New Zealand Wine Review – Dry River, Martinborought, Gewurztraminer, 2013

Aroma: Sweet patchouli honey. A hint of spice.
Color: Warm lemon. Light and dark.
Consistency: Bushy, light rain.
Taste: Quite sweet. Lots of depth. Preserved summer fruits. Peaches and apricots.
Cost: can't remember
Quality rating: 4/5
Final words: Just my sort of thing. Must like sweet wine.

What's goin' on 'ear then?

Ok. So some readers may notice that last time I reviewed the Poppies Pinot Noir 2012 I gave it a 2 out of 5 and this time I gave it a 4 out of 5. I'm not sure what that's about. What it does prove is that I always do my reviews blind...
Because I find the difference between these 2 reviews quite interesting I'm going to start making a point of re-reviewing wines I've previously tasted at different intervals. I'd really like to figure out what makes me like them better or worse and why they taste different on different days.

New Zealand Wine Review – Poppies, Martinborough, Pinot Noir, 2012

Aroma: Green Olive and tuna carpaccio.
Color: Silky, translucent crimson.
Consistency: Light and easy, even tempered - no legs.
Taste: Red pepper. cherry and a hint of citrus.
Cost: $NZD36 (cellar door)
Quality rating: 3/5
Value rating: 4/5
Final words: I liked it when I tasted it. Liked the last bottle. Liked this one.

New Zealand Wine Review – Kim Crawford, Auckland, First Pick Pinot Gris, 2014

Aroma: Summer citrus, red grapefruit.
Color: Moderate dark gold, nice and clear like a yellow cats eye.
Consistency: Sticky and even.
Taste: Waxy citrus. Coats the mouth - very nice.
Cost: $10.00
Quality rating: 7/10
Value rating: 8/10
Final words: Went very well with my creamy pasta sauce. I liked this very much!

New Zealand Wine Review – Nautilus, Marlborough, Methode Traditionale

Bubbles: Steady and unobtrusive.
Color: Straw gold with pink tips.
Aroma: Sweet, raspberries, peach.
Taste: Soft and powdery berries and floral notes.
Cost: $NZD20
Quality rating: 6/10
Value rating: 7/10
Final words: One of my favorite quaffing bubbles - recommended.

New Zealand Wine Review – Villa Maria, East Coast, Gewurtztraminer, 2014

Aroma: Light perfume butter and icing sugar and flash fried capsicum.
Color: Tepid and washed out.
Consistency: Persistent. Moderate thickness. Evaporation more than runs.
Taste: Citrus macaroons. Sweet lemons and limes.
Cost: $NZD12
Quality rating: 4/10
Value rating: 9/10
Final words: Yummy. Simple and quaffable. I could drink this all night and feel fine in the morning.

New Zealand Wine Review – Brancott Estate Terroir Series, Marlborough, Pinot Noir, 2014

Aroma: Strawberry Jam and vanilla.
Color: Raspberry juice red.
Consistency: Thick and runny. Uneven.
Taste: Tobacco and spice. Young and fiesty.
Cost: $NZD15
Quality rating: 4/10
Value rating: 7/10
Final words: Nice and unpretentious. A pleasant summer drop.

New Zealand Wine Review – Mission Estate, Hawke's Bay, Gewurtztraminer, 2014

Aroma: Sweet fruits and floral perfumes.
Color: Warm, luminescent yellow.
Consistency: Light and clear with no legs.
Taste: Waxy, lychees and banana.
Cost: $NZD14
Quality rating: 4/10
Value rating: 7/10
Final words: You'll like it if you have sweet tooth.

New Zealand Wine Review – Mission Estate, Hawke's Bay, Pinot Gris, 2014

Aroma: Sugared almonds. Nice and honeyed.
Color: Very light butter yellow.
Consistency: Glossy rolling hills. No legs.
Taste: Bit of a Tannic aftertaste. Slight fizz. Wasabi.
Cost: $16.50
Value rating: 7/10
Final words: Nice enough. Not remarkable for the price.

New Zealand Wine Review – Leveret, Kati Kati, Methode Traditionale Premium Brut

Bubbles: Good central columns of small continuous bubbles.

