Today's line-up was a mini "tiki tour'' of several of our more northerly regions, with Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Martinborough, Marlborough and Nelson all getting a look in.
As my colleagues and I have often found, certain wines leap out of the starters blocks with immediate appeal, only for some of the distance runners to wind them in as they show their pedigree, class and staying power, leading to much discussion as to their respective merits.
Much to enjoy here for the chardonnay-lover.
Price: $35-37
Rating: Very good
Oatmeal, yeast lees, matchstick with a sweet perfume.
Creamy entry then a crisp zing to the palate as the acidity kicks in.
Lemony citrus carries through the palate and on to the finish.
Spices and a hint of oak; the nose more expressive than the palate for now.
Would be great with fish or pasta in a cream sauce!
Price: RRP $25
Rating: Excellent
A complex nose with mealiness and musk rose/talc at first, leading to pineapple and tropical fruit.
Quite fragrant.
Mouthfilling with nice intensity: nectarine, stonefruit and oatmeal on the palate with lovely balance and excellent length.
Fleshes out with aeration showing flashes of peach and grilled nuts.
Lovely.
Price: RRP $29.90
Rating: Excellent
Classic chardonnay nose: sweetness with oak more evident, fruit salad, a hint of burnt match and oatmeal.
Rather appealing.
Oak and burnt match on the palate with a lemony citrus note bringing freshness.
Bright acidity; a nice long finish and some fine grip.
A very tasty overall package.
Price: RRP $22
Rating: Good
A light-bodied, bright and fresh style with an initial yeasty hint giving way to spice, citrus, nectarine and stonefruit, becoming more perfumed with time.
Supple on entry; textural and vinous rather than fruit-driven on the palate.
Some heat and astringency on the finish, however.
Price: $28
Rating: Fair
Sulphides and tutti frutti gum at first blow off to reveal citrus and sweetness.
The palate moves to white peach with a dusty, chalky note.
Tight on the palate; a little bracing and unforgiving for now with grapefruity acidity.
Becomes cheesy with time.
Crying out for food for now.
Price: RRP $21.99
Rating: Good
Ripe nose with pineapple, tropical and a stewed fruit note.
Quite textural at first then the palate firms up with apricot and apricot kernel pithiness.
Pineapple and West's Pineapple & Pear cordial grow with time as the palate also softens.
Excellent length, although some heat evident.
Price: RRP $33.20
Rating: Excellent
Sweet nose with toffee apple, oatmeal, spices and an early lactic note, which recedes.
Nicely rich and mouthfilling, vinous and textural with lovely oatmeal, oak spice and ripe stonefruit building before the long finish.
A touch of fruit pith gives an extra zing to the finish.
A finely balanced and delicious wine overall.
Price: $39
Rating: Very good to excellent
Lemony scents with dustiness and a faint charry note in the background: this moves to riper citrus with time.
Quite a powerful entry with the citrus core running right through the wine; spices adding interest.
A hint of spearmint develops; freshness here but with a textural underlay.
Very appealing.
