Mt Olympus Chardonnay 2011

Green gold, mid depth. Nutty, mealy lees; ripe peaches. Ripe fruit style but with acid and mineral backbone. Clean with a good finish. A very good wine for the price. 13.5% Marlborough, New Zealand 17/20 [tasted 24-11-2012] Bought http://www.blackmarket.co.nz. Very good value at $10.99. Tasted a few weeks after delivery so storage is not relevant.

Fairmont Estate Admiral Hill Pinot Noir 2009

Mid-deep robe. Nose of dark cherry, good sweet oak and some nice tobacco notes. Good balance on the palate, sweet fruit – red berries, cherry – and a touch of smooth tannin. Medium-long finish with sweet fruit there and lovely ripe tannin. A lovely wine. Gladstone, Wairarapa, New Zealand 18.5/20 [tasted 24-01-2012] http://www.fairmontestate.co.nz Bought cellar … Continue reading →

Waipara Riesling Challenge 2010 overview

Early this year I bought two cases of the 2010 Waipara Riesling Challenge wines at the bargain-basement price of $9.99 a bottle (from http://www.blackmarket.co.nz). The challenge was an interesting idea: does the grape or the making make most difference? Or, to quote from the Challenge website: “This competition is a world-first in terms of providing … Continue reading →

Waipara Riesling Challenge Simon Waghorn 2010

Pale green/yellow. Lime and citrus, lovely ripe fruit and a light touch of kerosene there too. Lovely medium-sweet palate with delicate lime/citrus and white florals, acid in balance. Long finish and ripe fruits linger. Very good wine. Waipara, New Zealand 18.5/20 [tasted 04-08-2012] http://www.rieslingchallenge.co.nz Simon Waghorn Bought from http://www.blackmarket.co.nz. The case of 12 (one bottle … Continue reading →

Waipara Riesling Challenge Duncan Forsyth 2010

Pale green-gold. Lime, citrus, some tropical fruits and a hint of kerosene. Quite ripe fruit on the palate, some citrus and background notes of kerosene. Good finish with cleansing acid and lime lasting. Good wine. Waipara, New Zealand 17.5/20 [tasted 03-08-2012] http://www.rieslingchallenge.co.nz Duncan Forsyth Bought from http://www.blackmarket.co.nz. The case of 12 (one bottle from each … Continue reading →

Waipara Riesling Challenge Ant McKenzie 2010

Touch of gold. White flowers, some petrol with lime and sweet citrus. Medium sweet, some citrus but lacking in the mid-palate; nose much better than the palate. Length is just OK. Waipara, New Zealand 16/20 [tasted 24-06-2012] http://www.rieslingchallenge.co.nz Ant McKenzie Bought from http://www.blackmarket.co.nz. The case of 12 (one bottle from each of the Challenge winemakers) … Continue reading →

Waipara Riesling Challenge Paul Bourgeois 2010

Light green-gold. Lime, lemon, some florals and a little kerosene. Just off-dry; good citrus fruit and some florals but a hint of vegetal stalkiness too, although this reduces with time in the glass. Finish is average but in balance. Nice wine but the vegetal notes are out of character. Waipara, New Zealand 16/20 [tasted 25-05-2012] … Continue reading →

Waipara Riesling Challenge Larry McKenna 2010

Green-gold. Some petrol but nose otherwise a bit dull. Sweet style with petrol on the palate, some acid but a touch cloying; an off unclean character too – bit oxidised perhaps? Finish is caramel with only a hint of fruit. Waipara, New Zealand 15/20 [tasted 05-05-2012] http://www.rieslingchallenge.co.nz Larry McKenna Bought from http://www.blackmarket.co.nz. The case of … Continue reading →

Waipara Riesling Challenge Matt Donaldson 2010

Green-gold. Touch of petrol with lemon and lime notes. Lovely balance of clean acid, sweetness and fruit; touch of honey with limes and bright lemon. Finishes long, clean and moreish. Excellent wine and the top in the Challenge. Waipara, New Zealand 19/20 [tasted 25-04-2012] http://www.rieslingchallenge.co.nz Matt Donaldson Bought from http://www.blackmarket.co.nz. The case of 12 (one … Continue reading →

Waipara Riesling Challenge John Forrest 2010

Very light straw. Kerosene prominent; lemons and limes. Medium-dry, florals and a touch of kerosene; quite light on the palate, good acid and structure. Delicate finish of florals and citrus. A very nice wine. Waipara, New Zealand 17.5/20 [tasted 06-04-2012] http://www.rieslingchallenge.co.nz John Forrest Bought from http://www.blackmarket.co.nz. The case of 12 (one bottle from each of … Continue reading →