Proof of sophistication

BY DEBORAH WALTON AND PETER MORICE

Are we up with the best winemakers in the world? You bet we are.

As wine drinkers we know we are incredibly fortunate to live in a little country that punches far above its weight on the international wine scene.

We have a lovely lineup of review wines this week, so we begin with some good news on the local front.

Hunter's Wines, one of Marlborough's consistently high-quality producers, has had continued success with its 09 gewurztraminer – we've reported the Pure Gold win at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards – but there has also been success at this year's International Aromatic Wine Competition, and the same wine was awarded Gold two weeks earlier at the Liquorland Top 100.

Hunter's gewurztraminer is one of the best you can buy yet it's priced very reasonably at $23; perhaps the aim is to get more people drinking this astonishingly attractive varietal. A record 427 entries were received in this year's International Aromatic Wine competition which is now in its sixth year. The competition was open to all riesling, sauvignon blanc, pinot gris, gewurztraminer, viognier and wine styles made in an aromatic style from any internationally recognised region.

Johanneshof, one of the companies Peter grows for (which is why I review their wines separately to ensure no bias) has celebrated success at this year's New Zealand International wine Show.

Johanneshof Cellars 07 Marlborough Noble Late Harvest Riesling won Champion Sweet Wine and was both trophy and Gold medal winner.

Johanneshof also won Gold with its 09 Marlborough Gewurztraminer.

As we've said before, awards are a great marketing tool for the winners, and indicate a wine of very good quality, but don't forget there are many wines that don't even enter competitions, so be bold and try some of those too. It's the best way to broaden your appreciation of wine.

Lobster Reef 08 - Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Simple, striking branding ensures this wine stands out on the shelves. Lobster Reef is a new label, produced as a subsidiary brand of Cape Campbell Wines Ltd. First launched in Britain and Australia, it's now also available in the South Island.

The tie-in between Lobster Reef and Cape Campbell is an obvious one – rock lobster, or crayfish as it's more commonly known, has been harvested around the Marlborough coastline for many years. The coastal area around Cape Campbell is no exception and the lobster on the label looks quite appealing from many perspectives – it manages to look both cute and very edible.

Cape Campbell describes our crayfish harvesting as having been sustainable since the 19th century and manages to tie this in with the production of premium, sustainable and carbon-neutral wines and the protection of valuable resources. Phew!

Aroma: A delightful ripe, rich tropical aroma with some floral notes, gentle gooseberry and a dash of capsicum. There's also a mineral note to keep things interesting.

Taste: The flavour follows on seamlessly from the aroma. This sauvignon blanc is gentle in nature with some tingly acid, smooth mouth feel, creamy passionfruit flavour and a generous citrus lick for good measure.

The finish is soft with some grassy, herbal flavour and a dash of gooseberry. The mineral, citrus aftertaste is lingering and rewarding.

Price: A very enjoyable wine, great value at $15.99.

No 1 Family Estate, No 1 Rose NV Brut

Everything about this wine is gorgeous, from the elegant packaging with a rose-gold label to the colour, aroma and taste of the wine. Made from 100 per cent pinot noir, this Methode Traditionelle is perfect for the coming Christmas season.

Colour: Attractive salmon pink with a very fine, busy bead.

Aroma: Bready, yeasty, with concentrated fruitiness, intense and refreshing.

Taste: A light creamy mousse gives way to some lovely musky, summer strawberry and ripe cherry flavours.

There's an elegant acid/fruit balance and at the back of the palate some lovely yellow plum, pie crust and cream flavours contribute to a soft, creamy, fruity palate that's very attractive.

The creamy, fruity finish is both dry and lingering. Very impressive, as we would expect from No1 Family Estate's Daniel Le Brun, a winemaker whose native home is Champagne.

Price: $47.

Bladen 08 Marlborough - Sauvignon Blanc

Aroma: Subdued and in need of a good swirl to open things up a little. Herbal, grassy, flinty, with some appealing tomato and melon aromas.

Taste: A full, weighty palate displaying some tropical fruitiness – melon and passionfruit flavours combine with firm herbaceousness and the soft acids partner the flavours well.

The finish is ripe, fruity with some lemon and gooseberry taste to give it edge. The aftertaste is fresh, grassy and laced with capsicum.

Price: Very pleasant and well priced at around $20.

Woollaston 08 Nelson Riesling

Aroma: Lemon and flint, some light honey and floral notes – smells fabulous. Given a shake-up, some sweet, juicy, apple and cream aromas became more obvious and our expectations run high.

Taste: Tingly acids and spicy warmth sit well in this weighty wine.

Ginger, apple and floral flavours complement a creamy-textured palate. The finish is honeyed with lashings of mineral, toffee apple and citrus while the aftertaste is surprisingly dry with a lick of residual sweetness.

This lovely wine is rewarding and very easy drinking.

Price: A bargain at $19.

- The Marlborough Express