Archive Tasting Notes - Estate Selection

Estate Selection The Straits Sauvignon Blanc 2008
A classic regional style, this wine has intensely aromatic gooseberry and passionfruit characters. The palate is rich and full with a long finish. Best served lightly chilled to accompany white meats and most types of seafood from oysters to crayfish.

Bronze Medal – Wrest Point Royal Hobart International Wine Show, (Australia), 2009
Silver Medal - Sauvignon Forum, Slovakia 2008
Bronze Medal - International Wine Challenge, London, 2009

Estate Selection 'The Straits' Sauvignon Blanc 2007
A classic regional style, this wine has intensely aromatic gooseberry and passionfruit characters. The palate is rich and full with a long finish.

Silver Medal - Air New Zealand Wine Awards, (NZ), 2007
Bronze Medal - Korean Wine Challenge, Korea, 2008
85 Points - Wine Advocate, May 2008

Estate Selection 'The Straits' Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Classically Marlborough in character, this wine has ripe nectarine, gooseberry and passionfruit aromas. It is a rich, mouth-filling style with lots of up front fruit and a long, clean finish. Best served lightly chilled with white meats and most types of seafood from oysters to crayfish.

Double Gold Medal – San Francisco Wine Competition, 2007
Silver Medal – Korean Wine Challenge, 2007
Bronze Medal – Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, 2007

Estate Selection 'The Sounds' Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Typically ripe Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, this wine has rich tropical, stonefruit and gooseberry aromas. The palate is mouth filling, with vibrant fruit and clean acidity leading to a long finish. Serve lightly chilled with seafood and white meats.

Gold Medal - New Zealand International Wine Show, 2005
Silver Medal - China International Wine Challenge, 200
Silver Medal - Royal Easter Wine Show (NZ), 2006
Silver Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards (UK), 2006
Bronze Medal - Japan Wine Challenge, 2006

Estate Selection River Reach Sauvignon Blanc 2007

A classic warm region style, this wine has intensely aromatic nectarine and stonefruit characters. The palate is mouthfilling and ripe with a long finish.

Silver Medal - Hawke's Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards, (NZ), 2008

Estate Selection The Cape Sauvignon Blanc 2008
A classic warm region style, this wine has concentrated flavours of white peach, citrus and passionfruit. The palate is mouth filling and ripe with a long finish.

Bronze Medal - Air New Zealand Wine Awards, 2009
4 1/2 Stars - Michael Cooper, Winestate, May/June, 2009

Estate Selection The Circle Semillon 2004
Lime and tropical fruit flavours dominate in this balanced and subtle wine. Rich mouthfeel and a fresh, citrus finish make it a perfect seafood match. It may be enjoyed young or cellared for several years to develop more complexity.

Silver Medal - International Wine Challenge (UK), 2006
Silver Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards 2006 (UK), 2006
Bronze Medal - Japan Wine Challenge, 2006
Bronze Medal - China International Wine Challenge, 2006
Bronze Medal - Royal Easter Wine Show, 2007 (NZ)

Estate Selection 'The Circle' Semillon 2003
The Estate Selection Semillon 2003 has fresh citrus and tropical fruit flavours combined with excellent palate texture and length.
A great food wine especially with seafood, it can be enjoyed young or cellared for several years to develop more complex characters in the bottle.

Silver Medal - Liquorland Top 100, 2004
Bronze Medal - Starwine International Wine Competition, 2005
Bronze Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards (UK), 2005
Bronze Medal - Japan Wine Challenge, 2005
Seal of Approval - London International Wine Challenge, 2005

Estate Selection Semillon 2002
Rich tropical fruit and citrus flavours combine in a fresh style with excellent weight and length. A great seafood wine. which can be enjoyed young or cellared for several years to develop more complex characters in the bottle.

Gold Medal - Japan Wine Challenge, 2003
Silver Medal - Hong Kong International Wine Challenge, 2003
Silver Medal - Hawke's Bay Mercedes Benz Wine Awards (NZ), 2004
Seal of Approval - London International Wine Challenge, 2005

Estate Selection Semillon 2001
Fresh, clean citrus and tropical fruit flavours combine in a lively style with palate texture and length. A great seafood wine which can be enjoyed young or cellared for several years to develop more complex characters in the bottle.

Estate Selection Semillon 2000
A food friendly style showing ripe pineapple and melon flavours with mouth filling texture. Can be enjoyed young or cellared 3-5 years for the development of more complex characters.

