New Zealand Listener 03.14.2020

MARCH 14 2020 LISTENER 41

finely poised finish. (13.5%

alc/vol) $28

GRÜNER VELTLINER

Hunter’s

Marlborough Grüner

Veltliner 2018

Drinking well

now, this barrel-

fermented wine

is full-bodied and

dry, with strong

peachy, slightly

spicy flavours, fresh

balanced acidity

and good complex-

ity. (14% alc/vol) $25

Jules Taylor Marlborough

Grüner Veltliner 2018

Currently delicious, this

mouthfilling wine has

strong, fresh, peachy, spicy,

slightly gingery flavours,

lively acidity and a finely

balanced, dry finish. (13%

alc/vol) $25

Riverby Marlborough Grüner

Veltliner 2018

Attractively scented, this

Wairau Valley wine is

full-bodied, with strong,

fresh, lively citrusy flavours,

slightly peachy and spicy

notes and a dry, harmonious

finish. (13.5% alc/vol) $22

Rock Ferry The Corners

Vineyard Marlborough

Grüner Veltliner 2018

This estate-grown

and partly barrel-

fermented wine is

classy. Medium-

bodied, it has intense

citrusy, slightly spicy

flavours, showing

impressive vigour

and complexity and a dry,

persistent finish. Certified

organic. (12.5% alc/vol) $33

PINOT BLANC

Blackenbrook Nelson Pinot

Blanc 2019

Estate-grown in Tasman, this

attractively scented wine is

vibrantly fruity and mouth-

filling, with good intensity of

peach, pear, lychee and spice

flavours and an off-dry finish.

A distinctive Alsace-style

wine. (13.5% alc/vol) $28

Greenhough Hope Vineyard

Nelson Pinot Blanc 2016

Certified organic, this refined

wine was barrel-matured for

18 months. Fragrant and full-

bodied, it has rich, vibrant

stone-fruit flavours, gently

seasoned with oak, moderate

acidity and a dry, smooth

finish. (13.5% alc/vol) $36

Tohu Single Vineyard

Whenua Awa

Upper Awatere

Marlborough Pinot

Blanc 2018

Full-bodied, this

partly barrel-

fermented wine has

a fragrant, creamy

bouquet, ripe

stone-fruit flavours,

slightly toasty

notes, balanced

acidity and excellent depth.

(13.5% alc/vol) $36

RIESLING

Aurum Central Otago Dry

Riesling 2018

This youthful wine is

mouthfilling, with fresh

peachy, citrusy flavours,

a sliver of sweetness and

firm acid spine. Show-

ing excellent weight and

intensity, it’s well worth

cellaring. (13% alc/vol) $28

Dashwood by Vavasour

Marlborough Riesling 2019

Offering top value, this

light-bodied wine is attrac-

tively scented, with vibrant

citrusy, slightly appley

flavours, gentle sweetness,

appetising acidity and very

good delicacy, depth and

harmony. (11% alc/vol) $16

Two Paddocks Central Otago

Riesling 2018

Estate grown near Alexandra,

this is a weighty, fleshy full-

bodied riesling. Ripely scented,

it is powerful with concen-

trated citrusy, peachy flavours,

a sliver of sweetness and lively

acidity. Certified organic.

(13.5% alc/vol) $33

SEMILLON

Kaimira Estate Brightwater

Semillon 2009

Here is a rare chance to buy a

New Zealand white wine that

is more than a decade old.

Estate grown in Nelson, it is

highly fragrant, with citrusy,

limey flavours, toasty bottle-

aged notes adding complexity

and a fully dry finish. (12.5%

alc/vol) $25

VIOGNIER

Johner Estate Gladstone Viognier

2018

Enjoyable young, this mouth-

filling, vibrant wine has good

intensity of stone-fruit fla-

vours, a subtle twist of oak and

a fully dry, very harmonious

finish. (13% alc/vol) $26

Passage Rock

Reserve Waiheke

Island Viognier 2019

Full of personality,

this barrel-matured

wine has a slightly

creamy, nutty

bouquet. Weighty

and fleshy, it has

concentrated,

ripe stone-fruit

flavours, oak com-

plexity and a rich,

fully dry finish.

(14% alc/vol) $50

Quarter Acre Hawke’s

Bay Viognier 2018

This classy wine

was hand-picked

in the Bridge Pā

Triangle. Seduc-

tively weighty

and rich, it has lush

stone-fruit flavours, finely

integrated oak, gentle acid-

ity and a long well-rounded

finish. (13% alc/vol) $35

Villa Maria Cellar Selection

Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2018

Sturdy and sweet-fruited,

this partly barrel-fermented

wine offers top value. Full-

bodied and vibrantly fruity,

it has stone-fruit flavours,

a distinct touch of com-

plexity and a dry, rounded

finish. (14% alc/vol) $19

WÜRZER

Seifried Nelson Würzer 2019

From a German crossing

of gewürztraminer and

müller-thurgau, this fresh,

medium-bodied wine has

citrusy, appley, gently spicy

flavours. It is slightly sweet,

crisp and finely balanced.

(12.5% alc/vol) $25

OTHERS

Bellbird Spring Aeris NV

This distinctive Waipara

pinot gris was matured in old

barrels under a veil of yeast,

achieving its high alcohol

through evaporation in cask.

It has concentrated sherry-like

aromas and flavours. Rich and

complex, it has a long dryish,

yeasty, nutty finish. (17.5%

alc/vol – 500ml) $48

Yealands Estate Single

Vineyard Awatere

Valley PGR 2019

Blended from pinot

gris, gewürztraminer

and riesling (hence

the PGR), this is

a freshly scented,

full-bodied wine

with an array of fruit

flavours and gentle

spicy notes. Finely

balanced, it is crisp and dry.

(13.5% alc/vol) $23 l