Craggy Range 'The Quarry' Gimblett Gravels 2008 Hawke's Bay
Inky crimson and purple ruby appearance. This wine is typically a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend.
N: A complex bouquet of mainly black and a few red fruits: Cassis, gravel, dry sand and flint-like under-currant adds complexity and a little mystery; full, rich and youthful overall.
P: Although this is a dry wine it displays both concentration and complexity with very youthful fruit attributes. The fruit tannins in particular show mostly on the front palate - fine, but still stuck in a teenage phase; The oak tannins are rich and powerful yet bring contrast to the fruit tannins and add a layer of complexity. The acidity is easily medium+. All these structural features provide for both a robust frame to the wine as well as a charming inner core.
Overall a world class example that belongs in the wine cellars of fine dining rooms and smart collectors. 93 Points.
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Church Road
Church Road Reserve Merlot Cabernet 2008 Hawke's Bay
N: Violets,cooked plums, blackberry jam and cassis, soft oak suggestions for a few seconds then a more intense complexity unfolds with oak a feature - vanillin. Overall a concentrated bouquet.
P: Juicy black and red fruits - plum and blackberry then cassis again all adding to a firm and youthful wine with plenty of texture. Quite a lot of oak and associated tannins as well. A wine with 6 - 8 years development time ahead. The finish is firm, but still shows off a sweeping of fruit to remind the taster of balance and potential - in short a well made example. 90 Points.
N: Violets,cooked plums, blackberry jam and cassis, soft oak suggestions for a few seconds then a more intense complexity unfolds with oak a feature - vanillin. Overall a concentrated bouquet.
P: Juicy black and red fruits - plum and blackberry then cassis again all adding to a firm and youthful wine with plenty of texture. Quite a lot of oak and associated tannins as well. A wine with 6 - 8 years development time ahead. The finish is firm, but still shows off a sweeping of fruit to remind the taster of balance and potential - in short a well made example. 90 Points.
Monday, 12 September 2011
Squawking Magpie
Squawking Magpie "The Stoned Crow" Syrah Hawkes Bay 2008
N: A broody almost angry bouquet with dark, toasted and oaky dark red and black berry fruits, sweet ripe raspberry lift, black currant and white pepper spice.
P: Reflects the nose with a wild and tamed raspberry and black currant fruit core, some very noticeable gravelly earthy elements. Medium+ to High tannin impact with the fruit and oak meaures competing for attention. Juicy acidity, great balance and a long broody finish.
Very very good - 91 Points.
N: A broody almost angry bouquet with dark, toasted and oaky dark red and black berry fruits, sweet ripe raspberry lift, black currant and white pepper spice.
P: Reflects the nose with a wild and tamed raspberry and black currant fruit core, some very noticeable gravelly earthy elements. Medium+ to High tannin impact with the fruit and oak meaures competing for attention. Juicy acidity, great balance and a long broody finish.
Very very good - 91 Points.
Sacred Hill
Sacred Hill Deerstalkers Syrah Hawke's Bay 2008
N: Powerful dark berry suggestions, red liquorice, hints of tar and saddle leather, dark raspberry and blackcurrant, complex and youthful with a peppery overture to the bouquet.
P: Reflects exactly what the nose suggests and more with waves of wood spice met head-on with dark red fruits, chocolate and saddle leather flavors. A very complex and well crafted wine with very ripe tannins, medium+ acidity and a long youthful finish. This is easily a 15 year wine - 92 Points.
N: Powerful dark berry suggestions, red liquorice, hints of tar and saddle leather, dark raspberry and blackcurrant, complex and youthful with a peppery overture to the bouquet.
P: Reflects exactly what the nose suggests and more with waves of wood spice met head-on with dark red fruits, chocolate and saddle leather flavors. A very complex and well crafted wine with very ripe tannins, medium+ acidity and a long youthful finish. This is easily a 15 year wine - 92 Points.
Church Road
Church Road Cuve Merlot 2008
N: Damson plums, roasted plums, stewed and jammed plums; burnt toast and cloves - this wine has a great bouquet as well as a youthful fruity aroma. Concentrated and immensely inviting.
P: Dry with Damson plums and dark plum skin flavors, blackberry fruits in the back ground. Gravel - like earthy quality and big, bold oak that has a sweet edge. Noticable fruit tannins, spicy clove oak flavors. A great example of a modern and classy New Zealand Merlot. 92 Points.
N: Damson plums, roasted plums, stewed and jammed plums; burnt toast and cloves - this wine has a great bouquet as well as a youthful fruity aroma. Concentrated and immensely inviting.
P: Dry with Damson plums and dark plum skin flavors, blackberry fruits in the back ground. Gravel - like earthy quality and big, bold oak that has a sweet edge. Noticable fruit tannins, spicy clove oak flavors. A great example of a modern and classy New Zealand Merlot. 92 Points.
Craggy Range
Craggy Range Syrah 2008 Hawke's Bay
N: Pepper, Black fruits - black currant and very dark, almost burnt raspberry. A refined and well considered level of concentration - given the ripeness suggested with big 'Craggy Range Oak' that fits rather snugly with the rest of the bouquet.
P: Immediately reminds of three things: Great Hawke's Bay Syrah, a wine that is at least three years off enough integration for a more considered tasting and an Hermitage Cornas rolled into one. Powerful toasty tannins, concentrated raspberry and black-currant flavors. In fact the tannins are rather intense on their own, but with the concentration of fruits - a balance emerges that is delicious! Alcohol not noticable. 91 Points.
N: Pepper, Black fruits - black currant and very dark, almost burnt raspberry. A refined and well considered level of concentration - given the ripeness suggested with big 'Craggy Range Oak' that fits rather snugly with the rest of the bouquet.
P: Immediately reminds of three things: Great Hawke's Bay Syrah, a wine that is at least three years off enough integration for a more considered tasting and an Hermitage Cornas rolled into one. Powerful toasty tannins, concentrated raspberry and black-currant flavors. In fact the tannins are rather intense on their own, but with the concentration of fruits - a balance emerges that is delicious! Alcohol not noticable. 91 Points.
Esk Valley Wines Gimblett Gravels
Esk Valley Gimblett Gravels Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec 2008
N: Wild red fruits, black fruits and sweet, dried herbs with spiced oak. The Cabernet Sauvignon seems head and shoulders above the Merlot and Malbec - on the nose. Medium+ complexity.
P: Very dry and very fruity with a varietal Cabernet herbaceous note. The Cabernet flavors of blackberry and Marmite, with youthful 'full throttle' tannins still waiting to begin integrating with the wine.
Overall - very young - and requires around 5 years careful cellaring before another look.
4 Stars today - 5 Star potential.
N: Wild red fruits, black fruits and sweet, dried herbs with spiced oak. The Cabernet Sauvignon seems head and shoulders above the Merlot and Malbec - on the nose. Medium+ complexity.
P: Very dry and very fruity with a varietal Cabernet herbaceous note. The Cabernet flavors of blackberry and Marmite, with youthful 'full throttle' tannins still waiting to begin integrating with the wine.
Overall - very young - and requires around 5 years careful cellaring before another look.
4 Stars today - 5 Star potential.
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