Wines
from New Zealand Boutique Wines - Presented By Curious
Wines and Joyce Austin
On the 5th June 2009 I attended a wine tasting evening
organised by Curious Wines. I would like to say a
big thank you to Mike and Matt for inviting me to
the tasting - it also great to catch with some fellow
twitters - Maurice, Catherine, Conor and Julian -
a pleasure as always ! It was a hugely enjoyable night
on the whole !
Joyce Austin from New Zealand Boutique Wines presented
a number of her fantastic range - Galway readers if
you want to try some of these wines head on down to
Thomas Woodberrys on Middle Street. Also Fergusons
Wines in Clifden carry these delicious wines. Alternatively
you can check out Joyces website which lists all of
her stockists in Ireland.
If you ever have the opportunity to attend one of
Joyces presentation you really should. Joyce knows
these wines and the New Zealand wine industry like
the back of her hand. Not only is she hugely knowledgeable
about wine, but she is fascinating to listen to and
the wines are delicious. Often these tastings cost
around €15 for a full nights entertainment -
what more could you want I ask you !
The following are my notes from Joyces presentation
- The wines were presented in pairs so read on to
see who won each celebrity deathmatch encounter :-
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1. Muddy Water Rose 2008
Delicate Pink coloured wine, with lovely strawberry,
blackcurrant leaf and the slightest touch of original
Hubba Bubba bubblegum.
Clean, crisp with juicy fruits. This is a proper rose,
not a sugary white zinfandel styled wine.With good acidity
and a touch of spice/richness on the finish.
Huge fan of this vineyard and their Rose is a lovely
example of a 100% Pinot Noir Rose and what it can do
!
Robertfranciswine - 87+ Points
Available: Curiouswines.ie, Thomas Woodberrys, and selected
Independents.
Price Bracket: €14.99 [approx]
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2. Waipara Springs Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Distinct guava and passion fruit for me on the nose.
After a minute or so in the glass pineapple aromas decided
that they would join the party. Really fresh, clean
and zesty on the nose.
On the palate the tropical fruits came through with
laser precision. They are followed by a restrained grassyness,
freshly cut lemons and limes. I did also get the slightest
touch of a white pepper whiff in the background. Lovely
acidity on the finish with good flavour concentration.
Overall a tasty, elegant and restrained NZ Sauvignon
at a fair price ! Frank Manifold the former winemaker
for Cloudy Bay is now producing Waipara Spring - so
think of it as half price cloudy bay ! Everything you
want in a NZ Sauvignon but you get 2 for the same money
!
Robertfranciswine: 88+ Points
Available: Curiouswines.ie, Thomas Woodberrys, and selected
Independents.
Price Bracket: €14.99
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3. Tussock Sauvignon Blanc 2007
The Tussock [Entry level wine from Woollaston Estates]
offers a slightly more value orientated option in the
NZ Sauvignon category. Tussock as a word that is used
for some native grasses that are present at the vineyard
in Nelson - incidentally one of my favourite regions
in New Zealand.
Similar to the Waipara Spring the Tussock has that tropical
fruit quality - this time it is a touch more pungent
and aggressive on the nose.
The palate was well balanced with nice grassy citrus
notes, some tropical fruits and a distinct raw green
pepper taste. This is more commonly associated with
South African Sauvignons but is evident here.
For me the Tussock is nice wine, but the elegance and
restraint of the Waipara Springs shaded it for me. It
does offer great value though for the Sauvie addicts
out there out !
Robertfranciswine - 87 Points
Available: Curiouswines.ie, Thomas Woodberrys, and selected
Independents.
Price Bracket - €12.99
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4. Coney Piccolo Pinot Gris 2007
Much fuller and deeper colour to this Martinborough
wine.
On the nose there are delightful aromas of apples and
spice - there is a distinct nod to Alsace with this
Pinot Gris styling.
On the palate the fruit is precise, ripe and lush. There
was a lovely richness to the apple, spice and a really
nice finish to. All of this lush fruit, spice and medium
to full bodied flavour is kept in check by just enough
acidity.
Looking for something a little different and love Asian
food ? Why not try this Pinot Gris - Of the two Gris
the Coney was my favourite, I also enjoyed the little
poem on the back label.
Robertfranciswine - 88+ Points
Available: Curiouswines.ie, Thomas Woodberrys, and selected
Independents.
Price Bracket: €16.99
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5. Tussock Pinot Gris/Riesling
2007
Nice quince apple flavours, with a touch of pear thrown
into the mix as well. There were more floral notes to
the Tussock for me. It had good acidity but just not
the charisma of the Coney.
