Wine Talk, January 2007

Something Special To Impress

Mt Difficulty Central Otago Pinot Gris 2006

Light straw. A delightful wine with glorious aromatics. Spice filled aromas, coupled with citrus nuances, orange blossom essences, pears and a touch of lychee. Soft smooth acidity, lively and yet well rounded with the luscious pears coming to the fore on the palate. Try this with sautéed crab.
Drink 2006-2008.
$32 ish. 92/100.




Top Shelf Savvy Blanc

Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Watery white. Fragrant tropical nuances. Soft luscious and well rounded. Full flavoured, gorgeously velvety mouthfeel, beautiful to savour. A well balanced wine with soft lively fresh acidity. Try with salt and pepper calamari.
Drink 2006-2009.
$35 ish. 91/100.




Value Drinking

Trinity Hill Gimblett Hawkes Bay Viognier 2005

Lemony yellow. Wonderful aromatics again with perfumed musk, apricots, pears and honey essences. Lightly spiced. Smooth and succulent with a luscious fruit character. Soft acidity well developed flavours on the palate, with a spicy lingering length of finish. Drink 2006-2010.
Try it with a lamb roast.
About $38 ish. 90/100.




Discover Something Different

Vynfields Classic Martinborough Riesling 2004

Lemony yellow. Magnificent aromas emanating - a touch of botrytis, apricots, rose petals, honey, ripe figs and honeysuckle - talk about complex. Sweet and luscious on the palate, yet with a certain elegance. The soft acidity marries well with the fruit and provides a lingering length. Try with poached pears.
$28ish.
Drink 2006-2012. 92/100.




Put This In The Cellar

Te Kairanga Casaurina Martinborough Reserve Chardonnay 2005

Lemony yellow. Citrine, white peach and melon. Burgundian - complex and with good lees character. Quite elegant with distinctive persistent and polished fruit. Soft smooth and lusciously creamy lingering on and on. Well oaked and well balanced with a good lively acidity. Try this with chicken parmigiana.
Drink 2006 -2015.
$36ish. 91/100.




Holiday Drinking

Saint Clair Waurau Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Water white. Quite herbaceous, grassy, a touch tropical with pure intense varietal characters. Gooseberry and a touch of citrus on the palate with soft acidity. An elegant savvy blanc with delicious lingering flavours. Try this with grilled baby octopus.
Drink 2006 - 2010.
$35 ish. 93/100.




Top Shelf Pinot Noir

Spy Valley Marlborough Pinot Noir 2005

A glorious purple crimson. Youthful, fresh and vibrant. Loads of spicy plum, strawberries and cherries. Complexity through black truffle, forest floor red fruits and exotic spices. The acidity is lively and backs up the fruit. Quite a seamless drinking wine that really is wonderful drinking with its fruit characters now but will develop more complexity with time.
Drink 2006 - 2015.
$40 ish. 91/100.

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Paul Ippolito writes about wine for publications across Australia, overseas and the Internet. He speaks on radio and writes a free monthly wine newsletter for consumers. Paul can be contacted by email at Paul_Ippolito@hotmail.com where you can also request to be placed on his mailing list for his newsletter. or visit his website at: www.paulippolito.com.au

2007 Reviews

Wine Talk - January 2007
Wine Talk - February 2007
Wine Talk - March 2007
Wine Talk - April 2007

2006 Reviews

Wine Talk - January 06
Wine Talk - February 06
Wine Talk - March 06
Wine Talk - April 06
Wine Talk - May 06
Wine Talk - June 06
Wine Talk - July 06
Wine Talk - August 06
Wine Talk - September 06
Wine Talk - October 06
Wine Talk - November 06
Wine Talk - December 06

2005 Reviews

Wine Talk - March 05
Wine Talk - April 05
Wine Talk - May 05
Wine Talk - June 05
Wine Talk - July 05
Wine Talk - August 05
Wine Talk - September 05
Wine Talk - October 05
Wine Talk - November 05
Wine Talk - December 05

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