Toiing with your tastebuds
15/12/2009 4:15:00 p.m.
NEW kids on the block, Toi Toi, are based in the Omaka Valley, in the same neighbourhood as Cloudy Bay and Seresin.
They are enthusiastic about the recent success of their Toi Toi Marlborough Riesling 2009 ($20.90) at the New Zealand International Wine Show where it took out the riesling trophy. The wine is a winner for those who like their rieslings dry. Aromas of mandarin blossoms lead on to florals so perfumed that one of my tasting panel mistook it for a gewürz. There’s a bit of spiciness there too, reminiscent of cloves or night-scented stock. When I took a sip, its sweet mandarin flavours had such citrus zing that shivers shot up my saliva glands.
Toi Toi “Brookdale Vineyard” Reserve Marlborough Pinot Gris 2009 ($22) was another hit with my tasters. Like nashi pears dipped in water from a mountain stream – you get the bite of the pear skin up front, then the long luscious finish. We enjoyed it with Thai food.
Toi Toi Marlborough Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2009 ($22) has everything a sav should have: delightfully pungent sweaty passionfruit pips to tickle your nostrils, and lots of body from three months on yeast lees plus pineapple and mango mixed with zesty citrus notes.
Wine of the week: Te Mata “Woodthorpe” Chardonnay 2008 ($17) has got to be the best value chardonnay around. It smells like peaches with a touch of spicy oak, and the balance between creamy pineapple and acid is spot on in the mouth. Pork and caramelised zucchinis match the smoky caramel flavours in the wine nicely.
They are enthusiastic about the recent success of their Toi Toi Marlborough Riesling 2009 ($20.90) at the New Zealand International Wine Show where it took out the riesling trophy. The wine is a winner for those who like their rieslings dry. Aromas of mandarin blossoms lead on to florals so perfumed that one of my tasting panel mistook it for a gewürz. There’s a bit of spiciness there too, reminiscent of cloves or night-scented stock. When I took a sip, its sweet mandarin flavours had such citrus zing that shivers shot up my saliva glands.
Toi Toi “Brookdale Vineyard” Reserve Marlborough Pinot Gris 2009 ($22) was another hit with my tasters. Like nashi pears dipped in water from a mountain stream – you get the bite of the pear skin up front, then the long luscious finish. We enjoyed it with Thai food.
Toi Toi Marlborough Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2009 ($22) has everything a sav should have: delightfully pungent sweaty passionfruit pips to tickle your nostrils, and lots of body from three months on yeast lees plus pineapple and mango mixed with zesty citrus notes.
Wine of the week: Te Mata “Woodthorpe” Chardonnay 2008 ($17) has got to be the best value chardonnay around. It smells like peaches with a touch of spicy oak, and the balance between creamy pineapple and acid is spot on in the mouth. Pork and caramelised zucchinis match the smoky caramel flavours in the wine nicely.
