolden Grove well made. $30 Saperavi 2013 2012 ##### 2010 to 2014. The wines showed energy and vitality.Semillon ####1/2 Beautiful leafy black The reds were probably the most disappointing of the2010 ####1/2 chardonnay Lovely spice, licorice fruits and some minty three brackets. The 2009 vintage was the standout,Great bright green and chocolate bouquet eucalypt notes on the with a depth of flavour and intensity. The 2010 wascolour. Toasty nose Ballandean Estate with slight savoury nose. A plush rich quite faulty and let the whole bracket down. Thethat’s very bright and Opera Block notes. Nice soft palate wine with great flavour 2012 was consistent with the 2009 vintage.full of vitality. A toasty, Granite Belt and attractive chewy length, richness andfull rich wine precisely Chardonnay tannins. $42 balance. $30 Clovely Estate Leftfield Semillonmade. $20 2014 ####1/2 Clovely Estate 2010 ####1/2 A nice rich nose and Artisan palate of warm tropical Polyphemus Robert Channon Wines Sparkling fruits. Lovely rich clean Passito Shiraz Chardonnay 2008 ####1/2 flavours. A big ‘old 2012 ##### school’ style. $21 Black fruits on a lovely Clovely Estate Leftfield Semillon rich dense nose. Tarry 2014 #### with a fresh hint of coffee and mocha. Bright fruit density with a rich, long, savoury finish. $90 Annual 2016 W I N E S TAT E 155
Holm Oak Vineyard.tasmania THE BEST WINES OF 2015 CONTENTS Includes: Sparkling, Other White Varietals & Blends, Pinot Gris/Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet & Blends, Pinot Noir, Sweet White & Fortified.156 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2016
DIVISIONS THREATEN ANOPTOMISTIC OUTLOOK The Tasmanian year in review, by Winsor Dobbin. ASK Ed Carr if he was pleased with There are a multitude of Tasmanian sparkling wine fruit from different business models in the 2015 vintage and he smiles operation and Wine Tasmania broadly. is supportive of individual producers making commercial The House of Arras sparkling decisions about which model winemaker says he couldn’t be happier with the quality of fruit from is right for them. the island state, even though most of it will not emerge bottled under the to those Tasmanian producers who can, is to differentiate their wines Arras label for a few years. from those who cannot make the claim of ‘100 per cent grown, made and bottled in Tasmania’. The problem is not a massive one now, but “It was great particularly after 2014, mark my words, if we do not begin to protect this brand it will be worth a difficult vintage that gave us lots of nothing in 20-30 years’ time.” work to do,” Carr says. “The vintage has been an absolute breeze; solid In November, Alcorso announced plans for Winemaking Tasmania to cropping, we got off to a great cool plant 30ha of new vines. He said it was expected to be the first in a and dry start, very good acidity and series of developments. He said one of the biggest issues being facedboth chardonnay and pinot noir were excellent. was sourcing enough grapes for clients who either did not grow their “It was a year of moderation with no particular hotspots, unlike in some own grapes or who needed to supplement their supply. He said big wineof the other states. We've put the first blends together across the bench companies were paying “massively high prices” for Tasmanian grapes,and all the signs are excellent.” but in doing so were leaving good Tasmanian brands short of grapes. And Carr’s enthusiasm is backed up by winemakers from acrossTasmania, with the first-release 2015 whites, particularly rieslings, Ironically, several of the major international prizes won by Tasmanianunderlining the quality premise. wines during the year went to brands like House of Arras and Tolpuddle, “It’s been a really fantastic vintage across the board,” says Bec Duffy, which are owned by out-of-staters.from Holm Oak in the Tamar Valley. “We are very pleased,” says David LeMire, from Shaw+Smith-owned October was a month of huge success for Tasmanian wines on majorTolpuddle in the Coal River Valley. “Chardonnays are pure and fine, long stages, including the Pirie 2009 Sparkling winning the trophy at the Sixand concentrated; pinots are fragrant and intense and very exciting.” Nations Challenge (the only Australian Trophy in 16 classes), the Pirie “It has been an outstanding vintage,” says Claudio Radenti, from NV winning best sparkling wines at the Royal Melbourne Show, alongsideFreycinet Vineyard on the East Coast. “Summer temperatures were slightly Home Hill taking out the Jimmy Watson Trophy for best young red for itswarmer than average but still noticeably cooler than the previous two Kelly’s Reserve Pinot Noir and outstanding results for Chartley Estate andseasons. Ripening completed optimally and there was very little disease Waterton Vineyard in the International Riesling Challenge.pressure for all varieties.” Will Adkins, from Tamar Ridge echoed that. “We are very happy with the Wine Tasmania CEO Sheralee Davies focused on positives rather thanvintage both in the Tamar Valley and on the East Coast,” he says. “There the negatives.is good concentration in the pinots, lovely bright flavours in the aromaticsand awesome acidity across the sparkling bases and whites in general.” Keen observers might note that many of the leading Australian brandsare owned by mainland wine companies, and that much of the state’sfruit is now processed on the mainland, something that caused a bit of aruckus when Julian Alcorso, the outgoing boss of contract winemakingoperation Winemaking Tasmania, launched a barrage at the practice. “While this is, in and of itself not necessarily a bad thing, it does begthe question...what does Tasmanian mean?” Alcorso said. “My message Annual 2016 W I N E S TAT E 157
“There has been some debate over different models within the Tasmanian on shelves. With less than 0.5 per cent of the national wine production,wine sector,” she said. “There are a multitude of different business models Tasmania has more than enough external competition.in operation and Wine Tasmania is supportive of individual producersmaking commercial decisions about which model is right for them. “We should be very proud of the reputation we have developed for ourselves over a long period of time – this has meant that people want “Whether you grow and sell grapes, grow grapes and have your wine to buy our grapes, our wines, they want to visit Tasmania and they wantmade for you, buy grapes, have a vertically integrated model, offer to invest in the sector. It has meant that our value has lifted and we arecontract services, or do a little of all, this is your commercial decision in an enviable position – less than 7 per cent of Australia’s wine retailsto make. above $15 per bottle, which is where we are focused. “If a producer or group of producers want to promote their particular “When travelling and talking with wine producers, trade and mediamodel - e.g. grown, made and bottled on estate; grown, made and bottled interstate and around the world, they couldn’t be more impressed withon-island; or 100 per cent Tasmanian wine content - this is great, but not both the quality and collaboration Tasmania represents.to the detriment of other models and not suggesting that one is superiorthan another. “One of the reasons we are regarded so highly is our collaborative approach to promotion, research and advocacy. There is no expectation “The Tasmanian wine sector is in an incredibly strong position, with an producers will always agree on issues, however the perception is thatincreasing global reputation and demand for our wines. Our best efforts Tasmania is strong, united and growing. For a tiny wine region such ascan be applied to collaboratively growing this reputation and the value ours to attract the constant global media attention, key international wineof the sector for the benefit of all who operate within it. shows and recognition over recent years is extraordinary, reflecting the concerted, collaborative and strategic approach we have taken. “Producers of Tasmanian wine are not competitors. Our competitorsare other global cool-climate wine regions, which are fighting for the “If there are issues of concern to wine producers, let’s debate them assparkling, riesling, chardonnay, pinot noir etc places on wine lists and a mature sector in the context of what is best for the overall sector. Let’s debate these internally and maintain our ‘game face’ externally to ensure our united regional front prevails for the benefit of all. Wine Tasmania is happy to facilitate discussion on issues of concern to producers at any time. “In the meantime, we should continue to do everything we can to build on the strong demand we’ve created for the benefit of all Tasmanian wine producers.” Davies says the Tasmanian industry could treble production over the next five years to 1.5 million cases, but expansion needed to be matched by a growth in domestic and export demand. “Obviously with that sort of growth it needs to be a pretty significant step up in our market and market development activities,” she said. “We believe the key areas of focus are on the Australian mainland, in key export markets and a very important focus around wine tourism.” Tasmanian wineries were told at the annual 2015 Wine Tasmania conference in Launceston that they need to follow in the footsteps of operations like Ghost Rock and the Bangor Wine and Oyster Shed by enhancing and diversifying their cellar door operations. Ghost Rock and Bangor Wine and Oyster Shed both enjoyed success with new visitor facilities, and were joined later in the year by a new cellar door at Wobbly Boot and a tasting facility, French restaurant and garden at Riversdale Estate; all signs of a flourishing wine tourism sector. The year ended with record crowds at the Effervescence sparkling wine festival at Josef Chromy, where guest winemakers included Ed Carr, Louisa Rose, Andrew Pirie and Loic le Calvez. Tetsuya Wakuda was the guest chef.158 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2016
tasmaniasparkling Barringwood pinot gris/grigio riesling Follow us and keep up Classic Tasmania to date with all our latestArras Tasmania Cuvée 2011 #### Barringwood Freycinet VineyardGrand Vintage Bright aperitif style Tasmania Pinot Tasmania Riesling wine info, tastings and2005 ##### with a very youthful Gris 2013 ##### 2014 ##### events on facebook,A very fine and citrus blossom bouquet A perfect, varietally A bold nose; huge twitter and instagram.delicate wine yet also and lean tight acid correct Nashi pear lift of rose petals,a very powerful one. palate. Good length nose with hints of spices and some Winestate MagazineHas an elegance of of lemon sorbet-like guava. Elegant spicy sweet orange blossom @WinestateEdbuttery stewed apple flavours. $40 pear flavours on the characters. Lovelycharacters, toasty Bream Creek juicy palate; good line of pure fruitelements, a touch of Vineyard length and intensity flavours with lemonhoney and great crisp Traditionelle and great acid balance. acid giving length andacidity. $69.99 Tasmania Cuvée “Very more-ish.” $32 completeness to theArras E.J Carr 2009 #### Devil’s Corner wine. $25Tasmania Late Lovely lifted floral-like TasmaniaDisgorged aromas leading to a Pinot Grigio Josef Chromy2002 ##### primary fruit-driven 2014 ####1/2 Tasmania RieslingRich and toasty on the palate with nice Very lifted nose with 2014 #####nose with touches mousse, good acid and attractive sweet ripe Lovely wine drivenof citrus showing lime-like finish. $40 pear and nectarine by lime-like citrusthrough. Long elegant Pirie Tasmania aromas. More of the characters. Nosepalate still amazingly Methode pomé fruit characters is a warm toastyyouthful with intense Traditionnelle on the palate complexity of aromastoasty/ lime cordial 2009 #### with spicy ginger - the palate is tight butflavours. “Don’t wait - Beautifully structured complexity. $20 rich showing freshnessdrink now!” $149 wine with great length and a lift of citrusJosef Chromy and developing nicely. sauvignon blanc flavours. $28Traditionelle Complex yeasty Riversdale EstateTasmania Cuvée aromas; powerful Devil’s Corner Cygnus Coal River2009 ####1/2 flavours and crisp acid Tasmania Valley RieslingCaramel and old spice finish. $40 Sauvignon Blanc 2008 #####characters on the 2014 ####1/2 This wine is stillnose. Lovely palate - other white Attractive pungent amazingly fresh andall strawberries and varietals & blends gooseberry/passionfruit vibrant for its age.cream with good depth fragrances and a “clean Smells of apricot jamand concentration of Barringwood and tidy” palate with on toast with a touchhoneysuckle, lemon Tasmania similar characters to of lime. Lovely delicacyand ginger notes. $42 Schonburger the nose and showing of bright lime flavours.Arras Tasmania 2014 ####1/2 some mineral intensity. An absolute delight toSparkling Rosé Beautifully honeyed $20 drink. $322005 ####1/2 floral fragrances and FreycinetDelicate complexity some very attractive Vineyard Tasmaniaof pot pourri and rose intense musky/floral Sauvignon Blancpetal-like aromas. flavours on a soft juicy 2013 ####1/2Palate shows great palate. A great semi- Interesting fuméfinesse, lovely mousse sweet style offering style. Lovely smokyand beautiful red apple lovely drinking. $26 characters on the ripepresence. Nice touch Spring Vale peach nose. Greatof oak. $79.99 Freycinet Coast palate weight withArras Tasmania Gewurztraminer stalky spicy fruit. GoodBlanc de Blancs 2014 ####1/2 balance between the2005 ####1/2 Pure Gewurtz aromas fruit and acidity. $25Toasty, creamy and - all rose petals andbuttery on the nose Turkish Delight.with rich toasty Excellent true varietalflavours showing a palate; intense muskyslight savoury element flavours with hints ofand some lovely spice and great acid/complexity and length. sugar balance. $28Long and lingering onthe finish. $79.99 Annual 2016 W I N E S TAT E 159
WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2015 tasmaniaDevil’s Corner Riversdale Estate Bream Creek Heemskerk pinot noir Barringwood MillTasmania Riesling Coal River Vineyard Tasmania Coal River Valley Block Tasmania2014 ####1/2 Valley Riesling Chardonnay Chardonnay Relbia Estate Pinot NoirLovely floral aromas 2010 ####1/2 2012 ##### 2013 ####1/2 Tasmania Pinot 2012 #####with some interesting Nose of marmalade Savoury aromas A clean precise Noir 2013 ##### Attractive powerfulfunky nuances. on toast with some showing nice wine with a creamy A lovely nose that’s lifted aromas withBeautiful floral flavours greenness. Slightly toastiness and light texture. Oak tending very varietally lovely varietal fruitrunning all the way honeyed lemon rind well-handled oak. to dominate the fruit expressive. “Smells expression andthrough the palate with palate with toastiness Excellent palate, with on the nose with crisp like a blackberry showing good oaka good textured finish. developing giving great finesse and stonefruit and cedary patch,” said one handling. Excellent$20 richness to the juicy lovely texture and well- oak flavours lifted by judge. Shows palate, lovely and longThird Child Tea palate. “More-ish!” integrated cashew, spiciness. $29.90 excellent texture, and layered with a tightTree Ella-Mae $20 citrus and nectarine good purity of fruit, acid spine. $45Tasmania Riesling Pipers Brook flavours. $29 cabernet & blends fine tannins and crisp Tamar Ridge2014 ####1/2 Tasmania Riesling Cape Bernier acidity. $22 Reserve TasmaniaAttractive and complex 2014 #### Tasmania Holm Oak Tamar Ridge Pinot Noirnose; some apples Lifted floral bouquet Chardonnay Vineyards Tasmania Tasmania Pinot 2012 #####with rose petal and with a palate showing 2012 ##### Cabernet Merlot Noir 2012 ##### Big hit of floral-likejasmine florals, similar creamy complexity, a A really attractive rich 2013 ####1/2 A very good wine aromas; all rosecharacters echoed on nice mineral line, tight full savoury style with An intense lift of with a lifted floral petals and pot pourri.the lovely long palate. acidity and a lovely lifted buttery/toasty lovely plum fruit bouquet and a touch Attractive palate isGood lime-like acid. $22 spicy finish. $34 oak nose and a crème aromas seamlessly of cedar. Very good fleshy and flavoursome brulee palate with layered with spicy palate; on the lean with very good tanninsTamar Ridge chardonnay lovely complexity and nuances. Fleshy on the side with nice varietal and tight acid. “VeryTasmania Riesling integration of fruit and palate with nice ripe fruit expression, good more-ish,” said one2014 ####1/2 Frogmore oak and a zesty line of mouthfilling mulberry dusty tannins and tight judge. $65“A floral bomb,” Creek Tasmania acid. $42 fruit flavours. $40 acidity. $30 Josef Chromycommented one judge. Chardonnay Heemskerk Abel’s Bream Creek Home Hill Estate Tasmania PinotNose underscored by 2013 ##### Tempest Tasmania Vineyard Tasmania Huon Tasmania Noir 2013 ####1/2muscat notes. Lovely Restrained nose with Chardonnay Cabernet Merlot Pinot Noir Big oaky nose that withpalate full of talc, delicate toasty oak 2013 ####1/2 2012 #### 2012 ##### air opens up to earthyfrangipani and rose aromas opening up to Citrus fruit nose Oak tending to Nose described by one blackcurrant and berrypetal flavours with some nice nectarine with some floral dominate the nose but judge as smelling of ripe fruit. Lovely palatehints of spice. $24 fruit characters. Lovely nuances. Elegant has nice dark berry tamarillos with charry texture with purity ofLeo Buring Tamar varietal fruit length to palate structure. fruit underneath. Tight smokiness. Really varietal fruit flavours andValley Riesling the textured palate Lovely balance and well-balanced palate beautifully textured excellent tannins. $382014 ####1/2 with very good acidity intensity of citrus/ with ripe fruit and fine palate with layers of Freycinet VineyardFunky ripe and cheesy and tannins. $30 nectarine flavours tannins. $30 fleshy raspberry fruit, Tasmania Pinotaromas with attractive with oak adding subtle spices and velvety Noir 2013 ####1/2greengage/guava notes. complexity. $26.95 tannins. $36 Very pungent aromasBeautiful delicate citrus/ but lovely pinotlime palate with sorbet vibrancy underneath.notes. Still very young – Quite drying and tannicpossibly too young? $41 in the mouth with lots of spice, some restrained varietal fruit and oak. $60 We have to wash over 32,000 wine glasses each year ... so you don’t have to. Subscribe to Australia’s Leading Wine Buying Guide phone +61 8 8357 9277 or on-line www.winestate.com.au160 W I NADE_SSuTbsAcrTibeEto WAninneustaalte2(0g1la6sses) QPH.indd 1 11/11/2014 11:06:09 PM
WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2015 tasmaniaHeemskerk Coal Devil’s Corner Home Hill Kelly’s Bream Creek sweet white Josef ChromyRiver Valley Pinot Resolution Reserve Huon Vineyard Tasmania & fortified Delikat SGRNoir 2012 ####1/2 Tasmania Tasmania Pinot Pinot Noir Tasmania RieslingThe nose is Pinot Noir Noir 2013 #### 2011 #### Freycinet Vineyard 2013 ####reminiscent of 2013 #### A very attractive fleshy Simple dried plum fruit Tasmania Botrytis An excellent sweetboysenberry-like fruit Dense varietal fruit ripe fruit wine - quite aromas with herbal 2011 ##### wine - very more-ishfragrances. The palate bouquet and a very commercial in style with touches and has dried Excellent botrytis with great florals onhas lovely richness of fleshy palate with great spicy raspberry fruit characters on the expression here with the nose and lovelyripe fruit with a lovely appropriate spiciness fruit and subtle vanillin palate with plenty of rich perfumed raisin-like balanced sweetnesslength of tannins to and ripe boysenberry oak use. $63 grippy tannins. $36 fruit aromas which are on the palate. Greatbalance. $50 flavours with great Barringwood Estate Iron Pot Bay The echoed on the palate mineral line. $28Frogmore Creek tannin structure. $30 Tasmania Pinot Millers Blend Tamar and balanced by theTasmania Pinot Home Hill Estate Noir 2012 #### Valley Pinot Noir zesty citrus acidity. $25Noir 2010 ####1/2 Huon Tasmania Cigar box nose with 2011 #### Bream CreekQuite brooding and Pinot Noir attractive raspberry Slightly sappy Vineyard Latebrambly on the 2013 #### fruit underneath. Acid a raspberry nose with Picked Tasmanianose with hints of With air the nose little high on the palate. nice herbaceousness. Schonburgerblackcurrants. Palate opens up to lifted Nice fruit expression. Tight attractive palate 2013 ####has quite lean varietal boysenberry aromas. Well-handled oak. $34 with a sappy texture A very varietal fruitfruit characters with very Gorgeous spicy varietal Cape Bernier and showing good nose - smells ofgood tannin structure to fruit richness to the Tasmania Pinot finesse. $N/A custard apple withsupport. $32 palate. Great line and Noir 2012 #### hints of nutmeg and texture. $36 Lifted dark fruit these characters follow fragrances showing through onto the some tarry touches palate. $27 and has very ripe black fruit flavours with quite gravelly tannins to match. $42Mumm Cordon Rouge Mumm Cordon Rouge Mumm Cordon Rouge Perrier-Jouët Blason Rosé Perrier-Jouët Grand BrutNV Champagne Rosé NV Champagne Vintage 2006 Champagne NV Champagne NV ChampagneA light refreshing style; some A delightfully elegant A rich, complex and inviting Lifted fruity aromas with A very youthful wine with minerallyspiciness on the nose and strawberry and cream style champagne with a broad a palate that is quite chardonnay fruit fragrances andbright citrus flavours with crisp with light toasty/yeasty developed base showing masculine according to powerful floral/peach flavours layeredacidity and good yeastiness. presence and a hint of green fruit overtones and one judge; a complexity with lovely yeasty development. sweetness. beautiful use of autolysis. of primary and secondary “Still a pup,” noted one judge. flavours. Annual 2016 W I N E S TAT E 161
Cycling through vineyards in Hawke's Baynezwealand THE BEST WINES OF 2015 CONTENTS Includes: Sparkling, Other White Varietals & Blends, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Gruner Veltliner, Rosé, Other Red Varietals & Blends, Pinot Noir, Merlot & Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon & Blends, Syrah, Sweet Whites.162 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2016
GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT The New Zealand year in review, by Michael Cooper.IT’S NOT an easy road to riches for most winegrowers, but there is still plenty Wine lovers around the worldof optimism in the New Zealand wine industry. Supply and demand are roughly are certainly lapping up NZ’sin balance and international sales are booming. Sauvignon Blancs, Chardonnays, Pinot Gris and almost dizzying NZ wine will be scarcer following the 2015 harvest of 326,000 tonnes – 27 percent down on the huge 2014 crop of 445,000 tonnes. Philip Gregan, CEO of collection of Pinot Noirs.NZ Winegrowers, predicts a shortage of 2015 wines, especially Marlboroughsauvignon blanc. The price pressure is upwards. currently ranks as the second largest supplier to the UK of wines in the over $15 per bottle category, trailing only France. Amid all the talk of the steep fall in production, it is easy to forget that 2014was a mammoth harvest, nearly 30 per cent bigger than the previous record, Americans are also developing a taste for Marlborough sauvignon blanc.set in 2013. In fact, the size of the 2015 harvest was about average for the Two of the biggest selling brands - Kim Crawford and Nobilo - are producedperiod 2010-2015. But the decline in this year’s crop of 119,000 tonnes was by Constellation Brands NZ, itself controlled by Constellation Brands, basedgreater than the country’s total grape harvests in 2002 or 2003. in New York. Oyster Bay and Matua are also enjoying soaring demand. Sauvignon blanc continues to dominate NZ wine, accounting for 69 per Boutique producers are still more likely to focus on Australia, given itscent of the harvest in 2015 and over 85 per cent of exports. A cool, frosty geographic proximity. But for the first time in more than a decade, the valuespring, which caused the huge drop in the size of the crop, was followed by of NZ’s wine exports to Australia has declined, from $NZ380 million in 2014a favourably warm, sunny and dry summer, leading to predictions that the to $NZ362 million in 2015. The US now ranks as the biggest export marketwines would exhibit strong personality. for NZ wine, just ahead of Australia and the UK. Sauvignon blanc is the key variety, by far, but exporters to the US also report surging sales of pinot noir, The good news is that the 2015 Marlborough sauvignon blancs are pinot gris and chardonnay.impressive – deliciously aromatic, vibrant and flavour-crammed. The top fivelist of grape varieties harvested in 2015 also included chardonnay (9 per On current trends, within a few years, the value of NZ’s exports could exceedcent), pinot noir (8 per cent), pinot gris (6 per cent) and merlot (3 per cent). Australia’s. A decade ago, when Australia’s wine exports generated $A3 billion, they far outstripped NZ’s $NZ500 million. In 2015, the gap had narrowed to Many growers expressed relief that 2015 produced a far smaller crop $A1.96 billion and $NZ1.42 billion. The