AMERICAN WINE SOCIETY                          

a non-profit corporation

           

January 2006     ROCHESTER CHAPTER NEWSLETTER    www.awsrochester.org

Volume 32, No. 1

 

2006 Officers

President: Fred & Molly Fant (585) 225-3029

Secretary: John & Mimi Bacilek (585) 227-2080

Treasurers: Richard & Pamela Hemmenway (585) 392-0046

 

Wines of New Zealand

January 21st 2006

 

#

Year

Wine

Price

Votes

Foods

Comments

E

2004

Giesen East Coast Riesling

$13

2

 

 

1

2004

Nobilo Icon Marlborough

Pinot Gris

$17

20

·      White Stilton with Apricot

·      Pumpernickel bread

·      Baguette

·      Water crackers

·      Very well liked

·      Noticeably deeper color than most Gris – likely from juice in contact with skins longer than most

2

 

 

2005

Nobilo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

$7.5

21

·      Goat cheese and kiwi on water crackers

·      Passion fruit, blue spruce

·      Pine needles

·      Citrus, especially grapefruits

3

2004

The Crossings, Marlborough

Sauvignon Blanc

$10

9

·      Goat cheese and kiwi on water crackers

·      Boutique winery

·      Blend of grapes from different vineyards

·      Cooler region of Marlborough valley

·      Minerally complexities make you pucker

·      Stale tobacco

·      Green pepper

·      Sweetish nose

4

2004

Vavasour, Marlborough

 
 
Pinot Noir

$20

11

·      Jelly on a stick – (Concentration of Figs on a toothpick)

·      Dubliner (Cheddar) cheese

·      Black pepper on the nose

5

2004

Te Mata “Woodthorpe” Hawkes Bay

Pinot Noir

$21

8

·      Jelly on a stick – (Concentration of Figs on a toothpick)

·      Dubliner (Cheddar) cheese

·      Wine spectator (86 pts) says ‘light and lively’ with cherry and herb

6

2003

Amisfield. Central Otago

Pinot Noir

$25

19

·      Jelly on a stick – (Concentration of Figs on a toothpick)

·      Dubliner (Cheddar) cheese

·      Cola and strawberry

·      Blackberries on the nose

·      Wine spectator (91) #84 in wine spectator’s top 100 wines says lithe, supple, blackberries, plums and will keep till 2012

7

 

 

2001

Te Awa “Longlands” Hawkes Bay

Syrah

 

$18

32

·      Dubliner (Cheddar) cheese

·      Shorter finish than anticipated

·      Nose is more like a Rhone where it is cool - this clone is new to New Zealand

8

2003

Te Mata “Woodthorpe” Hawkes Bay

CS 28%, CF 16%, M 32% PV 16%

$16

18

·      Dubliner (Cheddar) cheese

·      Cab Sav, Cab Franc, Merlot and Petite Verdot

·      Distinct cab franc character

·      Vines are ~ 10 years old

·      Vineyard is on the site of an old race track

·      Large amount of clay in the soil

9

 

 

2002

Craggy Range, “Gimblett Gravels” Hawkes Bay,

Merlot

$30

23

0

·      Very gravelly soil

·      Small amount of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon

·      Vines planted in 1998

·      Gravel soil is giving a character of a Bordeaux blend

·      Very chocolate, cocoa, intense Merlot. Finish is short likely due to young vines

10

 

 

2001

Selaks “Founder’s Reserve” Marlborogh Dry Lands Vineyards

Noble Riesling

$20 / half bot

24

0

·      Late harvest

·      Characteristic citrus nose

 

 

Opening Commentary to set the stage from Brian Thomas

·           50K Acres of vineyards

·           Chardonnay most widely planted grape

·           North and south islands cover 1000 miles

·           Southern hemisphere – tonight it is 70 and a balmy sunset

·           1400 degree days in New Zealand, 1492 degree days in California , 1390 in Bordeaux

·           Tremendous climatic variations though climate is maritime

·           Marlborough is on the north end of the southern island

o        Sauvignon blanc is most common line

·           Nobilo is the 2nd largest vineyard

·           Late harvest Rieslings are uniformly great all over New Zealand

·           Regions from North to South:  cool nights, warm days, complexity of soil are the secrets to the uniqueness of New Zealand wines

o        Auckland: northern most region: Chardonnay , Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

o        Hawkes Bay – warmest region: Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon

§         Ta Mata winery

§         Dry River winery has a waiting list for getting on the waiting list!

§         Use reflective mulch and a technique of leaf stripping to ripen grapes without boosting alcohol

o          Marlborough, South Island: Sauvignon Blanc Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

§         Wairau River Valley rich river bed soil with cool nights and warm days – perfect for Sauvignon Blanc

§         Vavasour Winery has naturally terraced vineyard

§         Villa Maria Winery

o        Canterbury: Pinot Noir

§         Waipara region also employs leaf stripping:

o        Central Otago – bungee jumping started in this region

§         Vineyards right on a large lake

·           Most of these wines (all but Sav Blanc) are not on the shelves in area liquor stores. The local distributors have them and can get them.