Estate Selection The Lodge Chardonnay 2007
The Estate Selection Chardonnay has ripe stonefruit and toasted oak aromas with concentrated nectarine/peach and citrus flavours on the palate. A subtle background of almonds and toast make up a wine which is sophisticated, rich and mouthfilling and will cellar for up to 6 years.

Bronze Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards, 2009
Bronze Medal - International Chardonnay Challenge, 2009

Estate Selection The Lodge Chardonnay 2006
The Estate Selection Chardonnay has complex, toasted almond / nectarine aromas with concentrated stone fruit on the palate and a background of nutty, subtle oak. Sophisticated, rich and ripe, with cellaring potential for up to 6 years.

Best New World White Wine Trophy – Japan Wine Challenge 2007
Air New Zealand Award for Best New Zealand Wine – Japan Wine Challenge 2007
Best Chardonnay Trophy & Gold Medal - Hawke’s Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards (NZ) 2007
Pure Bronze (Sustainable Wine Category) – Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2007

Estate Selection 'The Lodge' Chardonnay 2005
The Estate Selection Chardonnay has rich stone fruit flavours, underpinned by a background of almonds, hazelnuts and beautifully subtle oak. Full and ripe with a long, complex finish. Cellar for up to 6 years.

Gold Medal – China International Wine Challenge, 2006
Bronze Medal – International Wine & Spirits Competition (UK), 2007
Bronze Medal – Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, 2007
Bronze Medal – San Francisco Wine Competition, 2007
Bronze Medal – International Wine Challenge (UK), 2007
Bronze Medal – International Wines & Spirits Competition (UK), 2006

Estate Selection 'The Lodge' Chardonnay 2004
The Lodge 04 has concentrated melon and stonefruit flavours, complemented by a background of almonds and hazelnuts. Full and rich with a soft complex finish. Cellar for up to 6 years.

Gold Medal - London International Wine Challenge, 2005
Silver Medal - Japan Wine Challenge, 2005
Silver Medal - San Francisco Wine Competition, 2005

Estate Selection 'The Lodge' Chardonnay 2002
The wine has concentrated melon and stonefruit flavours, complemented by a background of almonds and hazelnuts. Full and rich with a soft, complex finish. Cellar for up to 6 years.

Trophy - Best Chardonnay, Royal Hobart Wine Competition, 2004
Gold Medal - Royal Hobart Wine Competition, 2004
Gold Medal - Russian International Wine Competition, 2004
Gold Medal - Liquorland Top 100, 2004
Gold Medal - International Chardonnay Challenge, 2003
Silver Medal - International Wine & Spirit Competition, 2003
Silver Medal - Bragato Wine Awards, 2003
Silver Medal - London International Wine Challenge, 2003
Silver Medal - HB A&P Mercedes Benz Wine Awards, 2003

Estate Selection Chardonnay 2000
Concentrated melon and stonefruit flavours, complemented by a background of almonds and hazelnuts. Full and rich with a soft, complex finish. Cellar for up to 6 years.

Gold Medal - International Wine & Spirit Competition, 2002
Gold Medal - Liquorland Top 100, 2002
Silver Medal - Air New Zealand Wine Awards, 2003
Bronze Medal - San Francisco International Wine Competition, 2003

Estate Selection Chardonnay 1999
Excellent acid balance and concentrated fruit with complex hazelnut and pineapple characters, a soft finish and wonderful finesse. Cellar for 4-6 years.

Estate Selection Chardonnay 1998
A subtle, powerful style with complex characters of peach and citrus, great palate weight and a long finish. Best drinking from 3-5 years.

Estate Selection Late Harvest Semillon 2008
The Late Harvest Semillon shows ripe citrus/dried apricot flavours with hints of pineapple. The sweetness on the palate is balanced with a clean finishing acidity to give a food friendly style that will cellar comfortably for up to 5 or 6 years.

Pure Bronze - Air NZ Wine Awards, (NZ), 2008
Bronze - The New Zealand International Wine Show, (NZ), 2009

Estate Selection Late Harvest Semillon 2007
The Late Harvest Semillon shows ripe citrus / dried apricot flavours with hints of pineapple. The sweetness on the palate is balanced with a clean finishing acidity to give a food friendly style that will cellar comfortably for up to 5 or 6 years.

Pure Bronze Medal - Air New Zealand Wine Awards (NZ), 2008
Bronze Medal - Bragato Wine Awards (NZ), 2008

Estate Selection 'The Plateau' Pinot Noir 2006
The Plateau Pinot Noir has typical black cherry and red berry aromas and flavours with ripe, sleek tannins and a long finish. A food-friendly style that will cellar comfortably for up to 6 years.

