A beautiful dash of grape (or “plum”) purple in the label gives pleasant contrast to the liquid color of lemonade-with-a-squeeze-of-lime. The nose might fool you into almost thinking you have a rosé in hand. Complex blend of European fresh fruits, dry metallic minerals, and semisweet condiments. Maybe slightly herbal too – mint? fennel? The zip…
Category: New Zealand
Review – White Wine: 2012 Barkers Marques Vineyards, The Loop Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
Curiously, there is no indication of the maker on the bottle – just their particular wine’s name. Some would say “steely”, but I taste coleslaw (dressed, and sometimes fermented, cabbage salad) and a bit of seafood. Clean, but lacking much beyond a cleansing yet nondescript zip. A pale, pale green-tea-yellow in the cup. Could benefit…
Review – Red Wine: 2009 Wild Rock Pinot Noir, Central Otago, New Zealand
The not-so-successfully designed new funky ribbed wine glass (right) is falling out of the picture in place of an older, thicker and more rugged, but still preferred, bee goblet (front, by La Rochère), at least until better glasses are found. Mmmmm. All the characteristics of a good Pinot Noir with a humble and inviting uniqueness. …
Review – White Wine: Kato Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
The choice of food for the evening – homemade sesame-encrusted tuna on a bed of Asian micro greens, with a side of Japanese rice and dipping sauce – came first, before the choice of wine. Happily, they went well enough together. Juicy tree-ripe peaches, fresh pressed apple juice, and chilled melon slices splash up from…
Review – White Wine: 2010 Wild Rock Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
The first wine chosen to open from a group of eight total bottles purchased today. Bee goblet made in France by La Rochère. Slides down as easily as apple juice. Very light in the cup, as if a clear liquid were infused with lemongrass or lemon and lime peel. Sips like a light Chardonnay with…
Review – White Wine: 2011 Oyster Bay Chardonnay, Marlborough, New Zealand
Looks, smells, and tastes like… a Chardonnay. Fine for the price. The swirl & sniff (deeply) test indicates hints of sweet jasmine-blossom infused Granny Smith apples in an ever-so-light corn syrup or watered-down-honey juice. The taste and after-effect are less dramatic and more straightforward: The Granny Smith apple reigns supreme as this wine’s tart-dry character…
Culinary Poetry 