Wine tasting
A tasty tasting at Vino Fino this evening -- "NZ Black Caps vs the world", pairing black-capped NZ wines with overseas ones of the same variety, served blind.
1) Fesles Rosé 2013 (France, $24) "Pleasant smelling rose. Hint of strawberry, vaguely savoury, Smooth, decently weighty, well worth drinking. Moderately dark for rosé."
2) Man O War Pinque 2014 ($27) "Lighter colour. Smells dryer. And it is. Well balanced with some sugar. Lighter weight. Drinkable."
3) Millton Te Arai Chenin Blanc 2014 ($35) "White, light, a little dry, no variety standing out. More savoury than fruity. Chardonnay was the initial vague guess. Hmm, maybe chenin. Decent weight, pleasant drinking and a wee bit different."
4) Jovly Vouvray 2013 (France, $25) "Lighter, slightly dryer, kinda savoury, almost a hint of oakiness, some sort of fruitiness too, maybe apple. Drinkable, but I prefer the first."
5) Villa Maria Keltern Chardonnay 2013 ($39) Smells chardonnayy. Yep. Food wine. Good if you like something slightly austere. Quite pale for chardy."
6) Kendall Jackson Vintners Reserve Chardonnay 2013 (US - California, $33) "A little weightier and sweeter. Maybe more oak too, by a bit. Slightly to my preference."
7) Bay of Many Fires Pinot Noir 2012 (Oz - Tasmania, $35) "Somewhat earthy smell. Savoury, weighty, bit of fruit, dry. Hmm, reassessing the initial impression of weight. Not unpleasant."
8) Mt Edward Pinot Noir 2012 ($45) "Kinda floral smell. Smooth, weighty, savoury-ish. More my thing."
9) Brookfields Hillside Syrah 2013 ($46) "Dark purple. Syrah, maybe, from colour. Dense, smooth, not too tannic. Not going to actively enthuse but would drink it."
10) Two Hands Gnarly Dudes Shiraz 2013 (Oz, $35) "A bit more bite to it. Nicer, a little lighter."
Overall favorites: Fesles and Millton.
1) Fesles Rosé 2013 (France, $24) "Pleasant smelling rose. Hint of strawberry, vaguely savoury, Smooth, decently weighty, well worth drinking. Moderately dark for rosé."
2) Man O War Pinque 2014 ($27) "Lighter colour. Smells dryer. And it is. Well balanced with some sugar. Lighter weight. Drinkable."
3) Millton Te Arai Chenin Blanc 2014 ($35) "White, light, a little dry, no variety standing out. More savoury than fruity. Chardonnay was the initial vague guess. Hmm, maybe chenin. Decent weight, pleasant drinking and a wee bit different."
4) Jovly Vouvray 2013 (France, $25) "Lighter, slightly dryer, kinda savoury, almost a hint of oakiness, some sort of fruitiness too, maybe apple. Drinkable, but I prefer the first."
5) Villa Maria Keltern Chardonnay 2013 ($39) Smells chardonnayy. Yep. Food wine. Good if you like something slightly austere. Quite pale for chardy."
6) Kendall Jackson Vintners Reserve Chardonnay 2013 (US - California, $33) "A little weightier and sweeter. Maybe more oak too, by a bit. Slightly to my preference."
7) Bay of Many Fires Pinot Noir 2012 (Oz - Tasmania, $35) "Somewhat earthy smell. Savoury, weighty, bit of fruit, dry. Hmm, reassessing the initial impression of weight. Not unpleasant."
8) Mt Edward Pinot Noir 2012 ($45) "Kinda floral smell. Smooth, weighty, savoury-ish. More my thing."
9) Brookfields Hillside Syrah 2013 ($46) "Dark purple. Syrah, maybe, from colour. Dense, smooth, not too tannic. Not going to actively enthuse but would drink it."
10) Two Hands Gnarly Dudes Shiraz 2013 (Oz, $35) "A bit more bite to it. Nicer, a little lighter."
Overall favorites: Fesles and Millton.