Silver Medal – International Wine Challenge, 2007
Silver Medal – Air New Zealand Wine Awards, 2007

Estate Selection 'The Plateau' Pinot Noir 2005
The Estate Selection Pinot Noir has concentrated dark cherry aromas and flavours with a rich mouthfeel and ripe, silky tannins. A classic, food-friendly style that will reward cellaring for up to 6 years.

Silver Medal – International Wine & Spirits Competition, 2007
Silver Medal – China International Wine Challenge, 2006
Bronze Medal – Air New Zealand Wine Awards, 2006
Bronze Medal – Korean Wine Challenge, 2007
Bronze Medal – Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, 2007
Bronze Medal – International Wine Challenge, London, 2006
Bronze Medal – International Wines & Spirits Competition, 2006
Bronze Medal – New Zealand International Wine Show, 2006
Bronze Medal – Hawke’s Bay A&P Mercedes Benz Wine Awards (NZ), 2006
Bronze Medal – Indian Wine Challenge, 2007

Estate Selection 'The Plateau' Pinot Noir 2004
Our Plateau Pinot Noir has concentrated dark cherry aromas and flavours with a rich mouth feel and ripe silky tannins. A classic, food friendly style that will reward cellaring for up to 6 years.

Bronze Medal - Japan Wine Challenge, 2005
Bronze Medal - Royal Easter Wine Show (NZ) , 2005
Bronze Medal - San Francisco Wine Competition, 2006
Seal of Approval - Decanter World Wine Awards (UK), 2005

Estate Selection Grand Central Pinot Noir 2007
The Grand Central Pinot Noir has typical black and red cherry aromas and flavours with ripe, velvet tannins and a long finish. A big food-friendly style that will cellar comfortably for 5 or more years.

Bronze Medal - New Zealand International Wine Show (NZ), 2008

Estate Selection The Triangle Merlot 2007
The Triangle Merlot has ripe and concentrated plum, dark berry and licorice flavours, with hints of dark chocolate on the finish. Soft and velvety tannins provide the backbone for a rich wine that will cellar comfortably for a decade.

Seal of Approval - Korea Wine Challenge, Korea, 2010
4½ Stars, Michael Cooper, Winestate, May/June 2009
90 Points, Gordon Stimell, The Toronto Star, (Canada), November 2008
4 Stars, Charmian Smith, Otago Daily Times, 10 June 2009
3 Stars, Winestate Hawke's Bay Regional Tasting, Winestate Magazine, Sept-Oct 2009
Merlot - Wine of the Year 2009, Winestate Special Edition, 2009
Bronze Medal - Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, (NZ), 2009
Bronze Medal - International Wine & Spirit Competition, London, 2009
Pure Silver Medal - Air New Zealand Wine Awards, (NZ), 2008
Bronze Medal - Hawke's Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards, (NZ), 2008
Bronze Medal - Bragato Wine Awards, (NZ), 2008
Bronze Medal - Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, (NZ), 2009
Bronze Medal - Liquorland Top 100, (NZ), 2009

Estate Selection 'The Triangle' Merlot 2006
'The Triangle' Merlot has ripe and concentrated plum, dark berry and liquorice flavours, with hints of dark chocolate on the finish. Soft and velvety tannins provide the backbone for a rich wine that will cellar comfortably for a decade.

Bronze Medal - Japan Wine Challenge, Japan, 2008

Estate Selection 'The Triangle' Merlot 2005

'The Triangle' Merlot has concentrated dark berry and plum flavours, with hints of dark chocolate on the finish. Soft and silky tannins provide the structure for a cellaring potential of 8-10 years.

Champion Merlot Trophy & Pure Elite Gold Medal (Sustainable Wine Category) - Air New Zealand Wine Awards, (NZ), 2007
Bronze Medal - Royal Easter Wine Show, New Zealand, 2008
89 Points - Wine Advocate, May 2008

Estate Selection 'The Triangle' Merlot 2004

'The Triangle' Merlot has ripe plum and dark berry fruit characters, with a touch of licorice and dark chocolate on the finish. The satin smooth tannins provide the structure for a cellaring potential of 8-10 years.

Silver Medal - Japan Wine Challenge, Japan, 2006
Silver Medal - China International Wine Challenge, 2006
Bronze Medal - International Wine Competition, UK, 2006
Bronze Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards, UK, 2006
Bronze Medal - Korean Wine Challenge, Korea, 2007
Bronze Medal - New Zealand International Wine Show, 2006
Bronze Medal - Hawke’s Bay A&P Mercedes Benz Wine Awards, New Zealand, 2006

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