far smaller size of the NZ domesticbecause they still had unsold stocks from 2014. On their domestic market, market (with a population of only 4.6 million) has forced most of NZ’s 673NZ Winegrowers anticipates imports will surge, with overseas labels (mostly wineries to look for overseas markets. Exports now absorb over 75 per centfrom Australia), increasingly replacing local wines in lower price brackets. of the country’s output. The hot new white wine variety is albarino. Cooper’s Creek’s 2011 bottling was The problem for many small wineries, however, is that export marketsthe first true example from New Zealand or Australia. Called albarino in Spain need regular servicing. Lacking scale, they must command a high price,and alvarinho in Portugal, this fashionable variety produces aromatic, vibrant, which is difficult to achieve. One recent survey found that the profitability ofgently spicy wines with mouth-watering acidity. With its loose clusters, thick large companies (with turnover exceeding $NZ20 million), expressed as askins and good resistance to rain, albarino could thrive in NZ’s wetter regions. percentage of revenue, is over five times greater than smaller wineries (underThe majority of the releases to date have been grown in the North Island. $NZ5 million). The number of rosé labels on the market has also exploded recently, as Although one of the New World’s youngest wine-producing countries, manydrinkers discover that rosé is not an inherently inferior lolly water, but a NZ wineries are celebrating major milestones. Chard Farm recently releasedworthwhile and delicious wine style in its own right. New Zealand rosé is even its 2013 pinot noirs, from its 25th vintage in Central Otago. Babich, basedfinding offshore markets and collecting international awards. in Auckland, with extensive vineyards in Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough, processed its 100th vintage in 2015 and in 2016 will stage events around the Regional differences in rosé styles are emerging. South Island and Wairarapa globe to celebrate its century of winemaking.rosés, usually made from pinot noir, are typically very fresh and crisp (with oftena sliver of sweetness to balance their appetising acidity), while those from the There is more good news. After a decade of delay, NZ is implementing a lawmiddle and upper North Island – Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne and Auckland – tend to protect its regional and sub-regional wine names. A geographic indicationto be merlot-based, fuller-bodied and drier. (GI) does not guarantee anything about the quality of a NZ wine, but denotes that it comes from a specific area, giving label integrity. Another major trend is the burgeoning array of low alcohol wines (typicallyunder 10 per cent alcohol by volume), made from sauvignon blanc, riesling orpinot gris. Promoted as “lighter on the lips and the hips”, these crisp, generallyoff-dry wines lack the weight, flavour ripeness and richness of traditionalstyles, but they still represent, as a big company winemaker put it recently, a“significant business opportunity”. Wine lovers around the world are certainly lapping up NZ’s sauvignonblancs, chardonnays, pinot gris and almost dizzying collection of pinot noirs.NZ produces only 1 per cent of the world’s wine, but the value of the country’sexports exceeds $NZ1.4 billion; up by $NZ1 billion in the past decade. NZ Annual 2016 W I N E S TAT E 163
WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2015 new zealandsparkling Nautilus Cuvee other white Yealands Estate sauvignon blanc Motueka Vineyards Marlborough Brut varietals & blends Single Vineyard Nelson SauvignonDeutz Marlborough NV #### PGR 2014 #### Stoneleigh Rapaura Blanc 2014 #####Cuvee NV ##### Tight, complex style, Coopers Creek SV Aromatic blend of Series Marlborough Very fresh and lively,Complex style, highly attractively scented, The Little Rascal pinot gris (49 per cent), Sauvignon Blanc with mouthfilling body,fragrant, with a delicate with strong, lively, Gisborne Arneis riesling (32 per cent) 2014 ##### intense, ripe fruit‘bead’ and rich, yeasty, peachy and biscuity 2014 ####1/2 and gewurztraminer Passionfruit and nettle flavours, a minerallybiscuity aromas flavours, fresh, dryish Scented, full-bodied (19 per cent) grown aromas and flavours, streak and a lastingand flavours, finely and long. $39 and dry, with in the Awatere Valley. showing excellent finish. A top buy. (Frombalanced and lingering. Nautilus Vintage concentrated, ripe, Mouthfilling and dry, intensity. Very fresh Anchorage.) $16Rated highly by all Rosé 2012 #### tropical fruit flavours, with gentle spiciness and attractive, with Renato Nelsonjudges. $26.60 Pale pink, dry and finely balanced and and excellent weight, zesty acidity and a lively, Sauvignon BlancAkarua lively, with subtle, lingering. One judge texture and harmony. lingering finish. $28 2014 #####Bannockburn crisp, strawberryish, scored it five stars. $25 $23 (A, UK) Giesen The August Fleshy, vigorous,Vintage Brut yeasty flavours, in a Coopers Creek Villa Maria Single 1888 Marlborough generous wine, grown2010 ##### very fresh and elegant SV Bell-Ringer Vineyard Ohiti Sauvignon Blanc on the Waimea Plains.Rich, complex, nutty style. $49 Gisborne Albarino Gravels Hawke's 2012 ##### Aromatic, with richblend of pinot noir Tohu Rewa 2014 #### Bay Arneis Fermented in French tropical fruit flavours,(54%) and chardonnay Reserve Fragrant and 2014 #### oak barrels and enlivened by fresh(46%), grown at Marlborough mouthfilling, with ripe, Pale and scented, this German oak fuders, acidity, and a long, dry,Bannockburn and Blanc de Blancs tropical fruit flavours, is a medium-bodied, this is a superb finely poised finish.disgorged after four 2011 #### appetising acidity, and strongly varietal wine example of oak- Great value. $18years on its yeast lees. Scented, yeasty, excellent depth, balance with fresh, vibrant pear influenced sauvignon Tinpot HutHighly fragrant, with chardonnay-based and vibrancy. $25 and slight lime flavours, blanc. Very fleshy, Marlboroughintense, peachy, yeasty wine, very crisp and Villa Maria crisp, finely balanced weighty, complex Sauvignon Blancflavours, showing lively, with citrusy, Private Bin and lingering. $30 and rich, it is finely 2014 ####1/2impressive complexity gently toasty flavours Gisborne Viognier Villa Maria Cellar textured, with Fleshy, lively and richand length. Praised by and a dryish, very finely 2014 #### Selection Hawke's concentrated, ripe, in a clearly herbaceousone judge as ‘great!’ balanced finish. $34 Fleshy and creamy- Bay Viognier stonefruit flavours, style, with a lingering$45 (A) Palliser Estate textured, with some 2014 #### gently seasoned with finish. Weighty andAkarua Rosé Martinborough richness of ripe, Mouthfilling and smoky oak. Delicious pungent. $22 (A, UK)Brut NV #### Methode stonefruit flavours and rounded, this youthful now. Rated highly by Giesen The FuderPale pink, vivacious Traditionnelle a dry, well-rounded wine has ripe apricot all judges. $44 (UK, US) Dillons Pointblend of pinot noir 2009 #### finish. A great buy. and pear flavours, very Marlborough(61%) and chardonnay Fragrant, yeasty blend $16 fresh and lively, and a Saint Clair Pioneer Sauvignon Blanc(39%), estate-grown of pinot noir (51%) and Villa Maria touch of complexity. Block 3 43 Degrees 2012 ####at Bannockburn and chardonnay (49%), Single Vineyard It’s still developing. Marlborough Sturdy and fleshy, withdisgorged after two with a persistent Ihumatao Verdelho Fine value. $18 Sauvignon Blanc rich, ripely herbaceousyears on its yeast ‘bead’. Rich, complex 2013 #### 2014 ##### flavours, showing alees. Crisp and dry, style, with strong, Aromatic, slightly spicy Esk Valley Hawke's Fleshy, concentrated mealy, slightly nuttywith fresh, gentle peachy, yeasty bouquet. Mouthfilling, Bay Chenin Blanc wine from the lower complexity. Ready.strawberry and spice flavours, showing crisp and lively, with 2013 #### Wairau Valley. Intensely (Fermented in Germanflavours, showing good autolysis, and a youthful, ripe, citrusy Still youthful, this aromatic, with a hint oak fuders.) $45 (A)excellent complexity lingering finish. $49 flavours and a powerful, refreshing, very finely of “sweaty armpit”, Giesen The Fuderand length. $42 (A) dry finish. $30 balanced wine is strong, ripe, very Matthews LaneHuia Brut Black Barn Pegasus Bay lively, with a sliver of pure passionfruit/lime Marlborough2009 #### Blanc de Blancs Sauvignon sweetness, appetising flavours and a long, dry, Sauvignon BlancFragrant, rich bouquet. 2010 #### Semillon acidity, and pure apple, well-rounded finish. $27 2012 ####Generous, toasty This scented, citrusy 2013 #### melon and peach (A, UK) Fermented andand yeasty, in a full- sparkling, from Tightly structured, flavours showing very matured in newflavoured style, with chardonnay grapes mouthfilling, dry good depth. $20 German oak fuders,upfront appeal and hand-picked in the Waipara wine. Esk Valley Gimblett this is a fleshy, weightygood complexity. Havelock Hills, was Aromatic, with lively Gravels Verdelho wine, with strong, ripe,Drinking well now. $38 disgorged after grapefruit and herb 2014 #### tropical fruit flavours,(A, UK, US) nearly four years flavours, showing Still developing, this showing a toasty,Hunter’s Miru Miru on its yeast lees. excellent depth, and a fleshy, weighty wine smoky, oak-derivedNV #### Showing considerable touch of complexity. has an attractive complexity, and a dry,Fresh and aromatic, complexity, it is yeasty, $29 (A, UK, US) bouquet and strong, finely textured finish.with an attractive very crisp and lively. $70 tropical fruit flavours, $45 (A)lightness and vivacity. crisp, slightly spicy,Crisp, citrusy, appley, finely textured andyeasty flavours, lingering. $20showing goodtightness, delicacy andcomplexity. $27164 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2016
WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2015 new zealandAra Single Estate Saint Clair Pioneer Twin IslandsMarlborough Block 1 Foundation MarlboroughSauvignon Blanc Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc2014 #### Sauvignon Blanc 2014 ####Mouthfilling, with 2014 #### Fragrant, full-bodiedvery good vigour Aromatic, fresh and and dry, with fresh,and depth of ripe zingy, with strong ripe, tropical fruitpassionfruit, capsicum melon, green capsicum flavours, a herbaceousand lime flavours, well- and passionfruit undercurrent, and veryrounded and lingering. flavours, and a crisp, good depth. Enjoyed$22 (A, UK, US) fully dry finish. $27 (A) by all judges. GoodLawson’s Dry value. $19Hills Reserve Saint Clair Yealands Estate Mt Beautiful Spy Valley Aronui SingleMarlborough Wairau Reserve Single Block North Canterbury Envoy Riesling VineyardSauvignon Blanc Marlborough M2 Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2010 ##### Nelson Riesling2014 #### Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2014 #### Rich, light-bodied 2014 #####Fleshy, full-bodied 2014 #### Sauvignon Blanc Generous wine with wine (7 per cent Praised by one judgestyle, with fresh, “Sweaty armpit” 2014 #### fresh herbal and tropical alc/vol) with as ‘gorgeous’, this isripe passionfruit/lime and herbaceous Freshly herbaceous fruit flavours, showing toasty, bottle-aged a crisp, off-dry styleflavours, showing aromas, leading into Wairau Valley wine, a touch of complexity. complexity emerging (11 grams/litre residualgood concentration. a very fresh, punchy, with tight, crisp, melon Finely balanced, with a and lovely vigour, sugar) with a floralGrown at two sites in vibrant wine, with and green capsicum crisp, refreshing finish. concentration and bouquet and vibrant,the Southern Valleys good weight and ripe flavours that linger well. $19 (UK, US) harmony. Luscious, citrusy flavours,and 5 per cent barrel- passionfruit, lime and Slightly ‘sweaty’ notes, Te Kairanga sweet but not super- showing excellentfermented. $25 (A, UK) capsicum flavours that with good weight, Martinborough sweet (88g/litre harmony and depth.Mt Vernon linger well. Grown texture and intensity. Sauvignon Blanc residual sugar) style, Already delicious,Marlborough in the lower Wairau $25 (A, UK) 2014 #### with good acid spine. it also has goodSauvignon Blanc Valley. $34 (A) Brightwater Ripely scented, Praised by one judge potential. $252014 #### Vineyards Nelson mouthfilling wine with as “outrageous andFleshy, generous, Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc lively acidity and fresh, impossible to spit”!Wairau Valley Marlborough 2014 #### penetrating, tropical fruit $32 (A, US)wine, blended from Sauvignon Blanc