It is clear from the sales of the Nolo (No or Low Alcohol) wines that more people are looking to moderate their intake of alcohol. Wines in the "lighter" category can also achieve that. It is the natural sugar in grapes that converts to alcohol during fermentation so wineries are seeking to mitigate that. Forrest Wines have been early innovators, their Doctors range where they have developed practices in the vineyard "to slow the grape plant’s ability to make sugar but not its ability to make flavour" bring levels down considerably. Picking fruit earlier in the harvest window is another way to reduce alcohol levels. Finally, Brown Brothers halts fermentation early, retaining the natural sugar in the grapes at a much lower alcohol level. These wines have palate weight sometimes missing in the zero alc wines, but "lighten the load". 2023 Forrest The Doctors’ Marlborough Rosé 9% Price RRP $20 Rating Very Good to Excellent Fresh, engaging nose of strawberry, apricot, fruit pastille and a wisp of herb. Those characters echoed on the palate, ripe nectarine adding to the stonefruit aspects, the ripe fruit refreshed by a lovely, zesty, tangy counterpoint. Really good texture, the palate racy and dry, cooling freshness framing the lingering fruit notes. www.forrest.co.nz 2024 Tread Softly Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 11% Price RRP $19.99 Rating Very Good to Excellent Citrussy notes focused on lime zest, guava, pea pod, a typical undercurrent of chopped herbs. In the mouth ripe gooseberry, a little tropical fruit influence, with hints of oyster shell-like salinity. Fresh and bright, good flavour depth, with a citrus note taking you through to the finish. www.treadsoftly.com 2024 Forrest The Doctors’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 9.5% Price RRP $20 Rating Excellent Vibrant nose sings "come and get me". Apple, capsicum and citrus the aromatic top notes, passionfruit a deeper register. Gooseberry and cut grass to the fore, rock melon, a note that hints more tropical, citrus flitting between lemon and grapefruit. Great depth and mouthfeel, a backbone of acidity lending a salivatory, lip- smacking quality to the close. Begs another glass. www.forrest.co.nz 2024 Tread Softly East Coast Pinot Gris 11% Price RRP $19.99 Rating Very Good to Excellent Apple, nashi pear, subtle but attractive. The palate offers pear and orange zest, wisps of musk and wet stone, rather than a big flavour bomb, this is more about the creaminess of texture, rich, mouthfilling and ever so drinkable. I suspect your glass will be empty before you know it. With air the nose opens out, becoming fragrant and lightly honeyed, an extra crisp aspect joining the close. www.treadsoftly.com 2024 Brown Brothers Light & Refreshing Moscato 5.5% Price RRP $15.99 Rating Very Good to Excellent So aromatic, musk, rose petal, spice, fresh grapes, heart on its sleeve stuff. There’s a wee hint of tingly spritz adding freshness, though at its heart this is unabashedly honeyed and sweet, playing those cards so well. Deceptively moreish and some magic going on here as while this has clear sweetness, it leaves your palate feeling clean and refreshed. www.brownbrothers.com.au 2024 Brown Brothers Sparkling Moscato 6.5% Price RRP $15.99 Rating Very Good A whisper deeper register to the aromatics, again musk, fruit sherbet, apricot and grapes. This comes across as a touch less sweet than its stablemate with its frothy mousse effervescence, picking up a little apple note. This is unashamedly not a wine to intellectualise over, just pop a cork and revel in the fun. A great foil to an antipasto platter or so many Asian cuisines. www.brownbrothers.com.au
