Vino Fino tasting -- Waimea Estates with Martin Carrington
This tasting was a couple of weeks ago, but I do want to get into the habit of writing them up, and Waimea Estates is a pretty decent winery.
Sauvignon Blanc 2011 - "Smells bit different to a Marlborough savvy. Maybe a more French style. A bit dry, maybe a bit of oak?? Not particularly fruity; hard to pick flavours. Good length." [No oak, in fact, but it did have a bit of lees contact.]
Grüner Veltliner 2011 - "Minerally nose, picks up a bit of fruit when warmed. Austere and subtle. Not really to my taste."
Viognier 2010 - "Might have guessed it was a chardonnay from the smell initially. Smooth, but a little edge to it. Interesting."
Edel 2010 - "Smells sweet and fruity; doesn't taste so sweet. A little bit smoky, and more savoury than fruity to taste." [Riesling-pinot gris-gewürz blend.]
Gewürztraminer 2011 - "Smells like a gewürz on the spicy side. And tates the same way. A little spritzy. Smooth and moderately dense. Medium sweetness."
Barrel Selection Pinot Noir 2008 - "Starting to get a bit of orange colour in the red. Pleasantly fruity smell -- ripe and sweet, almost like a port. Taste is less good for me, light and dry and just not what I'm after."
Dolcetto 2011 - "A bit tannic, a bit savoury. Not unpleasant. Nice red colour with a bit of purple."
Late Harvest Riesling 2008 - "Smells quite minerally and dry. Rather austere for a late harvest. A wee bit spritzy. Relaxes once warm, but still fairly light. Began to grow on me eventually."
Noble Chardonnay 2006 - "Smells like plastic cement but doesn't taste like it! Dense, sweet, raisiny. Great dessert wine!" [Sadly, not available in stores.]
Sauvignon Blanc 2011 - "Smells bit different to a Marlborough savvy. Maybe a more French style. A bit dry, maybe a bit of oak?? Not particularly fruity; hard to pick flavours. Good length." [No oak, in fact, but it did have a bit of lees contact.]
Grüner Veltliner 2011 - "Minerally nose, picks up a bit of fruit when warmed. Austere and subtle. Not really to my taste."
Viognier 2010 - "Might have guessed it was a chardonnay from the smell initially. Smooth, but a little edge to it. Interesting."
Edel 2010 - "Smells sweet and fruity; doesn't taste so sweet. A little bit smoky, and more savoury than fruity to taste." [Riesling-pinot gris-gewürz blend.]
Gewürztraminer 2011 - "Smells like a gewürz on the spicy side. And tates the same way. A little spritzy. Smooth and moderately dense. Medium sweetness."
Barrel Selection Pinot Noir 2008 - "Starting to get a bit of orange colour in the red. Pleasantly fruity smell -- ripe and sweet, almost like a port. Taste is less good for me, light and dry and just not what I'm after."
Dolcetto 2011 - "A bit tannic, a bit savoury. Not unpleasant. Nice red colour with a bit of purple."
Late Harvest Riesling 2008 - "Smells quite minerally and dry. Rather austere for a late harvest. A wee bit spritzy. Relaxes once warm, but still fairly light. Began to grow on me eventually."
Noble Chardonnay 2006 - "Smells like plastic cement but doesn't taste like it! Dense, sweet, raisiny. Great dessert wine!" [Sadly, not available in stores.]