Refined, tightly flavours. Finely texturedsauvignon blanc (87 2014 #### structured wine with and lingering. $22per cent) and a splash Mouthfilling, crisp and vibrant, ripe fruitof semillon (13 per lively, with strong, flavours and a finely rieslingcent). Scented, with ripe melon and green poised, dry, long finish.pure, tropical fruit capsicum flavours, One judge scored it Saint Clairflavours, a nettley showing good vigour five stars. Pioneer Block 9streak and good length. and weight. $22 (A, $20 (A, UK, US) Big John(From Lawson’s Dry UK, US) Palliser Estate MarlboroughHills.) $18 (A, UK) Martinborough RieslingRochfort Rees Tohu Mugwi Sauvignon Blanc 2013 ##### Main DivideAwatere Valley Reserve 2014 #### Highly scented, with Waipara ValleyMarlborough Marlborough Weighty and fleshy, limey, slightly toasty RieslingSauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc with ripely herbaceous aromas. Very fresh, 2013 ####1/22013 #### 2013 #### flavours showing zingy, light-bodied style Light gold, generous,Maturing well, this Barrel-fermented style richness through the (9 per cent alc/vol) with medium style withsingle-vineyard wine from the Awatere Valley, palate. Fresh and lively, gentle sweetness (34g/ good weight and finelyhas strong, grassy, with fresh, ripe flavours, with good acid spine litre residual sugar) balanced, peachy, faintlylimey and herbal showing excellent depth and harmony. $27 (A, and lovely vivacity and honeyed flavours. A topflavours, very fresh, and harmony. Slightly UK, US) intensity. Luscious buy from Pegasus Bay.punchy and lifted. creamy and biscuity, Greenhough Hope wine, well worth $20 (A, UK, US)$23 (A) with good complexity. Vineyard Nelson cellaring. $27 (UK)Saint Clair $30 (UK) Sauvignon BlancMarlborough 2014 ####Sauvignon Blanc Tohu Single VBBAEULSYUTSE Fleshy, ripe, tropical Grove Mill2014 #### Vineyard fruit-flavoured wine MarlboroughFleshy and full-bodied, Marlborough with leesy notes adding Riesling 2013in a classic Wairau Sauvignon Blanc complexity and a well- ####1/2Valley style, with 2014 #### rounded, long finish. Fleshy, ripe andstrong, fresh, tropical Aromatic, lively, freshly Worth cellaring. $26 concentrated, withfruit flavours that linger herbaceous style, a floral, slightlywell. $22 (A, UK) grown in the Awatere honeyed bouquet, Valley. Appley and good acid spine, and limey, with some riper, excellent weight and Te Kairanga passionfruit notes, depth. $20 Martinborough good palate weight and Riesling a lengthy finish. $20 2014 ####1/2 Fleshy, dryish wine (A, UK, US) with rich, citrusy, limey flavours that linger well. Youthful and tightly structured, with good acid spine and cellaring potential. $23 Annual 2016 W I N E S TAT E 165
WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2015 new zealandHighfield Pegasus Bay Bel Grove Mill pinot gris Coopers Creek Tupari MarlboroughMarlborough Canto Dry Riesling Marlborough SV The Pointer Pinot GrisRiesling 2013 2014 #### Gewurztraminer Staete Landt Estate Marlborough Pinot 2014 ########1/2 Slightly honeyed 2013 #### Marlborough Pinot Gris 2014 #### Fleshy, mouthfillingLight and lively, with bouquet, leading into a Fleshy, with lush, ripe Gris 2013 ##### Attractively scented wine from thelemon, apple and lime distinctive, full-bodied stonefruit and spice An Alsace-style from Brancott Valley Awatere Valley, withflavours, gently sweet, Waipara wine with flavours, a slightly the Wairau Valley, wine, with pear, concentrated, ripe,deliciously fresh, pure rich, ripe flavours of oily texture and bargain-priced. Fleshy apple and almond stonefruit flavours, anand zingy. $20 (A, grapefruit and honey, good concentration. and mouthfilling, with aromas. Full-bodied, oily texture and a dryishUK, US) a vague hint of oak (10 per cent barrel- concentrated, ripe rich and rounded, finish. Freshly scented, and good complexity. fermented.) Enjoyed stonefruit flavours, with fresh, lingering with good delicacy andSpy Valley Envoy A generous wine, it’s by all judges. $20 slightly honeyed and flavours, showing harmony. $27Johnson Vineyard already very expressive. Spy Valley Envoy toasty notes, and a rich, excellent delicacy and Terrace EdgeDry Riesling $33 (A, UK, US) Johnson Vineyard rounded finish. A top harmony. $25 Waipara Valley2013 #### Thistle Ridge Marlborough buy. $19 (A, UK, US) Dashwood Pinot GrisMouthfilling and dryish Waipara Riesling Gewurztraminer Villa Maria Single Marlborough Pinot 2014 ####in a very full-bodied, 2013 #### 2013 #### Vineyard Seddon Gris 2014 #### Fleshy, with strong,oak-fermented style, Pale yellow, medium Perfumed, weighty Marlborough Pinot Ripely scented and ripe stonefruitwith strong, citrusy style with good depth of and lush, with Gris 2014 ##### finely textured, with flavours, a gentleflavours, hints of peachy, citrusy flavours, concentrated, ripe Freshly scented wine, mouthfilling body splash of sweetness,pineapple and toast, a hint of honey, and stonefruit and spice estate-grown and and pear, lychee gentle acidity andand good complexity some development flavours, an oily hand-picked in the and quince flavours excellent harmonyand harmony. Drink showing. Drinking well texture and a hint of Awatere Valley and showing excellent and roundness. (Hand-now or cellar. $32 now. (From Greystone.) botrytis. One judge partly (20 per cent) freshness and picked, oak-fermented $19 scored it five stars. barrel-fermented. richness. Fine value. wine, certifiedVilla Maria Ceres Composition (Single vineyard Vibrant, with a slightly $19 (A, UK) organic.) $23 (A)Reserve Dry Central Otago wine from the oily texture and strong Saint Clair Kapiro VineyardRiesling 2012 Riesling Waihopai Valley, oak- lemon, apple and Marlborough Pinot Northland Pinot#### 2014 #### fermented.) $32 (A) spice flavours that Gris 2014 #### Gris 2014 ####Elegant, off-dry style, Fragrant Bannockburn Clearview linger well. $33 (UK) Mouthfilling, dryish Fragrant, weighty,still very fresh and wine with strong, Te Awanga Spy Valley Envoy style, attractively Alsace-style pinotcrisp, with pure, citrusy citrusy, limey aromas Gewurztraminer Marlborough Pinot scented, with fresh, gris with fresh, ripeflavours and excellent and flavours, showing 2015 #### Gris 2011 ####1/2 strong, citrusy, stonefruit, pear andtexture, harmony and good freshness and Exotically perfumed, Powerful, full-bodied appley flavours, finely spice flavours, showinglength. $28 vigour, tangy acidity, with rose petal aromas, style, with a gentle balanced and lingering. excellent delicacy and and a finely balanced, this is a refined wine splash of sweetness $22 (A) richness, and an off-dryBrightwater slightly sweet, with fresh, youthful and excellent Tiki Single finish. Drink now orNelson Riesling appetisingly crisp pear and spice richness, complexity, Vineyard cellar. $272014 #### finish. $23 (UK) flavours, showing good texture and harmony. Marlborough Pinot Rockburn CentralScented, vibrant wine sugar/acid balance. Delicious now, but still Gris 2014 #### Otago Pinot Griswith strong lemon/ gewürztraminer Strongly varietal, youthful. $32 Mouthfilling wine, 2014 ####lime flavours and a with good delicacy, it Brancott Estate estate-grown in the Attractively scented,slightly sweet (16 Greystone Waipara has obvious cellaring Letter Series F upper Wairau Valley. with ripe, pear-likegrams/litre residual Gewurztraminer potential. $19 Marlborough Pinot Crisp lemon, apple and aromas. Strong, puresugar), appetisingly 2014 ##### Villa Maria Single Gris 2014 #### spice flavours, showing fruit flavours, citrusycrisp finish that lingers Exotically perfumed Vineyard Ihumatao Rich and rounded, a touch of complexity, and peachy, with anwell. Enjoyed by all and mouthfilling, Gewurztraminer with substantial good texture and very off-dry, crisp finish.panellists. $20 with concentrated, 2014 #### body, a slightly oily satisfying depth. $25 $30 (A) ripe stonefruit and Estate-grown at texture and ripe, (A, UK, US) Tarras VineyardsGreenhough spice flavours, gentle Mangere, in Auckland, slightly sweet lychee Vavasour Central OtagoApple Valley sweetness and an oily this pale, perfumed and spice flavours, Marlborough Pinot Pinot GrisNelson Riesling richness. Bold style, wine is weighty, very showing some toasty Gris 2013 #### 2014 ####2014 #### with a hint of botrytis fresh and smooth, with complexity. $33 Drinking well now, Grown at Alexandra,Floral, zesty, light- and some barrel well-defined lychee and Clifford Bay this partly (10 per this is a gentlybodied wine with crisp, fermentation adding pear flavours. Refined Marlborough Pinot cent) barrel-fermented perfumed wine,slightly sweet, appley complexity. $35 (A) and youthful. $30 Gris 2014 #### wine is full-bodied and displaying good varietalflavours, showing Anchorage Family Elegant wine, with dryish, with strong, character. It hasexcellent delicacy and Estate Nelson strong, ripe fruit citrusy, slightly nutty dryish pear and quincevigour. ‘Mosel-style,’ Gewurztraminer flavours of lemons, flavours and a crisp, flavours, showingenthused one judge. 2014 #### apples and pears, lingering finish. $23 (A) excellent balance andBest drinking 2017+. Perfumed and fleshy, excellent harmony length. $29 (A, UK)$20 with mouthfilling body, and an enticingly floral ripe fruit flavours bouquet. $20 (A)Greystone and a slightly oilyWaipara Riesling texture. Medium style,2014 #### harmonious and well-Rich, faintly honeyed rounded. $19 (US)wine with generous,ripe, peachy flavours,a hint of apricot, goodsugar/acid balance anda long, smooth finish.$27 (A)166 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2016
WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2015 new zealandWeaver Estate Palliser Estate Esk Valley Hawke's Villa Maria Villa Maria ClearviewCentral Otago Martinborough Bay Chardonnay Reserve Barrique Reserve BeachheadPinot Gris Chardonnay 2014 ##### Fermented Marlborough Hawke's Bay2013 #### 2014 ##### Classic regional style, Gisborne Chardonnay ChardonnayFloral, weighty wine, Fragrant, citrusy with mouthfilling body Chardonnay 2013 #### 2014 ####estate-grown, hand- bouquet, leading into and strong peach, 2013 ####1/2 Mouthfilling and fleshy, Pale, youthful winepicked and fermented a generous palate with grapefruit and nut Smoky bouquet, with with strong, ripe, with mouthfillingin an even split of tanks grapefruit-like flavours, flavours, showing a distinct hint of ‘burnt stonefruit flavours, body, fresh, citrusyand French oak barrels finely integrated oak excellent complexity match’, leading into a good complexity and a fruit flavours, smoky,(30% new). Generous, and very impressive and harmony. Weighty, weighty, rich palate with rounded finish. Toasty creamy notes addinglively, peachy flavours, complexity, drive and rich and rounded, this vibrant grapefruit, peach, and nutty, with fresh complexity and awith a hint of oak elegance. ‘Fabulous!’ is a wonderful buy. spice and nut flavours, acidity. $33 lingering, harmoniousand a dryish, well- noted one judge. $39 $20 fresh acidity, and some Te Kairanga finish. $25rounded, lingering Esk Valley Elephant Hill chalky, minerally notes. Martinborough Gunn Estatefinish. Enjoyed by all Winemakers Reserve Hawke's Worth cellaring. $37 (A) Chardonnay Reserve Hawke'spanellists. $27 Reserve Hawke's Bay Chardonnay Mahurangi River 2013 #### Bay Chardonnay Bay Chardonnay 2013 ##### Field of Grace Mouthfilling, with crisp, 2014 ####chardonnay 2014 ##### Weighty, generous, Chardonnay lively grapefruit and Slightly creamy This beauty shot creamy-smooth 2013 #### spice flavours, showing bouquet. Weighty,Mahurangi River straight to a five-star wine, estate-grown Full-bodied and creamy- good ripeness, and with ripe, stonefruitWinery Field of rating from all judges. at Te Awanga and textured, with fresh, well-integrated oak. flavours, showingGrace Reserve A generous, full-bodied barrel-fermented. concentrated, peachy Slightly creamy and good depth, and aChardonnay wine, with a fragrant, Concentrated, fruit flavours and finely nutty, with a lengthy finely-textured, lengthy2013 ##### slightly flinty bouquet, peachy, slightly integrated oak (20 per finish. $24 finish. $20Stylish Matakana it has rich stonefruit toasty flavours, cent new). $39 Thistle Ridge Craggy Rangewine, mouthfilling, flavours, seasoned with with excellent Saint Clair Waipara Gimblett Gravelscomplex and savoury. nutty oak and excellent texture, harmony Omaka Reserve Chardonnay Hawke's BayConcentrated and complexity. $32 and length. $45 Marlborough 2013 #### Chardonnaysweet-fruited, with Trinity Hill Clearview Estate Chardonnay Generous, peachy 2014 ####grapefruit-like flavours Gimblett Gravels Reserve Hawke's 2013 #### wine with a subtle Elegant wine, fullyand a finely structured, Chardonnay Bay Chardonnay Fleshy, weighty, oak influence (50% barrel-fermented,lasting finish. 