Tasting Notes - Cellar Selection

Cellar Selection Sparkling Brut NV
A fruit driven style with a fine bead and fresh melon and apple flavours on the palate. It is a clean and refreshing wine that should be well chilled before serving.

3 Stars, Winestate, Recent Releases Tasting - Michael Cooper, Sept-Oct, 2010

Cellar Selection Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc

The Sileni Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc has classic stonefruit and gooseberry flavours with a crisp, clean finish. Drink young, fresh and chilled.

3 Stars, Winestate, Recent Releases Tasting - Michael Cooper, Sept-Oct, 2010

Cellar Selection Sparkling Rose

The Sileni Sparkling Rose is a bright ruby colour, with aromas of raspberry and stonefruit, and a fresh, mouthfilling palate. Drink young and well chilled.

3 Stars, Winestate, Recent Releases Tasting - Michael Cooper, Sept-Oct, 2010

Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2010
The Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc has ripe tropical and gooseberry fruit flavours with a zingy finish and impeccable balance. A great aperitif or seafood wine made for drinking young. Serve lightly chilled.

3 ½ Stars, Michael Cooper, Recent Releases Tasting, Winestate, Nov/Dec 2010
3 1/2 Stars, Winestate, Special Edition, 2010
87 Points, Wine Enthusiast, USA, 15 December, 2010

Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2009
The Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc has ripe tropical and gooseberry fruit flavours with a zingy finish and impeccable balance. A great aperitif or seafood wine made for drinking young. Serve lightly chilled.

Blue-Gold Medal - Sydney International Wine Competition, (Australia), 2010
4 Stars & Consumer Choice Award, TizWine, 2009
Bronze Medal - The New Zealand International Wine Show, (NZ), 2009
Bronze Medal - Air New Zealand Wine Awards, (NZ), 2009
Bronze Medal - Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Competition, (Hong Kong), 2009
Bronze Medal - International Wine & Spirit Competition, London, 2009
90 Points & Best Buy Award - Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator, USA, 31 December - 28 February, 2010
Wine of the Week, Wine Spectator, USA, 22 February, 2010
4 Stars, Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, February, 2010
90 Points - Dean Tudor, World Wine Watch, Canda, 15 May, 2010
4 Stars - Gremolata.com, Canada, 27 May, 2010
Bronze Medal - Liquorland International Wine Competition, NZ, 2010
Bronze Medal - International Wine Challenge, UK, 2010

Cellar Selection Chardonnay 2009
The Cellar Selection Chardonnay has citrus and nectarine flavours backed up with sweet oak and lees stirred complexity. It is made in an early drinking style, but will comfortably cellar for the next 2-3 years.

3 Stars, Charmian Smith, Otago Daily Times, 14 July, 2010

Cellar Selection Chardonnay 2008
The Cellar Selection Chardonnay has citrus and nectarine flavours backed up with sweet oak and lees stirred complexity. It is made in an early drinking style, but will comfortably cellar for the next 2-3 years.

Bronze Medal – New World Wine Awards, (NZ), 2009
Bronze Medal - International Wine & Spirit Competition, London, 2009
89 Points - John Szabo, MS, WineAlign.com, 6 March, 2010
89 Points - Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator, USA, 31 May, 2010

Cellar Selection Pinot Gris 2010
The Cellar Selection Pinot Gris has classic aromatic peach flavours along with beautifully balanced acidity and a long finish. It is just off-dry and well suited to seafood, white meats and Asian food styles. Drink it young or cellar for 3-4 years.

3 Stars, Michael Cooper, Recent Releases Tasting, Winestate, Nov/Dec 2010
4 1/2 Stars, Winestate Special Edition, 2010

Cellar Selection Pinot Gris 2009
The Cellar Selection Pinot Gris has classic aromatic peach flavours along with beautifully balanced acidity and a long finish. It is just off-dry and well suited to seafood, white meats and Asian food styles. Drink it young or cellar for 3-4 years.

