They wait patiently for their opportunity for me to redress the balance.
So today, I’ve herded together six diverse wines from almost as many grape varieties and regions, and not one black sheep among them.
Hopefully the old adage that "variety is the spice of life" comes true for you?
2023 Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay
Rating Very Good
Ripely fruited and
powerful nose with
ripe peach, banana,
melon, tropical fruits,
driven by fruit rather
than oak. The palate
takes a different path,
leaning more towards
stonefruits, lighter on
flavour depth, tauter,
with relatively bold
acidity. Nice
freshness here, wisps
of oak now, more a
food style than a
sipper, crying out for
creamy pasta or
grilled fish.
2024 Carrick Organic Bannockburn Pinot Noir Rosé
Rating Very Good to Excellent
An initial burst of
flower petal, then
more subtle, quietly
fragrant. Quite a dry
expression, bright
acidity, stone fruits
building as it opens
backed by hints of
citrus. Doesn’t feel
over-forced, just nice
drinking. Aeration
sees a nutty aspect
arrive on the nose,
cashew nut too on the
palate, all wrapped up
with the bright,
citrussy finish.
2024 Alpine Rift Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Rating Very Good to Excellent
A touch more subtle,
teasing you with
capsicum, apple &
grassiness as it quietly
reveals itself. The
palate ups the ante,
clear concentration &
flavour intensity and
another slightly drier
expression, with a
minerally, stony aspect
adding to the mix rather
than just fruit. Bright
finish, really perking up
with crisp, juicy
freshness.
2024 Monte Christo Central Otago Rosé of Pinot Noir
Rating Very Good to Excellent
Powerful nose of
watermelon, Hubba
Bubba gum, & dried
strawberry with a
seasoning of cracked
pepper. Fine in the
mouth, a drier
expression that with
its structural backbone
in its youth points to
food-friendliness.
Grab hold of one of the
warmer days and this
will lend itself to
autumn sipping
alfresco. Youthful, taut
finish, this one grows
nicely on me.
2023 Main Divide by Pegasus Bay Riesling
Rating Very Good to Excellent
An appealing
melange of mandarin
and orange zest with
a honeyed backdrop,
wisps of flinty
minerality and spice
too. Carries those
flavours on to the
palate, orange notes
leading the charge,
fruit pastille, fruit
sweetness giving this
a just off-dry feel.
This is already so
drinkable, offering
pleasure in every sip.
2023 Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris
Rating Very Good
Attractive nose of
pear, citrus & fruit
pastille, a little talc
perhaps. A drier
expression, cooling
freshness, again
pear with a touch of
nectarine, crispness
like biting into an
apple. Aeration sees
a grainy aspect
appeal on the palate
with hints of bruised
apple. vying with
pear. One to bang
open now and enjoy
in its youth rather
than a keeper.