2013 ##### 2014 ##### punchy style, with barrel-fermented), a with a fragrant, mealy,Ageworthy style, rated Classy, elegant Fragrant, complex, rich, ripe, stone-fruit flinty streak, and good slightly biscuityhighly by all judges. $60 wine with a fragrant slightly smoky bouquet. flavours and a strong acidity and length. bouquet. Full-bodiedGiesen The bouquet, mingling ripe Concentrated, seasoning of toasty (From Greystone.) $22 and fresh, with vibrant,Fuder Clayvin fruit and smoky notes. youthful, grapefruit- oak from fermentation Ash Ridge Vintner’s ripe fruit flavours, aMarlborough Strong, grapefruit-like like flavours, woven and maturation in Reserve Hawke's subtle oak influenceChardonnay flavours, with well- with fresh acidity, a American oak barrels Bay Chardonnay and good length. $322012 ##### integrated nutty oak, subtle oak seasoning (50 per cent new). Lots 2014 #### (A, UK)Powerful, complex good complexity and a and good complexity. of youthful impact. $38 Pale, creamy-textured Pask Declarationwine, with substantial long finish. $35 (A, UK) Elegant, tightly (A, UK) wine with rich, Hawke's Baybody, rich, citrusy, Vidal Legacy structured wine, rated Saint Clair Pioneer grapefruit-like flavours, Chardonnayslightly nutty flavours Hawke's Bay highly by all judges. $36 Block 11 Cell finely integrated oak, 2014 ####and a beautifully Chardonnay Villa Maria Single Block Marlborough good complexity Slightly oaky bouquet.harmonious, lasting 2010 ##### Vineyard Keltern Chardonnay and a long finish. Traditional regionalfinish. (Grown in the Maturing very Hawke's Bay 2013 #### Tightly structured and style, with substantialClayvin Vineyard, in gracefully. Fairly Chardonnay Creamy and full- ageworthy. $35 body and generous,the Brancott Valley, youthful, light yellow 2014 ####1/2 bodied, with strong, Askerne Reserve ripe, peachy, slightlyand fermented and colour, mouthfilling Elegant, tight-knit wine citrusy, buttery, Hawke's Bay toasty flavours.matured in new body and rich, citrusy, with a smoky bouquet, biscuity flavours. Rich, Chardonnay ‘Yum,’ enthused oneGerman oak fuders.) complex flavours. concentrated, ripe, moderately complex 2014 #### judge. $40$60 (A) Fine, elegant and grapefruit-like flavours, style, with “plenty to Fleshy and sweet- Pask SmallVilla Maria Single sweet-fruited, with good complexity and a enjoy”. $33 fruited, with generous, Batch Wild YeastVineyard Taylors an attractive maturity. sustained finish. Well Villa Maria peachy flavours, finely FermentationPass Marlborough Probably at its peak. $60 worth cellaring. $35 Cellar Selection integrated oak and a Hawke's BayChardonnay Villa Maria Reserve Ashwood Marlborough rounded finish. $30 Chardonnay2013 ##### Hawke's Bay Estate Gisborne Chardonnay Black Barn Reserve 2014 ####Rich, complex and Chardonnay Chardonnay 2013 #### Hawke's Bay Fragrant, mouthfilling,finely textured wine 2014 ##### 2013 ####1/2 Fleshy, with strong, Chardonnay Gimblett Gravels winefrom the Awatere Fragrant bouquet, Fragrant, complex ripe, citrusy flavours to 2013 #### with ripe fruit flavours,Valley, hand-picked citrusy, nutty and bouquet. Mouthfilling, the fore and barrel- Still youthful, this fresh, impressive depth andand barrel-fermented. smoky. Powerful, with youthful, ripe ferment complexity. citrusy, strongly oak- complexity, and aHighly fragrant and weighty wine, still stonefruit and buttery, Fragrant, with finely influenced wine shows lingering finish. $25weighty, with ripe, nutty very youthful, with toasty notes adding integrated, spicy oak, a good concentration andflavours, very generous concentrated, ripe richness. Barrel- slightly creamy texture, complexity, with a rich,and refined. An obvious grapefruit and nut fermented style, with and good freshness rounded finish. $50candidate for cellaring. flavours, showing good weight and and vibrancy. Great$38 (UK) excellent complexity, concentration. $29 value. $20 (UK) harmony and richness. $32 Annual 2016 W I N E S TAT E 167
WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2015 new zealandQuarter Acre Villa Maria Cellar other red Trinity Hill Gimblett Akarua Two DegreesHawke's Bay Selection Hawke's varietals & blends Gravels Tempranillo Bannockburn Central OtagoChardonnay Bay Chardonnay 2013 #### Central Otago Pinot Noir2014 #### 2014 #### Paroa Bay Bay of Youthful, fragrant, dark Pinot Noir 2013 ####1/2Creamy, smoky Mouthfilling, ripely Islands CMC red with strong, ripe 2013 ##### Finely textured,bouquet. Mouthfilling, flavoured, peachy wine 2013 ####1/2 blackcurrant, plum Deeply coloured, rich smooth-flowing red,with generous, ripe with fresh, balanced Concentrated, youthful and spice flavours, and sweet-fruited richly varietal, rubyfruit flavours, toasty acidity, a subtle Northland blend of showing some savoury red in a bold style. hued and supple, withoak adding complexity, seasoning of nutty cabernet franc (51%), complexity, and a Complex bouquet, fresh, strong plum andand a well-rounded, oak and good weight, cabernet sauvignon moderately firm finish. with rich fruit aromas dried herb flavours,lingering finish. (From texture and length. (38%) and malbec Well worth cellaring. mingled with French gently seasoned withRod McDonald.) $35 Bargain-priced. $18 (11%). Strong, ripe $35 (A, UK) oak (30% new). oak. Very elegant style(US) Te Awa Hawke's blackcurrant, spice Villa Maria Reserve Concentrated, well- - floral, harmonious andSacred Hill Bay Chardonnay and red berry flavours, Gimblett Gravels structured palate with lingering. $39Reserve Hawke's 2014 #### with toast and cigar Hawke's Bay fine-grained tannins. Giesen SingleBay Chardonnay Tight, youthful, elegant box notes adding Malbec 2013 #### Very ageworthy. $42 Vineyard Selection2014 #### wine with ripe, citrusy complexity. Well worth Inky hued, very fresh Doctor’s Flat Ridge BlockElegant, youthful, flavours, showing cellaring. 5+ $40 and lively red with Central Otago Marlborough Pinotmedium-bodied wine excellent complexity impressive density Pinot Noir Noir 2012 ####1/2with fresh, ripe, sweet- and length. Best Coopers Creek of spicy, plummy 2013 ####1/2 Deep, youthful colour.fruit flavours, gently drinking mid-2016+. $30 SV Huapai Guido flavours, firm tannins, Full-coloured, sturdy, Sturdy and savoury,seasoned with oak. in Velvet Pants and good ripeness single-vineyard with substantial bodyFinely balanced, with gruner veltliner Montepulciano and length. Powerful, Bannockburn red, and concentrated,drink-young appeal. $25 2013 #### tightly structured wine, barrel-aged for a year. ripe plum and spiceSacred Hill Nautilus Lively, medium-bodied, worth cellaring. $60 Floral, rich wine with flavours. Fragrant,Riflemans Hawke's Marlborough buoyantly fruity red, strong, ripe plum structured, ‘serious’Bay Chardonnay Gruner Veltliner estate-grown in west pinot noir and spice flavours, wine, built for the long2014 #### 2014 #### Auckland, with fresh, harmonious and haul. $60 (A)Fragrant, youthful Fleshy and forward, ripe, berryish, slightly Giesen Single well-structured. Still Folium Vineyardwine with peachy, with generous, peachy, spicy flavours, gentle Vineyard youthful; best 2017+. Marlborough Pinotcitrusy, slightly smoky slightly spicy flavours, tannins and good Selection Clayvin $46 (A, UK, US) Noir 2013 ####1/2and biscuity flavours, showing excellent concentration. $29 Marlborough Pinot Dark and purple-a strong seasoning ripeness, depth and Noir 2013 ##### Peregrine Central flushed Brancott Valleyof oak and excellent harmony. Drinking well Church Road This beautiful wine Otago Pinot Noir red, with concentratedcomplexity. Well worth from the start. $29 McDonald Series went straight to a 2013 ####1/2 cherry/plum flavours,cellaring. $70 Hawke's Bay five-star rating on all Elegant, finely poised tight and youthful.Te Awanga Estate rosé Tempranillo of the judges’ score blend of Bendigo Densely structuredHawke's Bay 2013 #### sheets. Deep ruby, (52%), Pisa (43%) and worth cellaringChardonnay Tiki Estate Powerful, deeply it is sweet-fruited and Gibbston (5%) to 2016+. One judge2014 #### Marlborough coloured, savoury red and concentrated, fruit, French oak-aged scored it five stars.Elegant, youthful wine Pinot Noir Rosé with plum and spice with impressive for 10 months. Deep Fine value. $30 (A)with fresh, ripe, citrusy 2014 #### flavours, showing good structure and harmony. ruby, with a fragrant Sanctuaryflavours to the fore, Pale pink, mouthfilling ripeness, density and Powerful, dense, silky bouquet, sweet-fruit Marlborough Pinotnutty, mealy characters and dryish, in a complexity, and very and lingering, with characters, strong Noir 2013 ####1/2adding complexity, fleshy, vibrantly fruity fine-grained tannins. lovely flow across the plum and dried herb A great buy fromand a well-rounded, style, with strong Youthful, ageworthy palate, it was praised flavours, fresh acidity Foley Family Wines.harmonious finish. strawberryish, slightly wine, enjoyed by all by one panellist as and supple tannins. Generous, fresh(From Rod McDonald.) spicy flavours and a judges. $27 “great”! $60 (A) Praised by one judge and sweet-fruited,$25 (UK) fresh, creamy-smooth Brightwater as “quite complete”. with youthful, ripeVidal Legacy finish. $20 (A) Coopers Creek Vineyards Nelson $45 (A, UK, US) plum, cherry andHawke's Bay SV Saint John Pinot Noir spice flavours, oakChardonnay Hawke's Bay 2013 ##### complexity and fine-2014 #### Malbec 2013 #### Enticingly floral, very grained tannins. OneStrong, smoky, ‘struck Dark, youthful, fragrant finely textured and judge scored it fivematch’ aromas. red with sweet, harmonious red with stars. $20 (A, UK)Fresh, grapefruit-like ‘coconut’ aromas and excellent depth of Ara Select Blockflavours, with well- very good depth of ripe plum and spice Limited Releaseintegrated nutty oak vibrant plum/spice flavours, gently J52 Marlboroughand good complexity. flavours. $29 seasoned with French Pinot NoirTight, focused and oak, supple tannins and 2012 ####lingering. $60 Mills Reef Elspeth a lengthy finish. Great Full-coloured and Gimblett Gravels value. $25 (A, UK) firmly structured, with Hawke's Bay slightly earthy notes Cabernet Franc and strong, plummy, 2013 #### gamey flavours, Powerful, fragrant savoury and lingering. red with fresh, strong $40 (UK) plum, red berry and spice flavours, finely structured and youthful. Well worth cellaring. $49168 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2016
WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2015 new zealandAra Select Block Grove Mill Saint Clair Pioneer Villa Maria Single Te Kairanga Ballasalla CentralLimited Release Marlborough Pinot Block 5 Bull Block Vineyard Southern Martinborough Otago Pinot NoirK54 Marlborough Noir 2013 #### Marlborough Pinot Clays Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 ####Pinot Noir Bright ruby, with very Noir 2013 #### Pinot Noir 2013 #### Floral, savoury and2012 #### good depth of youthful, Concentrated red, 2012 #### Generous, with supple, with cherry,Full-coloured, with ripe cherry, plum and grown in the Omaka Full-coloured and mouthfilling body and plum, dried herb andan earthy streak. spice flavours, balanced Valley. Savoury, with smooth, with strong rich, ripe fruit flavours. spice flavours, showingWeighty, smoky and tannins and finely strong cherry, plum and plum and spice Slightly earthy and good complexity andsavoury, with good integrated oak. Savoury, spice flavours, well- flavours. Fragrant, with savoury, with good harmony, and fine-richness through the slightly earthy notes add seasoned with toasty a soft, silky texture complexity. Fine grained, silky tannins.palate. $40 (UK) complexity. Needs time; oak (French, 38 per and long finish. “Very value. $25 Drinking well from nowAra Select Block best drinking 2016+. cent new), and good pretty,” enthused one Te Kairanga onwards. $29Limited Release $31 (US) tannin support. Firm, judge. $57 Runholder Folding HillM36 Marlborough Huia Marlborough structured style, well Brothers Reserve Martinborough Orchard BlockPinot Noir Pinot Noir worth cellaring. $38 Waipara Pinot Noir Pinot Noir Central Otago2012 #### 2012 #### Saint Clair Pioneer 2013 #### 2013 #### Pinot NoirFull-coloured and Mouthfilling, firm and Block 10 Twin Hills Deeply coloured, with Deep ruby, mouthfilling 2012 ####weighty, with rich, concentrated, with Marlborough Pinot concentrated, vibrant red with ripe, spicy Floral bouquet, withplummy flavours, fresh, deep plum/spice Noir 2013 #### cherry, raspberry flavours, seasoned with dried herb notes addinggamey, smoky, toasty flavours, structured, Deeply coloured and herb flavours, sweet oak (noted by complexity. Savouryand spicy. Full-on youthful and lingering. Omaka Valley red, seasoned with French two judges), and good and finely textured,style with some ‘Serious’ style, certified with strong plum, oak (70% new). Very concentration. $34 with gentle tannins andearthy notes, good organic. $38 (A, UK, US) cherry and spice finely textured, with Akarua Rua Central good depth of plum,concentration and Saint Clair flavours. Weighty, ripe, supple tannins Otago Pinot Noir spice and herb flavours.complexity. $40 (UK) Marlborough Pinot youthful and rich, with and a lasting finish. 