Get yourself a gravelly gift…
For the last eight years, the members of Hawke’s Bay’s Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Association have submitted their wines to an internationally respected Master of
Wine to be assessed. The aim is to find, on a vintage by vintage basis, the wines which best represent a given year. Only twelve can be selected and the very best wines from 2015 were recently announced. It’s like a unique annual snapshot of the absolute best red wines from New Zealand’s most famous red wine region. It takes time for those big Bordeaux-style blends and syrahs to be ready for drinking, so despite it being almost closing time for 2017, the 2015 wines are only just ready to roll. “Very high quality” was Master of Wine Andrew Caillard’s description of the top twelve GIMBLETT GRAVELS® red wines chosen to showcase the 2015 vintage. Following the selection tasting Andrew praised the winemakers, noting that “as a body of work, I think the 2015s are a lovely bunch of wines”. Caillard has been the selector for all eight vintages, 2008-2015. He’s also the first person I know of to use the word ‘soupçon’ in ages. It means ‘a small amount of’ and he’s employed it to describe the impact of new oak on the cabernet blends from this vintage – and it’s a good thing. They have ‘clear varietal expression’ he says and I absolutely agree. The 2015 syrah’s made a huge impression, I adore them and Caillard called them “exceptional”. It’s also worth remembering that the Gimblett Gravels has only been a wine region for not quite 35 years – so it’s still embryonic in international terms. The final twelve 2015 Gimblett Gravels Selection wines are as follows: Babich The Patriarch, Babich Irongate, Mission Estate Reserve Cabernet Merlot, Sacred Hill Brokenstone, Stonecroft Cabernet Sauvignon, Te Awa Single Estate Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon, Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, Craggy Range Le Sol, Ka Tahi Rangatira Gimblett Gravels Syrah, Sacred Hill Deerstalkers Syrah, Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah and the Vidal Reserve Syrah.
For the first time, a tiny quantity of Annual Vintage Selection sets will be available for purchase in New Zealand. Presented in a specially designed wooden box, this collector’s case comprises a bottle of the dozen wines selected for the 2015 Annual Vintage Selection and all you have to do is visit www.gimblettgravels.com/shop
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Sacred Hill Brokenstone 2015 $42.99 (5 stars)
With a name taken from an old Sacred Hill vineyard known as ‘stoney broke’, the Brokenstone is now considered one of New Zealand’s most iconic merlot-based reds. The 2015 is a blend of merlot, malbec, syrah, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc and it’s absolutely sensational. Matured for 19 months in French oak, layers of cedar, tobacco and black olive cloak the rich, dense, plummy and berry-saturated palate. Sinewy, sexy tannins add depth to an already extended finish.
www.vinofino.co.nz
Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels Le Sol Syrah 2015 $135 (5stars)
Let’s cut straight to it. This is a magical monster of a wine and it’s only created in years when the fruit is exceptional – which is not good if you have OCD, but great if you worship gorgeous syrah at the highest level. Perfumed with peppercorn, violets, dark berryfruit and dried herbs, with a hint of tobacco tar and cocoa, its intoxicating from the first sniff. The palate is powerfully structured, fruit-soaked and stitched together with spicy, masculine tannins. It’s a modern classic and a must for your cellar.
www.craggyrange.com
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Wrap your gums around these lovelies this week…
Buller Wines Calliope Rutherglen Shiraz 2010 $49.99 (5 stars)
With its intensely concentrated, ripe red fruits, Christmas pudding spices and masses of cherry and blackcurrant flavours, this shiraz had me swooning. Seven years since vintage and the acidity is incredibly fresh and juicy, while the tannins are deliciously dusty and have lovely grip. Made from century-old vines, this Aussie beauty is named after the HMS Calliope (the only Royal Australian Navy ship to survive the 1889 Samoa cyclone) and it’ll definitely create a storm in your wine glass.
www.sceniccellars.co.nz
Astrolabe Kekerengu Coast Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 $25 (4 stars)
Simon Waghorn and his wife Jane founded Astrolabe back in 1996 and over the following 21 years, his sauvignon blanc’s have become the stuff of legend. Kekerengu is so far south, it’s almost in Kaikoura, and it’s also the Maori name given to the bull kelp which grows along the rocky coastline. Waghorn even once aspired to be a seaweed scientist would you believe. With its passionfruit, lemongrass and basil brilliance, it’s choice-as with mussel and chorizo fritters.
www.astrolabewines.co.nz
Clos Marguerite Marlborough Pinot Noir 2012 $46 (4 stars)
Perfumed with baked plum and cherry notes, it also boasts soft, savoury, creamy layers on the palate. Named after Marguerite, winemaker Jean-Charles’ wife, this pinot noir is much like her, complex, delicate and yet boasts lovely depth of character. It’s a lovely example that’s maturing nicely and would be amazing with spicy, red curry duck. www.closmarguerite.co.nz
