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
(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
◊ Best under $2
(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
(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
(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
(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
(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
ANOTHER GLASS
(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
