The 3rd Man Riesling Lough Vineyard 2010 Waipara 9.5%
N: Sweet apple, sweet lemon skin, mandarin and mineral sherbet with a touch of icing sugar. This is a particularly youthful example and I suggest several swirls of the glass to 'awaken' the wine.
P:Off-dry with sweet lemon, flat lemonade and juicy green apple flavours, a light mineral note and racy acidity. Overall a nice wine and an example that would appeal to wide range of palates.
Himmelsfeld Vineyard Moutere Chardonnay 2007 14.5%
As with the 2005 and 2006 - the appearance of this wine is youthful with green and pale-straw highlights.
N: Creamy vanilla, spicey oak and peachy stone fruit; hints of butter-scotch and raw brown sugar. Overall fresh, clean and youthful with the citrus elements driving the bouquet.
P: Dry - yet spritely on the palate and fruity as well; new oak and new oaik spices add texture and complexity; further creamy and buttery texture smooth of the edges from the acidity and oak bite. Moderate+ length, balanced and well made. 3.5 Stars (am expecting this to go up upon the next tasting)
I think that the Himmelsfeld Chardonnays are wines to be aged before a true appreciation of the style can be recorded - so if you do invest in a case then I would advise tasting only 1 bottle from the case over a 4 to 5 hour period to demonstrate the potential and longevity of the wine. This 2007 example will age (if stored well) for at least another 4 to 5 years if not longer.
Himmelsfeld Vineyard Moutere Chardonnay 2006 14.5%
Very bright appearance with noticable and youthful green and pale straw hues.
N:Youthful; apple, peach and grapefruit citrus bouquet; a deepseated toasty note adds complexity.
P: Dry with youthful citrus and tree fruits; spicy oak and mild creamy texture; The oak spice adds further complexity and length. A tasty and long lasting persistent finish. 4.5 Stars.
Great on its own or with mild smokey, toasty foods or even a fat juicy slice of pork belly with crispy skin.
I chose to share the remainder of this sample bottle with my wife at a local restaurant - Adriatico (Henderson - AKL). The wine work really well with the seafood chowder starter and equally well with the next dish which was scallops and prawns tossed through aborio with mushrooms and a marsala cream sauce. My wife also enjoyed the wine with her Calamari ala griglia and then her fettuccini al-mare.
Himmelsfeld Vineyard Moutere Chardonnay 2005 14.5%
Very bright with a very youthful straw/green with flashes of gold.
N: Peaches, golden and red apple, creamy vanillin, smokey edges, spice and sour cream notes.
P: Dry, warm, medium+ to full-bodied, a youthful bite from both the acidity and oak, fruits are reflective of the nose: peach, apple and now pear with sweet French vanilla ice-cream flavors and spice. Citrus flavors emerge after several minutes in glass and lengthen the finish as well as adding to the style. After another several minutes suggestions of brown sugar and caramel emerge.
Overall a youthful wine for its age in appearance, bouquet and flavor.
A touch warm. 4 Stars.
Chateau Pichon Longueville '05 Pauillac
N: Barnyard, brett, graphite, gravel, violets, brown soil, leather - yes this wine is complex and gets better with each swirl and return to bouquet.
P: The youth of this wine shows with a slight disjointed-ness; the violets, earthy edges and current complexity are really just an indication of great things to come. This is a young wine and requires a further 10 years to unfurl its splendor. Currently 4 Stars.
Craggy Range Le Sol Gimblett Gravels '09 (Syrah)
Quite a pretty appearance - vibrant and vivid
N: Classic with a very Hawke's Bay bouquet - New Worldly yet with an uncanny Northern Rhone feel/suggestion - a gravel core wrapped in black fruit. Overall though this wine is too youthful to fully evaluate - takes quite a few swirls of the glass to nudge the wine into opening up a little.
P: Dry, big, powerful and very very young - 2 more years in cellar and should begin to reveal more personality. That said a wonderful core of fruit and gracious personality; wild fruit edges, berry compote; powerful, ripe and rich tannins (fruit then oak); a long yet closed finish - not flourish - yet! 5 Stars.
Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels SV Syrah '09
N: So very youthful - full of raspberry and sweet red meats, white smoke edges: Generous and rich with an under carriage of gravel soils messages.
P: Dry, fruity and tasty with slightly restrained oak. A lean note is soon forgotten in favor of moderate+ mineral flavors. Youthful ripe fruit tannins and lighter oak tannins bring complexity and balance; fruity and well made 4 Stars.
