Red hot
Claudine Earley
THE annual Hot Red Hawkes Bay wine tasting hit town last week. I took a break from exam study and headed down the to the Michael Fowler Centre to see what’s hot in the world of red wine.
It’s best to approach these big roadshows with a tasting tactic, rather than just starting at one end of the 26 wineries and working your way around the room. I did spot a couple of lads who had adopted this technique, but unfortunately they were incoherent by the time I met them at the Alpha Domus table. Charmingly so though.
We decided to evaluate the relative merits of newcomer syrah versus the famed Hawkes Bay cabernet/merlot. The bay is NZ’s premiere red wine growing region – more than 80% of our merlot, cab sauv and syrah comes from the toasty climes of the region.
Most wineries offered two syrahs: their latest vintage Reserve and at half the price their lower tier label. The reserves tended to be bigger (more juicy, rich and smooth) than their little brothers, which were lighter with more pepper, tobacco and acidity. I preferred the rich reserves, my companions the more masculine every day syrahs.
Having said that, however, everyone’s favourite syrah was one of the big guns: Bridge Pa Vineyard Louis Syrah 2006 ($49). Louis had everyone oohing and ahhing at his complexity, opulence and funky savoury notes.
In the end, I was won over by the cab/merlots. The highlight of my night was the vertical tasting at the Villa Maria table where we sampled three vintages of reserve cab/merlot, then four of reserve merlot. Look out for the Villa Maria Reserve Merlot 2005 ($50): big fruit flavours, integrated tannins and creamy oak make it beautiful drinking now.
Keep an eye open for newcomers Moana Park and their Vineyard Selection Merlot Malbec 2009 ($22) with rich fruit balanced by fine tannins and a candyfloss tail. Also unmissable is Elephant Hill whose Reserve Syrah 2008 ($45) had an amazing nose of lavender and lanolin.
Wine of the week: made by self-confessed ‘Westie’ Shayne Cox, Corazon Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 ($18) is recommended to those who like a little oak with their sav. Made from Wairau Valley fruit, this wine has lively gooseberry - passionfruit aromas and a palate of intense creamy fruit with a long smooth pineapple-tinged finish. Enjoy with sunshine.
It’s best to approach these big roadshows with a tasting tactic, rather than just starting at one end of the 26 wineries and working your way around the room. I did spot a couple of lads who had adopted this technique, but unfortunately they were incoherent by the time I met them at the Alpha Domus table. Charmingly so though.
We decided to evaluate the relative merits of newcomer syrah versus the famed Hawkes Bay cabernet/merlot. The bay is NZ’s premiere red wine growing region – more than 80% of our merlot, cab sauv and syrah comes from the toasty climes of the region.
Most wineries offered two syrahs: their latest vintage Reserve and at half the price their lower tier label. The reserves tended to be bigger (more juicy, rich and smooth) than their little brothers, which were lighter with more pepper, tobacco and acidity. I preferred the rich reserves, my companions the more masculine every day syrahs.
Having said that, however, everyone’s favourite syrah was one of the big guns: Bridge Pa Vineyard Louis Syrah 2006 ($49). Louis had everyone oohing and ahhing at his complexity, opulence and funky savoury notes.
In the end, I was won over by the cab/merlots. The highlight of my night was the vertical tasting at the Villa Maria table where we sampled three vintages of reserve cab/merlot, then four of reserve merlot. Look out for the Villa Maria Reserve Merlot 2005 ($50): big fruit flavours, integrated tannins and creamy oak make it beautiful drinking now.
Keep an eye open for newcomers Moana Park and their Vineyard Selection Merlot Malbec 2009 ($22) with rich fruit balanced by fine tannins and a candyfloss tail. Also unmissable is Elephant Hill whose Reserve Syrah 2008 ($45) had an amazing nose of lavender and lanolin.
Wine of the week: made by self-confessed ‘Westie’ Shayne Cox, Corazon Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 ($18) is recommended to those who like a little oak with their sav. Made from Wairau Valley fruit, this wine has lively gooseberry - passionfruit aromas and a palate of intense creamy fruit with a long smooth pineapple-tinged finish. Enjoy with sunshine.
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