2014 #### Ready. $60 (UK)Ara Select Blocks Noir 2013 #### good complexity and $100 (A, UK, US) Delicious young. Kuru Kuru CentralMarlborough Pinot Ruby hued, attractively potential. $38 Main Divide Generous, sweet- Otago Pinot NoirNoir 2012 #### fragrant red, with Saint Clair Pioneer Waipara Valley fruited red with 2013 ####Full, bright colour. fresh, strong cherry, Block 12 Lone Gum Pinot Noir fresh, vibrant, Very youthful, regionalConcentrated, ripe plum and spice Marlborough Pinot 2013 #### plummy flavours, blend, full-bodied,and savoury, with flavours. Moderately Noir 2013 #### Deeply coloured and finely integrated oak with strong, ripe plum,youthful vigour and complex, vibrantly Fresh, medium-bodied mouthfilling, with (French, 10% new), cherry and spicea finely balanced, fruity style, grown in style from the lower vibrant, plummy, spicy gentle tannins, and an flavours, showingslightly earthy finish, the Southern Valleys Omaka Valley, with flavours, showing invitingly floral bouquet. impressive depth andshowing good and partly barrel-aged. strong, ripe cherry, good concentration. $29 (A, UK, US) complexity. “Reallycomplexity. $30 (A, Delicious young. $27 plum and spice Youthful, but finely Alexandra Wine moreish,” enthusedUK, US) (A, UK) flavours, showing balanced and already Company Alex one judge. (FromAra Single Estate Saint Clair good complexity, and drinking well. (From Gold Central Tarras Wines.)Marlborough Pinot Omaka Reserve fine-grained tannins. Pegasus Bay.) $26 Otago Pinot Noir $38 (A, UK)Noir 2013 #### Marlborough Pinot “Caresses the Motueka Vineyards 2013 #### Maude CentralYouthful, with vibrant Noir 2013 #### palate,” enthused one Nelson Pinot Noir Fragrant, ruby hued, Otago Pinot Noirplum, cherry and spice Full-coloured, with judge. $38 2014 #### mouthfilling red 2014 ####flavours, showing deep, youthful cherry Soderberg Floral and ruby hued, with ripe plum/spice Fragrant, savourysome complexity. and plum flavours, Home Block with good balance flavours, a hint of dried bouquet, showingVery fragrant, silky and strongly seasoned Single Vineyard and energy and some herbs and savoury, good complexity.harmonious. $25 (A, with French oak Marlborough Pinot savoury, earthy notes. earthy notes adding Strong plum, dried herbUK, US) (51 per cent new). Noir 2012 #### Priced sharply. (From complexity. One judge and spice flavours,Esk Valley Mouthfilling, rich and Fresh and lively, with Anchorage.) $18 scored it five stars. $30 with supportive oakMarlborough Pinot soft, but needs time; strong plum and spice Te Kairanga Alexandra (French, 30% new) andNoir 2013 #### open 2016+. $44 flavours. Sweet-fruited John Martin Wine Company a balanced, lengthyFloral and sweet- Saint Clair Pioneer and savoury, with good Martinborough Davishon Central finish. $38 (A, UK, US)fruited, with vibrant Block 4 Sawcut weight and length. Pinot Noir Otago Pinot Noir Brennan Gibbstonplum and spice Marlborough Pinot Certified organic. $37 2013 #### 2013 #### Central Otagoflavours, good harmony Noir 2013 #### (A, UK) Deep ruby, floral Youthful, tightly Pinot Noirand potential. Fresh, Deep ruby, fragrant, Villa Maria Reserve and fleshy red with structured red with 2011 ####elegant wine that vibrantly fruity and Marlborough Pinot fresh acidity and full, bright colour. Maturing gracefully,lingers well. $33 (UK) supple red from the Noir 2012 #### concentrated cherry, Mouthfilling, with ripe this Gibbston red hasGiesen Single Ure Valley, midway Fresh, full-coloured plum, herb and spice plum/spice flavours, a floral bouquet andVineyard Selection between Blenheim and blend of Awatere flavours. Bold and showing some savoury strong, lively plum andRidge Block Kaikoura. Ripe cherry Valley and Southern savoury. $49 complexity, and a spice flavours, rich andMarlborough Pinot and plum flavours, with Valleys grapes. firm finish. Dense, savoury. $54Noir 2013 #### finely integrated oak, in Mouthfilling, with ageworthy red, scoredFull-coloured, savoury a powerful but elegant strong, ripe cherry and five stars by oneand complex style, style, focused and spice flavours, supple judge. $36with concentrated, ripe tightly structured. $38 tannins and savoury,flavours, showing good earthy, toasty notescomplexity. Dense, dark adding complexity.and ‘brooding’. Certified $51 (UK)organic. $60 (A) Annual 2016 W I N E S TAT E 169
WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2015 new zealandCeres Composition Tarras Vineyards Weaver Estate Clearview Cape Villa Maria Single Peacock SkyCentral Otago Central Otago Central Otago Kidnappers Vineyard Braided Waiheke IslandPinot Noir Pinot Noir Pinot Noir Hawke's Bay Gravels Organic Merlot Malbec2013 #### 2014 #### 2012 #### Merlot Malbec Merlot 2013 2013 ####Attractive, sweet- Deeply coloured, rich Herbal aromas, leading 2014 ##### ##### Dark, rich blend offruited Bannockburn blend of Bendigo (The into a finely structured Powerful, concentrated Bold, bright, youthful merlot (84%) andred, full-coloured, with Canyon Vineyard), red with an earthy blend of merlot (81%), colour. Rich, ripe plum/ malbec (16%). Weightymouthfilling body and Cromwell Basin streak, good, savoury malbec (13%) and spice flavours, with and firmly structured,strong cherry, plum and Alexandra fruit. complexity and a cabernet franc (6%). fine-grained tannins. with concentratedand spice flavours, Strong plum and moderately persistent Bold, plummy, spicy Powerful, dense red, blackcurrant and plumbraced by firm tannins. spice flavours, with finish. $35 flavours, with nutty sweet-fruited, soft and flavours, hints of driedWell worth cellaring. ripe, supple tannins, oak and fine-grained long. Rated highly by herbs and spices,$38 (UK) oak complexity Satyr by Sileni tannins. Rich, ripe and all judges. $55 and obvious cellaringMondillo Central and a persistent Estates Foothills rounded. Great value. potential.Otago Pinot Noir finish. Enjoyed by all Hawke's Bay Pinot $20 Villa Maria Cellar 5+ $452014 #### panellists. $39 (A, UK) Noir 2014 #### Elephant Hill Selection Hawke'sFragrant, full-coloured Nanny Goat Richly coloured and Reserve Merlot Bay Merlot Alluviale Gimblettand weighty red Vineyard Central weighty, with strong Cabernet Cabernet 2013 Road Hawke's Baywith rich plum/spice Otago Pinot Noir plum/spice flavours, 2013 ##### ####1/2 Merlot Cabernetflavours, showing a 2014 #### showing good Deeply coloured Dark, rich and smooth. Sauvignonstrong, smoky oak Ruby-hued, floral, complexity, and a red with strong Weighty, with vibrant 2012 ####influence (French, 30% very youthful and lengthy, finely textured personality, blended plum/spice flavours, Fresh, lively andnew), and underlying finely structured red finish. $35 from merlot (64%), a hint of herbs, finely savoury blend of merlottannins. Concentrated, with strong, vibrant cabernet sauvignon integrated oak, good (88%) and cabernetstructured red, likely to plum, spice and merlot & blends (35%) and malbec complexity and sauvignon (12%),be at its best 2017+. dried herb flavours, (1%), estate-grown in excellent ripeness, grown in the Gimblett$45 (US) showing considerable Church Road the Gimblett Gravels texture and depth. $25 Gravels. Strong, ripeMondillo Central complexity, and ripe, McDonald Series (principally) and Bridge plum, spice and nuttyOtago Pinot Noir supple tannins. $36 Hawke's Bay Pa Triangle. Powerful, Villa Maria oak flavours, showing2013 #### (A, US) Merlot 2013 with plummy, slightly Cellar Selection good complexity andFull-coloured, single- Terra Sancta ##### minty flavours, rich Organic Hawke's harmony. $33 (A, US)vineyard Bendigo red Shingle Beach Dark, fragrant, powerful and smooth-flowing. Bay Merlotwith an earthy streak Bannockburn wine with dense, ripe, Weighty, fresh and 2013 ####1/2 Babichrunning through its Central Otago plummy, spicy flavours, soft. $49 Dark, with excellent Winemakers’concentrated, black Pinot Noir a hint of coffee, and Esk Valley depth of plum, spice Reserve Hawke'sfruit flavours. Savoury, 2013 #### lovely softness and Gimblett Gravels and nut flavours, Bay Merlotfinely textured and Fragrant and full- richness. Praised by all Merlot Cabernet finely textured and 2013 ####youthful. $45 (US) coloured, with savoury, judges, this is a five- Sauvignon Malbec harmonious. Soft, rich Mouthfilling, suppleMud House Central concentrated plum/ star red at a four-star 2014 ##### and elegant. $25 Gimblett Gravels redOtago Pinot Noir spice flavours, finely price. $27 Bold, youthful blend with a spicy bouquet,2014 #### integrated oak and with concentrated, Mahurangi very good depth ofFragrant, full-coloured impressive ripeness ripe plum, spice and River Matakana ripe, plummy flavour, ared, mouthfilling and and complexity. $48 (A) blackcurrant flavours, Merlot Cabernet seasoning of nutty oak,sweet-fruited, with Terra Sancta oak complexity and a Sauvignon Malbec and a smooth, lengthyrich plum and spice Slapjack Block long finish. Dark and 2013 #### finish. $30flavours and supple Bannockburn dense, with obvious Full-coloured Aucklandtannins. Still youthful Central Otago potential. A top buy. $25 red with fresh, strong, Moana Parkand offering delicious Pinot Noir Esk Valley plummy flavours, Hawke's Baydrinking 2016+. $25 2012 #### Winemakers showing good Merlot Malbec(A, US) Floral and supple, with Reserve Gimblett ripeness, fine-grained 2014 ####Tarras The Canyon rich fruit flavours and Gravels Merlot tannins, and well- Powerful, boldCentral Otago a strong seasoning of Cabernet integrated oak (French Gimblett GravelsPinot Noir oak. Well-structured, Sauvignon and American). $35 blend of merlot (80%),2013 #### complex wine with a 2013 ##### malbec (15%) andMouthfilling, savoury, lingering finish. (From Dark, youthful blend Marsden Bay cabernet franc (5%),single-vineyard the first vines planted with a slightly minty of Islands The barrel-aged for aBendigo red with at Bannockburn in fragrance. Fresh, Winemakers year. Concentratedspice and dried herb 1991.) $79 (US) dense plum, spice and Daughter Merlot plum, spice and herbflavours, earthy notes, Thornbury Central nutty oak flavours, 2013 #### flavours, with smoothstructured tannins, and Otago Pinot Noir showing excellent Deeply coloured tannins. Sharply priced.excellent complexity 2014 #### ripeness, concentration Northland red, $20and depth. “Quite Deeply coloured, and complexity, and mouthfilling andcomplete,” noted one exuberantly fruity red a long, softly textured firm, with strong Mills Reef Elspethjudge. Well worth with generous, ripe, finish. $60 blackberry, plum and Gimblett Gravelscellaring. $60 (A, UK) vibrant plum/spice spice flavours, good Hawke's Bay flavours and smooth complexity and a Merlot 2013 #### tannins. Displays perfumed bouquet. $32 Generous, full-coloured some backbone and red with a floral bouquet, complexity. Fine showing a smoky, value. $25 toasty oak influence. Mouthfilling body, with strong berry and spice flavours, rich, savoury and smooth. $49170 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2016
WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2015 new zealand Villa Maria Reserve Coopers Creek Sacred Hill syrah Gimblett Gravels Reserve Hawke's Helmsman Merlot 2013 #### Bay Cabernet 2013 #### Giesen Single Deeply coloured, floral Sauvignon Dark Gimblett Gravels Vineyard and mouthfilling, with 2013 #### blend of cabernet Selection Clayvin concentrated red This powerful, sauvignon (50%), Marlborough Syrah berry, plum and spice densely coloured red merlot and cabernet 2011 ##### flavours, seasoned is concentrated and franc, barrel-aged Perfumed, boldly with nutty oak. Rich, tightly structured, for 18 months. coloured red from ripe and smooth. $50 with beautifully rich Mouthfilling, it has 19-year-old vines in blackcurrant, plum and blackcurrant and spice the Brancott Valley. cabernet sauvignon spice flavours. Best flavours, with hints of Powerful and fleshy, & blends drinking 2018+. (One herbs and coffee, fine- with deep plum and judge scored it five grained tannins, and spice flavours, fine- stars.) $57 good complexity and grained tannins and richness. $60 a lasting finish. OneHaha Hawke's Sileni Estate Mahurangi Coopers Creek Vidal Legacy of the region’s finestBay Merlot Selection The River Winery SV Gimblett Hawke's Bay syrah’s yet. $70 (A)2014 #### VBBAEULSYUTSE Triangle Hawke's Reserve Cabernet Gravels Hawke's Cabernet Bay Merlot Sauvignon Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot CrossroadsDeeply coloured, 2013 #### 2013 #### Sauvignon Merlot 2013 #### Talisman Syrahmouthfilling, sweet- Ripe fruit aromas, Dark, youthful 2013 #### Smooth and 2013 #####fruited red, from seasoned with sweet Matakana red with Full-coloured blend of mouthfilling, with This ‘mystery blend’the hill country and oak. Big, savoury, concentrated, ripe cabernet sauvignon plum, berry, spice and is powerful, dark andGimblett Gravels. spicy wine, seasoned blackcurrant, plum and (73%), merlot (25%) nut flavours, showing youthful, with a strong,Aromatic, with strong, with nutty oak, and a spice flavours. Savoury and malbec (2%), good complexity and smoky oak influenceplummy flavours, finely textured, lengthy and complex, with a showing very good richness. $70 and rich, sweet-fruitshowing some finish. $35 seasoning of toasty, concentration of plum, Saint Clair Pioneer flavours that linger well.complexity, and lots Te Awa Single nutty French oak spice and slight coffee Block 17 Plateau Savoury, supple andof drink-young appeal. Estate Merlot (85% new) and good flavours, with a finely Cabernet Merlot harmonious. $55 (A)$17 Cabernet cellaring potential. $60 textured, lingering 2014 #### Awaroa Melba Sauvignon Church Road Grand finish. $29 Estate-grown in the Peach SyrahSacred Hill 2013 #### Reserve Hawke's Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels, this 2013 #####Brokenstone Fragrant and full-bodied, Bay Cabernet Cabernet Merlot dark, vibrantly fruity Highly fragrant, deeply2013 #### with rich, ripe plum Sauvignon Merlot 2013 #### blend of cabernet coloured WaihekeDeeply coloured, and spice flavours, 2013 #### Concentrated Hawke's sauvignon (72%) and Island red. ‘Serious’merlot-based, Gimblett fresh, well-rounded and Bold, dark red with Bay blend with rich merlot (28%) was but delicious redGravels blend, with lingering. $35 concentrated, ripe spice and dried herb American oak-aged. It with lovely weightminor portions of Thornbury blackcurrant, plum and flavours, still youthful. is youthful, with gentle and depth of plummalbec (6%), syrah Hawke's Bay spice flavours and a Complex, with firm tannins and strong and spice flavours,(5%), cabernet Merlot 2014 #### smooth finish. Soft and tannins. $49 blackcurrant, red berry youthful and lasting.sauvignon (2%) and Offering concentrated elegant, showing good Mills Reef and spice flavours. $38 Should be long-lived.cabernet franc (2%). plum and spice flavours, weight, balance and Elspeth Cabernet Villa MariaStrong blackcurrant, this fragrant red shows length. $44 Sauvignon Reserve Gimblett 5+ $61plum and spice good power through Clearview Hawke's 2013 #### Gravels Cabernetflavours, complex and the palate, with some Bay Old Olive Block Bold, dense Sauvignon Merlotsavoury, and good savoury complexity and 2013 #### colour. Powerful, 2013 ####tannin backbone. $50 a firm finish. A great Fresh, vibrant and concentrated, softly Fragrant and full- buy. (From Villa Maria.) supple blend of structured red coloured, with rich,Saint Clair Pioneer $15 cabernet sauvignon with lovely, vibrant vibrant plum and spiceBlock 17 Plateau Vidal Reserve (46%) and merlot blackcurrant, plum and flavours, showingBlock Merlot Hawke’s Bay (38%), with smaller spice flavours. $49 good ripeness and2013 #### Merlot Cabernet amounts of cabernet Mills Reef Reserve concentration, finelyDark Gimblett Gravels Sauvignon franc and malbec. Hawke's Bay integrated oak andred with a perfumed, 2013 #### Concentrated Cabernet Merlot good complexity. $50sweetly oaked bouquet Full-coloured and blackcurrant, plum 2013 ####(American oak, 47% fragrant, with a sweet and spice flavours, Savoury red withnew). Vibrantly fruity, oak influence, strong, seasoned with toasty generous, ripe, redwith strong plum ripe plum and spice oak, and good, savoury berry and spiceand spice flavours, flavours, showing complexity. $36 flavours, showingshowing some savoury some complexity, and a good freshness andcomplexity, and a well- smooth finish. $20 complexity. $25rounded finish. $38 Annual 2016 W I N E S TAT E 171
WINESTATE’S BEST WINES OF 2015 new zealandElephant Hill Esk Valley Okahu Syrah Esk Valley Hawke's Tohu Limited Nevis BluffReserve Hawke's Winemakers 2010 #### Bay Syrah Release Raiha Selection deBay Syrah Reserve Hawke's Estate-grown, this 2013 #### Reserve Noble Grains Noble2013 ##### Bay Syrah Northland red is Fresh and full-bodied, Marlborough Pinot Gris 2014Dark, dense red, 2013 ####1/2 maturing well. Full and with strongly varietal, ripe Riesling 2013 (375ml) ####1/2estate-grown in the Dark, powerful, tightly moderately youthful in plum, spice and black (375ml) ##### Lovely, honeyed,Gimblett Gravels (85%) structured red with colour, it has strong, pepper flavours, gentle Lovely late harvest botrytis-enrichedand at Te Awanga concentrated plum and savoury, nutty flavours, tannins, and excellent style from the Awatere bouquet, leading into(15%). Very rich, ripe spice flavours, showing showing excellent vigour and depth. Worth Valley, with fresh lime, a concentrated wineplum/spice flavours, good varietal character, balance and length. $35 cellaring. $25 lemon and marmalade with sweet pear andin a powerful, tight, hints of licorice and Waiheke Road Mills Reef Elspeth aromas. Sweet palate, marmalade flavours,concentrated style with black pepper, and a Syrah 2013 #### Syrah 2013 #### very pure and long, enlivened by fresha hint of coffee, good floral bouquet. Still very Dark and fleshy, with Elegant, ageworthy with a subtle botrytis acidity. Impressivetannin support, oak youthful. $60 strong plum and spice red, full-coloured, with influence. Very complexity and length.complexity (French, flavours, hints of herbs, plum, spice and black ageworthy. $28 One judge scored it35% new), and obvious Villa Maria olives and licorice, and pepper flavours, finely Giesen The five stars. $35 (A)cellaring potential. $49 Reserve Gimblett ripe, chewy tannins. balanced oak, and Brothers Tupari Late HarvestChurch Road Gravels Syrah (From Awaroa.) $34 excellent vibrancy and Late Harvest MarlboroughMcDonald Series 2013 ####1/2 Babich depth. $49 Marlborough Riesling 2014Hawke's Bay Syrah Dark, highly Winemakers’ Sacred Hill Sauvignon Blanc (375ml) ####2013 ##### concentrated red with Reserve Hawke's Deerstalkers 2013 (375ml) Pale gold, AwatereBold, dark, powerful blackcurrant, plum and Bay Syrah Hawke's Bay Syrah ####1/2 Valley wine, with ared with dense, ripe black pepper flavours, 2013 #### 2013 #### Pale gold, fleshy, honeyed bouquet, andblackcurrant, plum and very pure and youthful, Attractive, deeply Dark, youthful red honeyed wine, with good intensity andblack pepper flavours finely integrated coloured Gimblett with good weight ripe peach, apricot and drive on the palate.and well-integrated oak, and supple Gravels red, elegant and concentrated passionfruit flavours, Lemon, apricot,oak. One judge wrote tannins. Opulent and and savoury, with blackcurrant, plum sweet and soft. “Very honey and marmalade‘brooding’; another ageworthy. One judge concentrated plum/ and spice flavours. moreish,” enthused flavours, with a strong‘super-charged’. A scored it five stars. $60 spice flavours, hints of Dense, spicy and long, one judge. $30 (A) botrytis influence.great buy! $27 olives and licorice, fine- but needs time; best Villa Maria Fresh, sweet and finelyCoopers Creek Goldie Reserve grained tannins and drinking 2017+. $60 Cellar Selection balanced. $35Reserve Hawke's Syrah 2013 good complexity. $30 Vidal Legacy Series Late Harvest Pegasus BayBay Syrah ####1/2 Coopers Creek Gimblett Gravels Marlborough Aria Late Picked2013 ##### Powerful, rich, vibrant Hawke's Bay Syrah Hawke's Bay Syrah Riesling 2013 Riesling 2013Bold, rich red, dark and Waiheke Island red 2013 #### 2013 #### (375ml) ####1/2 (375ml) ####strongly varietal, with with good weight, Dark, medium-bodied Dark, youthful red Light gold. Floral, slightly honeyeddense blackcurrant, strong, fresh, plum style with strong, ripe, with concentrated, Concentrated, bouquet, leadingplum and black pepper and spice flavours and plummy, well-spiced strongly varietal, ripe peachy, strongly into a sweet but notflavours. Powerful, supple tannins. Well flavours, gentle tannins plum/spice flavours, honeyed flavours, with cloying Waipara wineyouthful wine, with ripe worth cellaring. and good length. One seasoned advanced sweetness, with concentrated,tannins and impressive judge scored it five stars. with quality oak, and a powerful botrytis lemony, appleyconcentration and 3-5 $60 (14% malbec.) $21 firm, fine-grained influence and good flavours, enlivened bylength. $57 Coopers Creek tannins. ‘Brooding,’ acid spine. Opulent racy acidity. ‘Yum!’ Giesen Single SV Chalk Ridge noted one panellist. wine, offering excellent enthused one judge. Vineyard Hawke's Bay Syrah Open 2017+. $80 value. $20 $38 (A, UK, US) Selection Clayvin 2013 #### Alluviale Anobli Marlborough Syrah Dark and supple, with sweet whites Sauvignon 2012 #### strong blackcurrant, Blanc 2012 Deep, bright colour. plum and spice flavours Giesen The (375ml) #### Fragrant and and gentle tannins. Full- Brothers Mature, gold/amber mouthfilling, with bodied, sweet-fruited Late Harvest blend from two generous, ripe plum, and floral. Delicious Marlborough Hawke's Bay sites, pepper and olive young. $29 Sauvignon Blanc late-harvested and flavours, savoury and Saint Clair Pioneer 2012 (375ml) barrel-fermented. lingering. Enjoyed by all Block 17 Plateau ##### Honeyed bouquet, with judges. $70 Hawke's Bay Syrah This beauty romped sweet, strong, apricot- 2014 #### straight to five stars on like flavours, showing Awaroa Waiheke Poised, elegant, all of the judges’ score a powerful botrytis Island Syrah Gimblett Gravels red, sheets. Light gold, it influence, and an oily, 2013 #### medium-bodied and is highly concentrated, rich texture. Ready. Fragrant and deeply supple. Floral, with ripe sweet and oily, in a $40 (A, US) coloured, with good plum and black pepper ‘decadent’ style, with weight and ripe, plum flavours, French oak an array of apricot, and black pepper complexity (30% new), golden syrup, nut flavours, strong and and lots of drink-young and honey flavours, smooth. Youthful, appeal. $38 (UK) luscious and long. strongly varietal style (Harvested in July at 38 that lingers well. $34 brix.) $30 (A)172 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2016
18of100 STORIES S T O R Y 18 of 100 I T E M T e s t B ot t l eTHIS ONE NEVER PASSED THE JUDY TESTSince he started making wine in 1958, Joe Babich has learnt a lot about whatmakes an easy drinking fine wine. But one of his measures is unique. To knowif a new wine will really make the cut, he takes it home to his wife Judy. If thatbottle stays on the kitchen bench unfinished, he’s got more work to do.Discover more of our stories at babichwines.co.nz/100stories
micchoaoepler BEST OF 2015 RELEASES174 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2016
