Regular readers will know my fondness for tasting and drinking widely so today’s wonderful selection was right up my alley. Chenin Blanc & Pinot Blanc have been around the scene for years. Yet still they have been restricted to a dedicated band of wineries. Grüner Veltliner and Albariño are relative newcomers, with the latter in particular really riding a wave. Pinot Noir Rosé is not uncommon of course, but this version adds its own twist, while St Laurent is produced by only four, or perhaps five producers. Enjoy the mix! 2020 St Clair Pioneer Block 28 Camp Block Pinot Blanc Price RRP $33 Rating Excellent Boldly fragrant, peach, stonefruit, smoke, perhaps mango and salinity too? Sensing richness. Powerful fruit leads, fat and rich in the mouth, before a touch of fruit pith adds to the texture bringing chewiness and dryness. Stone fruits now, perhaps banana skin, a nutty/cashew nut element at its core, palate weight at its heart with the acidity and chewiness a foil. Rather good. www.saintclair.co.nz 2022 Forrest Marlborough Chenin Blanc Price RRP $28 Rating Very Good to Excellent Gunflint, stewed apple, straw, citrus, lightly honeyed. A fascinating grainy aspect enhances the texture, a backdrop to the interplay between fruit sweetness and zesty acidity, while a surge of granny smith apple frames the close. The struck match reduction more evident with time, the honey on the nose joins the finish. With its bright acidity a great foil for creamy dishes. www.forrest.co.nz 2023 Yealands Estate S.V Awatere Valley Albarino Price RRP $27.95 Rating Excellent to Outstanding The nose bounds out of the glass, peach, wood smoke, a skerrick of herb, apricot later…more about the sum of the parts. Nose suggests fatness but the palate contrasts that with a powerful core of acidity, lending a tingly quality. Stony minerals, citrus on a backdrop of stonefruits with a long, cool racy close. Drive and vibrancy, an impact wine, ready to complement food. www.yealands.co.nz 2023 Riverby Estate S.V Marlborough Gruner Veltliner Price RRP $24 Rating Excellent to Outstanding Beguiling nose, ripe peach, rose’s lime cordial, pencil lead, spice, a peppery influence. Delightfully creamy palate fills the mouth, richness & textural impact, all the while balanced and integrated with crispness and chewy touches. Searching for specific flavours is superfluous here, as it charms so well as a whole. Full of flavour, simply lovely. www.riverbyestate.com 2023 Two Paddocks Organic Central Otago Pinot Noir Rosé Price RRP $35 Rating Excellent to Outstanding Deeper colour than the current trend. The nose swells with fruit jube, dried strawberry, cherry and an attractive savoury quality. The palate takes those notes and ramps them up, savoury aspects evident, adding plum and a whisper of peppery spice, pomegranate & cranberry later. Fruit sweetness, snapped into line by crisp acidity. A crossover into light red territory. Delicious. www.twopaddocks.com 2022 Forrest Marlborough St Laurent Price RRP $35 Rating Excellent Deep and dark, smoky, savoury qualities to the fore, darker fruits, a touch of bramble, cranberry and perfume with air. Sweeter fruits in the mouth, red fruits and raspberry, lead pencil, juicy, tangy, lively with real freshness on the close. The nose grows significantly with aeration, exuding richness, while its latent power and fine chewy tannins are on show. Impressive. www.forrest.co.nz