Silver Medal & Best in Class - International Wine & Spirit Competition, London, 2009
Bronze Medal - Liquorland Top 100, (NZ), 2009
Bronze Medal - Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Competition, (Hong Kong), 2009
Wine of the Week, Viini-lehti Magazine, Finland, April, 2010

Cellar Selection Riesling 2008
The Sileni Cellar Selection Riesling has aromatic citrus / lime flavours in a fresh style with a finish that is just off-dry. Perfect for drinking young with fresh primary fruit, or cellar it for several years to develop a toasty complexity.

3 Stars, Michael Cooper, Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide, 2010

Cellar Selection Cabernet Franc Rose 2009
Bright ruby colour with aromas of raspberry and brambles, a fresh, mouthfilling palate and a soft, satisfying finish. A great food wine at any time of year. Drink it young and lightly chilled.

3 ½ Stars, Michael Cooper,Winestate Magazine, May/June, 2010

Cellar Selection Cabernet Franc Rose 2008
Bright ruby colour with aromas of raspberry and brambles, a fresh, mouthfilling palate and a soft, satisfying finish. A great food wine at any time of year. Drink it young and lightly chilled.

Bronze Medal - The New Zealand International Wine Show (NZ), 2008
Bronze Medal - Hawke's Bay A & P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards (NZ), 2008
Bronze Medal - Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, (NZ), 2009
Silver Medal - Bob Campbell, Taste NZ, 31 January, 2009

Cellar Selection HB Pinot Noir 2009
The Cellar Selection Pinot Noir has concentrated black cherry and dark berry aromas which follow through to the palate where dark berryfruit and cherry flavours are supported by soft tannins. This is a ripe and deeply coloured food wine, designed for early drinking but capable of cellaring for 3-5 years.

Bronze Medal - Korea Wine Challenge, Korea, 2010
Bronze Medal - Liqourland International Wine Competition, NZ, 2010
3 Stars - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, February, 2010
3 Stars - Michael Cooper, Michael Cooper's Buyer's Guide, 2010
90 Points - Natalie MacLean, Wine Reviews, Canada, February, 2010

Cellar Selection ML Pinot Noir 2009
Ripe black cherry aromas are supported on the palate with juicy dark berryfruit and fine tannins on the finish. Cellar for up to 6 years.

Cellar Selection Syrah 2008
Deeply coloured with blackberry and black pepper characters. Smooth tannins and a soft finish provide great drinkability as a young wine, but it will cellar comfortably for 4-5 years.

Bronze Medal - Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, (NZ), 2010
Bronze Medal – New World Wine Awards, (NZ), 2009
Bronze Medal - Liqourland Top 100, (NZ), 2009
Bronze Medal - International Wine & Spirit Competition, London, 2009
Bronze Medal - International Wine Competition, UK, 2010

Cellar Selection Merlot 2009
Great colour and aromas of plum and dark berryfruit are typical of Hawke’s Bay Merlot. Silky tannins give it a soft finish for early drinkability and the depth of fruit gives it the ability to cellar for 4-5 years.

3 ½ Stars, Michael Cooper, Winestate Magazine, May/June, 2010
3 1/2 Stars, Winestate, Hawke's Bay Tasting, Sept-Oct, 2010

Cellar Selection Merlot 2008
Great colour and aromas of plum and dark berryfruit are typical of Hawke’s Bay Merlot. Silky tannins give it a soft finish for early drinkability and the depth of fruit gives it the ability to cellar for 4-5 years.

Bronze Medal - Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, (NZ), 2010
Bronze Medal - Wrest Point Royal Hobart International Wine Show, (Australia), 2009
Silver Medal - Liqourland Top 100, (NZ), 2009
Bronze Medal - The New Zealand International Wine Show, (NZ), 2009
Bronze Medal - Air New Zealand Wine Awards, (NZ), 2009
Bronze Medal - International Wine & Spirit Competition, London, 2009
4 Stars - Michael Cooper, Michael Cooper's Buyers Guide, 2010
Broze Medal - Hawke's Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards, (NZ), 2009

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