Tasting Notes - Estate Selection

Estate Selection The Straits Sauvignon Blanc 2009
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.

4 1/2 Stars - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, 2010
Bronze Medal - International Wine Challenge, UK, 2010

Estate Selection Benchmark Block Two - Omaka Slopes Sauvignon Blanc 2008
A very ripe Marlborough style, this wine has concentrated flavours of nectarine and tropical fruit. The palate is rich and mouth filling with good fruit concentration and a lingering finish.

Gold Medal - Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, New Zealand, 2009
Silver Medal - International Wine Challenge, London, 2009
Bronze Medal - Liquorland Top 100, New Zealand, 2009

Estate Selection Benchmark Block Three - Thirteen Rows Sauvignon Blanc 2008
A ripe Marlborough style with subtle aromatics and rich flavours of stonefruit and passionfruit on the palate. It is ripe and full with excellent fruit concentration and a long, beautifully balanced finish.

Bronze Medal - Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, New Zealand, 2009
Bronze Medal - International Wine Challenge, London, 2009

Estate Selection Benchmark Block - Trinity Vines Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Fresh guava and melon flavours combine with hints of citrus. The palate is mouthfilling and ripe with a clean, fresh finish.

Silver Medal - Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, 2010
Bronze Medal - Air New Zealand Wine Awards, New Zealand, 2009
5 Stars - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, 2010

Estate Selection Benchmark Block - Woolshed Sauvignon Blanc 2009
A ripe style of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, this wine has intense passionfruit and blackcurrant characters. The palate is rich, with concentrated fruit flavours and well balanced crisp acidity.

Bronze Medal - Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, (NZ), 2010
Bronze Medal - Liquorland International Wine Competition, (NZ), 2010
5 Stars - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, 2010
4 1/2 Stars - Winestate Magazine, May/June, 2009
4 Stars - Charmian Smith, Otago Daily Times, 14 April, 2010

Estate Selection The Cape Sauvignon Blanc 2009
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.

4 Stars - Manawatu Standard, 27 February, 2010
4 Stars - Michael Cooper, Michael Cooper's Buyers Guide, 2010
Bronze Medal - Air New Zealand Wine Awards, NZ, 2009

Estate Selection The Lodge Chardonnay 2008
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 mouth filling and will cellar for up to 6 years.

Bronze Medal - International Wine & Spirit Competition, London, 2009
Bronze Medal - The New Zealand International Wine Show, 2009
4 Stars & Consumer Choice Award - Tizwine, February, 2010
4 Stars - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, 2010
4 Stars - Winestate Magazine, May/June, 2010
Top Scoring New Zealand Wine - Nova Scotia Ports of Wine International, Canada, March, 2010
4 Stars - Charmian Smith, Otago Daily Times, 19 May, 2010

Estate Selection The Don Riesling 2007

The Don Riesling has concentrated honeysuckle / citrus flavours with a backbone of mineral acidity and an off-dry finish. Drink it young and vibrantly fresh, or cellar it for several years to develop more depth and toasty complexity.

Bronze Medal - Hawke’s Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards (NZ), 2007
Bronze Medal - International Aromatic Wine Competition (NZ, 2007
Bronze Medal - Air New Zealand Wine Awards (NZ), 2007
Bronze Medal - Royal Easter Wine Show (NZ), 2008
Silver Medal - International Wine Challenge, London, 2008
4 Stars - Cuisine, March, 2008
4 1/2 Stars - Winestate, May/June, 2008
4 1/2 Stars - Michael Cooper, The Listener, April, 2008

Estate Selection Late Harvest Semillon 2009
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.

4 Stars - Winestate Magazine, May/June, 2010
4 1/2 Stars - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, March, 2010

Estate Selection Muscat 1998

The Estate Selection Liqueur Muscat has aromas of rich spice and dried fruits. The palate is full, and shows fruit cake characters. Enjoy with fruitcake or blue cheese.

Estate Selection The Plateau Pinot Noir 2008
The Plateau Pinot Noir is a very New World style with typically varietal black cherry aromas along with dark berry and cherry flavours backed up with ripe, smooth tannins and a long finish. This is a food-friendly style that will benefit from cellaring for up to 6 years.

Bronze Medal - Air New Zealand Wine Awards, 2009
4 Stars - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, February, 2010

Estate Selection The Peak Syrah 2007

The Peak Syrah is a very Mediterranean style with typically varietal black pepper and wild berry characteristic backed up with fine, smooth tannins and a long finish. This is a classic Hawke's Bay style that will benefit from cellaring for up to 6-8 years.

3 1/2 Stars - Michael Cooper, Winestate Magazine, December, 2008
Bronze Medal - Liqourland International Wine Competition, NZ, 2010

Estate Selection The Triangle Merlot 2008
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.

Bronze Medal - Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, (NZ), 2010
Silver Medal - Air New Zealand Wine Awards, 2009
Bronze Medal - The New Zealand International Wine Show, New Zealand, 2009
Bronze Medal - Hawke’s Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards 2009
Bronze Medal - International Wine & Spirit Competition, London, 2009
4 Stars - Michael Cooper, Michael Cooper's Buyers Guide, 2010
Bronze Medal - International Wine Challenge, UK, 2010

Estate Selection The Plains Merlot Franc 2008
'The Plains' Merlot Cabernet Franc has ripe blackberry, mocha and floral flavours. Smooth, mouth-filling tannins provide a rich wine that will reward cellaring of up to 10 years.

Silver Medal - Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, 2010
Silver Medal - The New Zealand International Wine Show, (NZ), 2009
Bronze Medal - Air New Zealand Wine Awards, (NZ), 2009
4 1/2 Stars, Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, March, 2010
Bronze Medal - Liquorland International Wine Competition, (NZ), 2010

Estate Selection The Pacemaker Cabernet Franc 2008
'The Pacemaker' Cabernet Franc has ripe and concentrated plum, red berry and spice flavours. Soft and velvety tannins provide the backbone for a rich wine that will cellar comfortably for a decade.

Bronze Medal - Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, (NZ), 2010
Silver Medal - The New Zealand International Wine Show, (NZ), 2009
4 1/2 Stars, Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, March, 2010
Bronze Mdeal - Liqourland International Wine Competition, (NZ), 2010

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