MICHAEL COOPER’S BEST OF 2015 RELEASES new zealand Craggy Valli Late Harvest Maude Mt Maude Villa Maria Reserve Craggy Range Range Sophia Waitaki North Vineyard Wanaka Gimblett Gravels Gimblett GravelsClearview Reserve 2013 ##### Otago Riesling Reserve Central Hawke’s Bay Syrah Hawke’s Bay MerlotHawke’s Bay Powerful, merlot- 2014 ##### Otago Pinot Noir 2013 ##### 2013 #####Chardonnay predominant Hawke’s Highly refined, light- 2013 ##### Highly fragrant, Delicious young, but2014 ##### Bay red, estate-grown bodied wine (9% alc/ Beautifully fragrant, densely coloured still youthful, thisPowerful, complex in the Gimblett Gravels vol) with a gently estate-grown red, red, grown in the classy, harmonious redwine, hand-picked and blended with honeyed bouquet. from vines planted Gimblett Gravels. Very was matured for 17on the Te Awanga cabernet sauvignon, Rich, citrusy flavours, at Wanaka in 1994. concentrated, youthful months in barriquescoast and fermented cabernet franc and sweet and crisp, with Deep ruby, with and silky-textured, (21% new). Thein French oak barrels petit verdot. Dark lovely interplay of fruit fresh plum, spice with vibrant plum and colour is deep and(predominantly new). and dense, with and botrytis, a hint of and cherry flavours, black pepper flavours, purple-flushed; theFragrant, mealy, concentrated plum and sherbet, and a long, showing lovely a hint of licorice, finely palate generous, withslightly smoky spice flavours, nutty, honeyed finish. Already richness, harmony and integrated oak, and rich, ripe blackcurrant,bouquet, leading into a savoury and long, and delicious. $45 complexity. An obvious notable depth and plum, spice and darkclassy, tight-knit wine silky tannins. Already Cable Bay Reserve candidate for cellaring; complexity. Still a baby; chocolate flavours,with youthful, vibrant, approachable, but best Waiheke Island open 2017+. $50 (A, open 2017+. $50 oak complexity andgrapefruit-like flavours, drinking 2020+. $73 (A, Chardonnay UK, US) Palliser Estate fine-grained tannins.biscuity oak, and UK, US) 2013 ##### Palliser Estate Methode $32 (A)excellent complexity Valli Bendigo Powerful, highly Martinborough Traditionnelle Pegasus Bayand concentration. Vineyard Central complex wine, Pinot Noir 2009 ##### Encore NobleFinely poised and very Otago Pinot Noir showing real depth 2013 ##### Powerful, pale straw Riesling 2011ageworthy. $39 2013 ##### through the palate. Lovely, finely scented, blend of equal portions (375ml) #####Craggy Powerful, dark red, Mouthfilling, with silky-textured wine, of Martinborough pinot Pale gold Waipara wineRange Aroha sweet-fruited and generous, ripe, deep, ripe and very noir and chardonnay. with concentrated,2013 ##### densely packed with peachy and mealy savoury. Youthful, Rich, peachy, yeasty, citrusy, sweet, gentlyPerfumed, deeply plum, spice and slight flavours, slightly full-coloured red with slightly toasty flavours, honeyed flavours.coloured, velvety licorice flavours. buttery and nutty, and concentrated, vibrant faintly buttery, lively Lovely poise andMartinborough pinot Complex and savoury, a finely textured, long cherry, plum and spice and lasting. Very harmony, with a rich,noir, estate-grown at in a ‘masculine’ style finish. Best drinking flavours, impressive generous, with oily mouthfeel andTe Muna and already with good tannin 2016+. $65 complexity and good impressive complexity. lasting finish. $38 (A,highly expressive. Rich support and obvious Lowburn Ferry tannin support. Best $49 (A, US) UK, US)cherry, plum and spice cellaring potential. Home Block drinking 2016+. $54 (A, Trinity Hill Pegasus Bayflavours, showing lovely Open 2017+. $65 Central Otago UK, US) Gimblett Gravels Gewurztraminerripeness, complexity, Staete Landt Pinot Noir Villa Maria Cellar Chardonnay 2013 #####texture and harmony. Duchess 2013 ##### Selection Hawke’s 2013 ##### Exotically perfumed,Best drinking 2017+. Marlborough Classy young red, Bay Syrah Very refined, with weighty Waipara wine,$100 (A, UK, US) Sauvignon Blanc deeply coloured and 2013 ##### a highly fragrant fermented in old oakCraggy Range Le 2014 ##### mouthfilling, with Bold, purple-flushed bouquet, showing casks. Sturdy, withSol 2013 ##### Rich, very ripe style, lovely depth, poise and red, grown in the indigenous yeast rich, peachy, gingery,Dense, finely textured, estate-grown and hand- harmony. Savoury and Gimblett Gravels (60 complexity and biscuity well-spiced flavours,perfumed syrah, picked at Rapaura, supple, with beautifully per cent) and Bridge oak. Youthful, with gentle sweetness,estate-grown in the and fermented and ripe cherry, plum and Pa Triangle (40 per concentrated, very ripe, an oily texture, andGimblett Gravels and matured for 10 months spice flavours, showing cent). Dense and ripe, grapefruit-like flavours, impressive complexitymatured in French oak in old French oak excellent texture and with richly varietal, a gentle seasoning and harmony. Deliciousbarriques (32% new). casks. Mouthfilling, complexity. Best blackcurrant and spice of French oak and a now, but shouldBold, purple-flushed with passionfruit, drinking 2017+. $55 flavours, a savoury, finely textured, rich, mature well. $29colour, with vibrant, pineapple and lime (A, UK) nutty complexity (from rounded finish. Already Rockburn Centralbeautifully ripe plum flavours, fresh acidity, Villa Maria 17 months in French delicious. $35 (A, UK) Otago Pinot Noirand black pepper a hint of toasty, buttery Reserve Gimblett oak barriques, 30 per Bannock Brae 2013 #####flavours, showing oak, and excellent Gravels Hawke’s cent new), and good Barrel Selection Generous, very freshlovely harmony, vigour, complexity Bay Cabernet tannin backbone. Well Central Otago and supple blend ofand a long, spicy and personality. Best Sauvignon Merlot worth cellaring and Pinot Noir Cromwell Basin (85%)finish. Already highly drinking 2016. $25 (A, 2013 ##### great value. $26 2011 ##### and Gibbston (15%)approachable, it should UK, US) Powerful, very Villa Maria Reserve Lovely, generous, very fruit, matured for 10be at its best 2020+. Valli Gibbston youthful blend of Gimblett Gravels savoury red, estate- months in French oak$100 (A, UK, US) Vineyard Central cabernet sauvignon Hawke’s Bay Merlot grown at Bannockburn barrels (33% new). Otago Pinot Noir (75 per cent) and 2013 ##### and bottled without Deeply coloured, 2013 ##### merlot (25 per cent). Bold, youthful hue. fining or filtering. Still full-bodied red, sweet- Highly fragrant. Very Deeply coloured, with Refined and rich, youthful, with deep fruited and savoury, elegant, beautifully ripe vibrant, well-ripened with beautifully ripe ruby colour and a with plum, cherry but not heavy, with blackcurrant, plum blackcurrant, plum and welcoming fragrance. and spice flavours, rich plum, spice and and spice flavours, spice flavours, supple Concentrated, vigorous showing impressive dried herb flavours and nutty, concentrated tannins, savoury, plum, spice and nut richness, vibrancy and savoury, earthy notes and firmly structured. earthy, nutty notes flavours, showing complexity. $50 (A, UK) adding complexity. A ‘serious’ wine with adding complexity, and excellent potential, Youthful and finely long-term cellaring excellent harmony. complexity and poised, with excellent potential. $50 Classy, classic young harmony. $60 (A) concentration and merlot, likely to be personality. Best long-lived. $50 drinking 2017+. $65 Annual 2016 W I N E S TAT E 175
MICHAEL COOPER’S BEST OF 2015 RELEASES new zealandRockburn Eleven Church Road Grand Clearview Enigma Awatere River Expatrius AdvenusBarrels Pinot Noir Reserve Hawke's 2013 ##### by Louis Vavasour Waiheke Island2013 ##### Bay Sauvignon Dense, classy Hawke's Marlborough 2013 #####Powerful, fragrant, Blanc 2013 ##### Bay blend of merlot Late Harvest Delicious now, thisdeliciously sweet-fruited Very powerful, (80%), malbec (10%) Gewurztraminer powerful, sweet-fruitedCentral Otago red, rich, youthful wine, and cabernet franc 2014 (375ml) Waiheke Island wine isestate-grown at Pisa estate-grown in the (10%), grown at Te ##### sauvignon blanc-based,and matured for 16 Redstone Vineyard, in Awanga; matured in This golden, honey- with some viognier,months in French casks the Bridge Pa Triangle, French and American sweet wine was and was fermented in(45% new). Deeply hand-picked and barrel- oak barriques. A picked in mid-May at tanks (75%) and newcoloured and sturdy fermented. Strong, powerful, sturdy (14.5% over 40 brix, with an oak barrels (25%).(14.5% alc/vol), with rich ripe, peachy, spicy and alc/vol) wine, it has bold, ‘extensive’ botrytis A weighty, non-cherry/plum flavours, a slightly toasty flavours, youthful blackcurrant, infection, and barrel- herbaceous style, ithint of licorice, a strong with hints of fig and plum, spice flavours, fermented. The is fragrant and sturdy,seasoning of oak and quince, impressive with hints of nuts and bouquet is perfumed, with ripe tropical fruitripe, supple tannins. Still concentration and coffee, and ripe, fine- honeyish and spicy; the flavours, impressivelyvery youthful and likely complexity, and a grained tannins. Savoury, palate fresh and rich, complex and rich. High-to be long-lived. $96 rounded finish. Best complex, notably with peach, apricot and priced – but worth it.Spy Valley Envoy drinking 2016+. $44 concentrated. $59 spice flavours, good $48Marlborough Church Road Man O’ War sugar/acid balance (213Gewurztraminer Grand Reserve Dreadnought grams/litre residual Frenchmans Hill Yealands Estate2014 ##### Hawke's Bay Syrah Waiheke Island sugar), and great drink- Estate Waiheke Winemaker’sAttractively perfumed, 2013 ##### Syrah 2012 ##### young appeal. $40 Island Blood Creek Reserve Awatereweighty, rich wine, Highly refined, Fragrant and deeply 8 2012 ##### Valley Marlboroughestate-grown in the beautifully scented coloured, with a Brancott Estate This highly Pinot NoirWaihopai Valley, and supple red, estate- spicy, nutty bouquet. Letter Series ‘O’ concentrated red 2014 #####hand-picked and grown in the Redstone Mouthfilling, finely Marlborough is a blend of eight This classy, powerfulfermented in small Vineyard, in the Bridge textured and complex, Chardonnay varieties, with a ‘core’ yet elegant red wasoak vessels. Fleshy, Pa Triangle, and with ripe blackcurrant, 2014 ##### of cabernet sauvignon estate-grown on anmedium style with French oak-matured plum and black pepper This highly refined, (35%), merlot (20%) elevated, north-facingconcentrated, peachy, for 18 months. Boldly flavours, a slightly ageworthy wine is and petit verdot (20%), slope in the Willowflatspicy flavours, hints coloured, with dense, earthy streak and a mouthfilling, fleshy plus minor portions of Vineyard and maturedof ginger and honey, very ripe plum and long, spicy finish. and sweet-fruited, with syrah, cabernet franc, for a year in Frenchgood complexity and black pepper flavours, Concentrated, youthful youthful stonefruit tannat, viognier and oak barriques (15%a well-rounded, very silky tannins and a wine, with supple flavours, mealy, koler. Matured for new). Deep ruby, it isharmonious finish.Best lasting, finely textured tannins and excellent biscuity notes adding two years in all-new fleshy, concentrateddrinking 2016+. $32 (A) finish. Best drinking depth and harmony. complexity, a slightly oak barriques, it is and supple, with veryTerra Sancta 2017+. $44 $55 (A, UK) creamy texture and bold, deeply coloured, generous plum/spiceBannockburn Church Road The Elder excellent depth, mouthfilling and firm, flavours, complexPinot Noir Rosé McDonald Series Martinborough delicacy and harmony. in a ‘masculine’ style and savoury. A rich,2014 ##### Hawke's Bay Pinot Pinot Noir Open mid-2016+. $33 with dense, ripe harmonious and veryThis ‘serious’ yet Gris 2014 ##### 2013 ##### blackcurrant, plum ‘complete’ wine, itdelicious Central Otago Opulent, seductively Finely scented, Crossroads and spice flavours. It should be at its bestrosé was hand-picked scented wine, handled powerful, weighty red, Winemakers should flourish for a 2017+. $40 (A, UK,from blocks grown for with some indigenous from a site overlooking Collection Hawke's decade. $88 US)\rosé and fermented to yeast fermentation in Te Muna Valley. Bay Chardonnay Frenchmans Hilldryness. Bright pink, old French oak cuves. Youthful, dense, spicy 2013 ##### Estate Waihekeit is full-bodied and Powerful (14.5% alc/ and savoury, with good This powerful, youthful Island Rock Earthvivacious, with strong, vol), weighty, rich tannin support and wine was grown in the Syrah 2010 #####fresh strawberry, plum and complex, with excellent ripeness, inland Kereru Vineyard, Set for a long life, thisand spice flavours, concentrated, ripe complexity and at Mangatahi, hand- powerful, concentratedleesy notes adding stonefruit and spice harmony. Best drinking picked and fermented red is still youthful.complexity, and a flavours, a faintly 2017+. $62 UK) and lees-aged for 11 Grown in The 8poised, very long honeyed influence, Saint Clair Pioneer months in French Vineyard and maturedfinish. $27 (A) and an oily texture. Block 2 Swamp oak barriques (25% for 16 months in all- Delicious from the Block Marlborough new). Still very fresh new oak barriques, it start. $27 Sauvignon Blanc and vibrant, it has is deeply coloured and 2014 ##### a fragrant, complex muscular (15% alc/vol), Classy stuff. bouquet, concentrated but not heavy, with Mouthfilling, dry wine stonefruit flavours, dense blackcurrant, with pure, searching enriched with toasty black pepper and spice flavours of ripe melons oak, good delicacy flavours, complex, and limes, and a and a long finish. Best savoury and firm. Best slightly salty note drinking 2017+. $40 2018+. $75 adding complexity. (A, UK) Lovely poise, vibrancy and length. $27 (UK)176 W I N E S TAT E Annual 2016
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