[Apologies notes on this wine a little short :)]
Robertfranciswine - 87 Points
Available: Curiouswines.ie, Thomas Woodberrys, and selected
Independents.
Price Bracket: €14.99 [approx]
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6. Waipara Springs Lightly Oaked Chardonnay
2007
Lovely light golden colour to this wine - it came jumping
out of the glass at you as a Chardonnay. But a classy
one, very lightly oaked to enhance the flavours and
round out the wine. But there is no oak monster here
!
The wine had lovely apple and citrus fruits to it, with
nice spice and warmth coming from the elegant use of
French Oak. There was a touch of a popcorn smell to
this wine, I should point out I mean plain not buttered
popcorn. The wine is held together well with good acidity
and follows through with a nice finish.
A distinct nod to Burgundy in the styling of this Chardonnay,
tasty stuff indeed !
Winner for me on the Chardonnay round.
Robertfranciswine: 89 Points
Available: Curiouswines.ie, Thomas Woodberrys, and selected
Independents.
Price Bracket: €14.99
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7. Mount Cass Chardonnay
2007
A fresher styled Chardonnay to me on the nose - perhaps
the slightest use of old oak in the making of the wine.
But if you are a fan of Unwooded Chards and want to
try one from New Zealand - this could be the wine for
you.
Nice pear and apple flavours with good freshness and
crispness. A lighter, easier to drink styled Chardonnay
that is more of a fun and easy going then the Greenhough.
Robertfranciswine: 87 Points
Available: Curiouswines.ie, Thomas Woodberrys, and selected
Independents.
Price Bracket: €14.99
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8.Greenhough Riesling
2007
This Riesling was my wine of the night - I was totally
blown away by it. At the price point if offers a fantastic
representation of how great New Zealand Rieslings can
become at a price that wont make you cry !
On the nose there were nice citrus flavours, a touch
of kerosene and a fabulous steely quality ! Now who
wouldn't want a glass of that :)
On the palate there was glorious lemons, limes, grapefruit.
This was followed by a rush of acidity, that kerosene
quality I mentioned earlier and some minerality.
This wine is an absolute winner and further proof of
why I love the Nelson region so much ! I am guessing
that you have figured that this was my pick of the Rieslings
:)
Robertfranciswine: 91 Points
Available: Curiouswines.ie, Thomas Woodberrys, and selected
Independents.
Price Bracket: €16.99
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9.Waipara Springs
Riesling 2007
Toughest job of the night following the Greenhough
- However the Waipara put up a valiant effort. I should
point out that all of the Waipara Springs wine are really
good examples of their varietals and should be checked
out at some stage soon in your wine purchases !
Nice fresh lemon zest flavours are partying with some
crisp green apples here. With nice fruit and good acidity
Waipara offers an easy drinking introduction in the
world of New Zealand Rieslings at a fantastic price
point !
Robertfranciswine - 88+Points
Available: Curiouswines.ie, Thomas Woodberrys, and selected
Independents.
Price Bracket: €12.99
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10.Waipara Springs
Premo Pinot Noir 2007
Lovely cherry red colour to this wine - A wine I should
point out I have had on numerous occasions before and
loved. Always goes down well at chez robertfranciswine
:)
Lovely nose of cherries, red fruits, boiled sweets and
cola bottles. The fruit is delicate, ripe and precise
and the finish just taste like an ocean of freshly squeezed
cherry juice - Fabulous ! Lovely minerality and delicacy
to this wine proves yet again why New Zealand is so
good at Pinot !
Robertfranciswine - 89+ Points
Available: Curiouswines.ie, Thomas Woodberrys, and selected
Independents.
Price Bracket: €18.99
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11.Bilancia Pinot
Noir 2006
I have been meaning to try the wines of Bilancia for
a long time now, but for whatever reason I just have
never gotten around to it.
While the Waipara offered delicate fruits in a cooler
climate New World sort of way - Bilancia brings funky
barnyard smells to the table by the bucketload ! Funky
farmyard smells, with deliciously juicy red fruits and
rhubarb round out this wine brilliantly for me.
With nice acidity and great mouthfeel this was my pick
of the pinots. Throughout the night Joyce had been testing
the audience and she asked which of the two pinots was
more expensive. I raised my hand for the Bilancia only
to find out it is a whole €2 a bottle cheaper -
Stunned !
If funky, barnyardy pinots from Burgundy are your thing
- you have to try this wine !
No buts - you just have to !
Robertfranciswine - 90 Points
Available: Curiouswines.ie, Thomas Woodberrys, and selected
Independents.
Price Bracket: €16.99
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