| 2006 Kiwi Wine Fan Club Wines of the Year |
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| Written by Craig Thomson | |
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Congratulations "2006 Kiwi Wine Fan Club Wine of the Year" has been awarded to 2005 Fromm La Strada Spatlese Riesling In many ways my highlights of the year have a ‘boring’ and predictable ring to them. But hey when you have been into wine a while, you kind of expect your favourites to be your favourites. I can think of a number of times this year when I have gone through astonishingly good line ups. Te Mata Estate, Felton Road and Craggy Range spring to mind – just awesome efforts, as good a line up as I’ve ever encountered from New Zealand. The obvious strengths of 2006 lie in the 2006 Sauvignon Blancs and the 2005 Pinot Noirs. Rumblings from the Hawkes Bay of regarding the quality of the 2005 Bordeaux and Rhone style reds will soon be tested! Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc 2006 St Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc. One of a good list of truly astonishing Sauvignon Blancs. 2006 has been a vintage year you could say. This one is dead centre the icon Marlborough Style. Concentrated, crystal clean cut, racy, lively, super weighty with texture that doesn’t come from sugar and weight that demands the attention of every taste bud. Sensational finish of fresh cut passionfruit, just magic. It would be hard to argue against anyone claiming this as NZ’s greatest classical Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2005 Te Mata Cape Sauvignon Blanc. A truly great Sauvignon Blanc built in the style of White Bordeaux more than Sancerre. The class of this wine almost defies that it is Sauvignon Blanc. Sophisticated, sauvé and svelte. detailed, restrained and searching. A truly intellectual Sauvignon Blanc. One to serve to the snob who is too good or spoilt for Sauvignon Blanc. 2006 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. A cliché pick? Those who find it cool to knock Cloudy could hardly say that the 2006 isn’t a brilliant effort. Classical yet sophisticated, detail is brilliant. Suave and understated, focussed and sensationally balanced this isn’t the same ol same ol Marlborough cats pee. I buy it every year and don’t plan to stop. Still has a royal feel. Also mentions to Palliser Estate Riesling.  2005 Fromm La Strada Spatlese Riesling This wine went into a sleep for a year after bottling but now it is waking up again to the form we discovered when tasting as a tank sample. This is a super understated wine with piles of green apple flavours, low alcohol, sweet yet crisp. It’s a tantalising drink. I actually advise this served quite chilled, maybe about 8oC. Seems to focus the wine even further and transform it into a real refreshment. Also mentions to 2006 Pegasus, 2006 Palliser Estate (welcome return to form) and all of the Rieslings released this year by Forrest Estate and Felton Road Gewurztraminer 2006 Johaneshoff Gewurztraminer This label has been pushing further up the ladder lately even within reach of the daylight which usually claims second place behind Dry in the race for NZ’s top Gewurztraminer. Although this edition is not as immediately opulent as the 04 and 05 editions, I would suspect with time this will develop into a regal and exotic wine. Silky on the palate, tight, smooth and elegant. Patience. Didnt get to Try Dry River this year. Never even saw a bottle! Chardonnay 2005 Te Mata Elston Chardonnay. Pound for pound, year in, year out this wine shows its worth. It is reasonably priced, classic and consistent chardonnay that shows great structure, layered flavours and the ability to improve substantially in the cellar. I found the 2005 a magic wine. Powerfully built but super classy, with a peacock’s tail of exotic chardonnay fruit. Built to last and built to impress. The finish on this wine is just sensational. No serious chardonnay drinker fails to have this label in the cellar. Reminds me a little of the 1995 in terms of size and the length of flavour is just sensational. Also mentions to 2005 Felton Road, 2005 Fromm La Strada Clayvin, 2005 Kumeu. River Merlot 2004 Craggy Range Sophia. Insanely stylish. Astonishing texture. Beguiling and full of breed. It is approachable and enjoyable already with good complexities showing. Here is one of the most stylish reds to come out of Hawkes this vintage. Craggy range is doing the business! 2004 Unison Selection. A brilliant label just gets more brilliant. It is getting a bit more difficult to obtain these days. If you see it grab it. Super concentration of fruit all wrapped with Unisons trademark structure and complexity. The 2004 is darkly fruited and brooding. Unison is still an unsung hero of the Hawkes, and still under rated. This label is perhaps the most consistent of all Hawkes reds, and this vintage is one of their best. It should also be long lived. Also mentions to 2004 Esk Valley Terraces, 2002 Mills Reef One, and 2004 Villa Maria Reserve Merlot. Syrah 2005 Passage Rock Reserve Syrah. A revelation. The surprise of 2006. It will get better too for the patient. Insanely concentrated, packed with Dark black fruit and a touch of spice. Layered and complex and exhibiting a brilliant restraint, like an idling V8 purring at the lights. Seek, buy and cellar for 5-10 years, at which time Waiheke will be covered in syrah and you will have in your glass the first great example from this sometimes over rated wine region. At last, a new winery doing the goods to stand alongside the established superstars on Waiheke. Also mentions to 2004 Craggy Range Block 14, 2004 Unison Syrah, 2004 Sacred Hill Deer Stalkers, 2004 Bridge Pa Louis Dessert Wine 2004 Pegasus Bay Encore Riesling. Easily the best sweet wine of the year. This truly world class sweet wine would seduce anyone with warm blood with its focus, amazing intensity, depth and concentration. It is totally hedonistic, absolutely special and a conversation stopper!! Perfection in a glass and perhaps will even be better in a year or two Pinot Noir. 2005 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir. Seems this year show extra polish and refinement. Red Cherry, touch of vanilla and spice. Oozes class with its creamy texture, compact and finely built tannins and gentle complexity. Highly varietal, elegant and poised. A true Pinot. 2005 Fromm La Strada Clayvin Vineyard Pinot Noir. I usually enjoy the Fromm La Strada Fromm Vineyard Pinot Noir over this label, but this year the sensual texture and elegant red plum flavours in this wine tip it ahead of its stable mate in my eyes. 2005 has been an excellent vintage for pinot generally. It is especially noticeable in Marlborough. Red cherry flavours with a super creamy texture. Elegant, touches of spice and a long finish. Gorgeous. Also mentions to 2005 Nautilus, 2005 Felton Road, 2005 Gibbston Valley Reserve. Cabernet Blends. 2004 Sacred Hill Helmsman Cabernet Merlot I love the fine structure and the density of this wine. Two attributes that you seldom see together in one wine outside Bordeaux. Needs a bit of time, but this has fruit to burn, elegantly boned and shows lovely weight, length and texture. Dark fruit and dark chocolate flavours wrapped in quality oak. Also mentions to 2004 Te Mata Awatea and 2004 Craggy Range "The Quarry"
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 19 November 2007 ) |
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