Villa Maria 2006 Sauvignon Blanc “Private Bin” (Marlborough) – Simpler than it used to be, with clean, basic tart citrus and apple flavors, a touch of gooseberry, and a very minor crunch. Nothing’s amiss, but… (6/08)
marlborough
Sun god
Te Whare Ra 2004 Riesling (Marlborough) – Windy stones, but otherwise shy, with little more than the hint of underground lime and steel. Builds on the finish. Classic, dry, and intense, but it’s not for youthful quaffing. (3/05)
So Whare, so good
Te Whare Ra 2004 Gewürztraminer (Marlborough) – Bitter lychee skins, pear juice, and rose petals. Lightly sweet. Lacks intensity. (3/05)
Mugwi shot
Tohu 2006 Sauvignon Blanc “Mugwi” (Marlborough) – Concentrated gooseberry with makrut lime rind and salt. A bit puckery. This has a lot more character than Tohu’s regular sauvignon, but I don’t know if it’s a more appealing beverage or not. I’m just unsure. (6/08)
Remini
Seresin 2005 Pinot Noir “Leah” (Marlborough) – A multi-vineyard blend done with wild yeast and new wood. Earthy beet, dark plums and berries, lightness and intensity paired; this is a fine pinot. It lacks that final layer of complex sophistication that would send it into the pinot stratosphere (the pinotsphere?), but it’s nicely formed, structured, balanced, and ready to drink both now and in five-plus years. I’d lean towards the latter, because the dark moodiness of the wood could use some time to integrate. (5/08)
Wairau when you can swim?
Wairau River 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) – Chile and grass. Old-style, and not in a good way. (2/08)
Just one vineyard, growing in the darkness…
Small & Smith “Fairhall Downs” 2007 Sauvignon Blanc “Single Vineyard” (Marlborough) – Notice they don’t actually name the vineyard. Grapefruit with a tinge of red. Full-bodied and dry-tasting, though it carries 3.1 grams of residual sugar. Nicely executed. (2/08)
Vava brother, vava sister
Vavasour 2007 Sauvignon Blanc Awatere Valley (Marlborough) – Gooseberry and chalk. Dry and intense. Very, very good. (2/08)
sqrt(Mahi-Mahi)
Mahi 2006 Pinot Noir (Marlborough) – Sweet earth, orange and golden beets, and a lot of – perhaps too much – structure. It’s a bit hard. (2/08)
1 if by Landt, 2 if by Scea
Staete Landt 2005 Pinot Noir (Marlborough) – Green and pink, with spiky acidity. Other than the brief foray into blended peppercorns, however, this is an absent wine. (2/08)