Gewurztraminer like all wine is best when well balanced - the
luxurious aromas and rich flavours hinting of of muscatels,
roses and lychees offset by poise and a clean finish.
Several that turned up for this tasting were about 14.5%
alcohol which was not a problem with the best of them, but
those without the fruit weight to balance the high alcohol
left an unpleasant burn in the mouth.
Well-balanced gewurztraminer is good with food - dishes with
ginger or fruit, and perhaps a bit of sweetness.
This batch went well with chicken cooked with lemon, fresh
ginger, cumin and pinenuts, and also with fresh sweet corn
and roasted pumpkin .
◊ Best under $20
Anthem Central Otago
Gewurztraminer 2007
(about $18)
Fragrant hints of elderflowers and muscatels, with
suggestions of tropical fruit, quinces, golden queen peaches
and nuts, a velvety texture and nicely balanced with a clean,
crisp finish.
A stylish wine, good with food
Four stars (out of five)
Good value
www.anthem.co.nz
◊ Best under $2
Spy Valley Marlborough
Gewurztraminer 2008
(about $19.95)
There's decadence in the wonderful aromas of lychees,
jasmine, roses and eau de cologne, but the flavours are more
precise and poised in this surprisingly alert and fresh wine
with a long, stylish finish suggesting eau de cologne mint
and toffee. Delicious.
Four stars (out of five)
Good value
www.spyvalley.co.nz
Forrest The Valleys
Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2008
(about $25)
Fragrant with hints of muscatels, quinces and lychees, this
wine is rich and intense, medium sweet initially but with a
powerful, dryish finish and succulent fruit on the
aftertaste.
Four stars (out of five)
Average value
www.forrest.co.nz
Selaks Favourite
Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2007
(about $21)
Golden in colour with a hints of lychees, nuts and biscuits,
this is a mouthfilling wine with a light sweetness and a
dryish finish.
Three stars (out of five)
Average value
www.selaks.co.nz
Lawsons Dry Hills Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2008
(about $27)
Lawsons have produced distinguished gewurztraminer since 1992
and this vintage is no exception with an inviting fragrance,
hints of tropical fruit, lychees and ginger.
It is both dry and mouthfilling and it will develop with a
year or so's bottle age.
Four stars (out of five)
Average value
www.lawsonsdryhills.co.nz
Spy Valley Envoy Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2007
(about $29)
This wine has had some barrel fermentation and lees aging
which tones down the tropical fruit salad effect and gives
more complexity, texture and a nutty undertone to the
luscious fruit. Delicious.
Four stars (out of five)
Average value
www.spyvalley.co.nz
ANOTHER GLASS
Misha's Vineyard The Gallery Central Otago Gewurztraminer
2006
(about $26)
From the new Misha's Vineyard on the northern side of Lake
Dunstan, this lush, medium sweet wine hints of muscatels,
lychees, peaches and tangerines.
Three stars (out of five)
Below average value
www.mishasvineyard.com
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