Wines from New Zealand and Australia
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Lamonts Wine Store – Cottesloe
This tasting really highlighted to me the value of blind tastings, and the problems of not tasting blind. Arriving late, I tasted the first four wines blinded whilst the rest of the group were having a break. As you will see from my comments, the Mount Difficulty really impressed, where as the Martinborough (traditionally one of my favorite NZ pinots) was disappointing. I was not prejudiced, as I did not know the wines.
For the rest of the tasting, people were discussing the various wines that were in the tasting and guessing as to what was what. There was also (understandably) allot of discussion about the various wines during the tasting. It is very difficult to remain objective in this environment, so treat my scores with a pinch of salt.
Having said all this, there was a couple of real standouts. I found the Central Otago wines held there own against the best from Martinborough. The strength of the 2007 vintage was also highlighted in some of these wine.
Tasting Notes
Mount Mary – Pinot Noir – 2005
Wow, Perfumed, seductive and floral. Hints of rose water/turkish delight. Seductive palate with velvety mouth feel. briary black current fruit. Very long, but finish shut down by very fine tannins. Cleaver use of oak. (18.7)
Felton Road – Pinot Noir – 2008
Seductive and alluring. Perfume and spice. Seductive with cinnamon and red currants. Gorgeous palate perfume. long and subtle, will take several years to show its best. Seductive wine. (18.7)
Mt Difficulty – Pinot Noir – 2007
Perfumed and delicate. A feminine wine with red fruits and strawberries. Follows with lovely fruit on the palate. Seamless and oh so long. Cherry fruit with very fine tannins. Closes with tea leaf. Structured and very good (18.5)
Kupe – Escarpment – Pinot Noir – 2006
Perfumed, complex, supple. Leather and spice complexity. Palate… weighty, meaty, earthy. Complex long and very fine. Palate maintains freshness with pippy cherry fruit and fine tar. Seamless. Will evolve (18.5)
Ata Rangi – Pinot Noir – 2006
Similar nose to earlier wines. Structure and grip to the fore. Tar and tea leaf on the nose, followed by ripe fruit and a touch of tea leaf on the palate. Very good, but needs time (18)
Ata Rangi – Pinot Noir – 2007
Sour cherries with some sappy characters. very closed. The palate has potential ++. Powerful fruit, long, fine and seamless. Builds. Needs time. (18)
Dog Point – Pinot Noir 2007
Turbo charged wine with lots of everything. Perhaps a touch of volatility. The plate is framed by lovely silky fruit with cinnamon. Finish a touch subdued, flattened by fine tannins and oak. One for the cellar, but style may galvanize some (18)
Bass Phillip – Premium – Pinot Noir 2001
Two bottles tried and very inconsistent. The good bottle was ripe, fragrant, complex and seductive, with obvious development. (18) The other was cardboard and dusty
Marchard & Burch – Pinot Noir -2007
Bright cherry fruit with cherry pips and some savoury notes. Clean and fresh. On the palate, quite silky, textured and long. Pleasant souring finish. Lacked the fruit weight of the best, but a good effort. (17.8)
Gibston Valley – The Reserve – Pinot Noir 2006
Not properly assessed, but… soft and open, Complex, feminine and ripe. supple and long. sympathetic oak and tannin (17.5-18)
Quartz Reef – Pinot Noir – 2007
Earthy, meaty, blackberry fruit. Riper strawberry fruit on the palate. Lacks intensity and structure. May evolve (17.5)
Cristom – Pinot Noir – 2005 (Willamette Valley, Oregon)
Weight wine with ripe fruit. Chocolate fruit but lacks complexity of some here. ? alcohol level (17.5)
Yabby Lakes – Pinot Noir – 2006
Touch of smoke and tar. Quite closed. The palate shows ripe fresh fruit with good length. Whilst textured, it appears a bit angular and the finish is a touch unidirectional (17.3)