Color: Dark yellow.

Consistency: Medium bodied with jelly legs.

Aroma: Apricot jam.

Taste: Mandarins and cream.

Cost: $NZD12 from New World Newtown

Quality rating: 2/5

Value rating: 3/5

Final words: A good value bubbly, perfect for a long summer evening.

New Zealand Wine Review – Boundary Vineyards', Waipara, Paper Lane Pinot Gris, 2015

Aroma: Simple and sweet tropical fruits.

Color: Very light. Just a hint of lemon.

Consistency: Quite uneven. No legs.

Taste: Savory hints of tobacco and whiskey.

Cost: $NZD17

Quality rating: 2/5

Value rating: 2/5

Final words: Nothing special and not cheap.

New Zealand Wine Review – Devil’s Staircase, Central Otago, Pinot Noir, 2014

Aroma: Heavy rust and beef.

Color: Dark burgundy on the outside with scarlet center.

Consistency: Jagged and sticky.

Taste: Sweet potatoes and lime and caramelized carrot.

Cost: $NZD19

Quality rating: 2/5

Value rating: 2/5

Final words: Nice enough but there is better value to be had

New Zealand Wine Review – Lake Chalice, Spice Trail Mild, Sauvignon Blanc/Gewurtztraminer/Chardonnay, 2013

Aroma: Heavy on the Sauvignon Blanc. Waxy limes and chlorine.

Color: Pale and watery. Tepid.

Consistency: Very runny.

Taste: Like dry grass.

Cost: unknown (gift)

Quality rating: 2

Final words: Have tried all 3 in the Spice Trail range and don’t think any are worth bothering with. This seems like a marketing ploy to get rid of excess product to me.

New Zealand Wine Review – Forrest, Marlborough, Pinot Gris, 2013

Aroma: Sweet autumn peaches and honeyed raisins.

Color: White gold and luminescent.

Consistency: A soft, light even gossamer film.

Taste: Cool and light citrus juices. Front of mouth. Light olive oil.

Cost: $NZD20

Quality rating: 2.5/5

Value rating: 2/5

Final words: Nice but maybe a little overpriced.

New Zealand Wine Review – Sileni, Hawke’s Bay, The Peak Syrah, 2013

Aroma: Very spicy, blackberries and cloves.

Color: Dark velvet chocolate red, almost black.

Consistency: Surprisingly light with very little film.

Taste: Soft, front of mouth, spring plums, field mushrooms and berries. Complex, warm and comforting.

Cost: $NZD18

Quality rating: 3/5

Value rating: 4/5

Final words: Very nice. I enjoyed this very much. Give me more.

New Zealand Wine Review – Main Divide, Waipara Valley, Pinot Gris, 2013

Aroma: Musky apricot and honey.

Color: Tawny amber gold.

Consistency: Medium and sticky.

Taste: Soft apricot, lemons and limes. Like Turkish Delight. Mid palate.

Cost: $19

Quality rating: 2,5

Value rating: 3

Final words: Very drinkable if a little overpriced.

New Zealand Wine Review - Rapaura Springs, Marlborough, Sauvignon Blanc, 2014

Aroma: Sweet citrus and icing sugar lavender tones.

Color: very pale and watery, slight fluorescence.

Consistency: Medium to light body.

Taste: tart limes, moist and grassy.

Cost: $11 (pak n save)

Quality rating: 2

Value rating: 2

Final words: Not sweet enough for non sauv blanc drinkers and not dry enough for fans of the variety. Drinkable and mediocre.

New Zealand Wine Review - Church Road, Hawke's Bay, Merlot Malbec Cabernet, 2012

Aroma: Sweet stewed plums and blackberries.

Color: Deep and dark purple red.

Consistency: Smoother and lighter than expected.

Taste: New season cherries and green apples.

Cost: $14

Quality rating: 2

Value rating: 2

Final words: Looked and smelt the part but didn't live up to expectations. Can buy better.

New Zealand Wine Review – Wovenstone, Ohau, Pinot Gris, 2014

Aroma: Sweet limes, honey and raisins.

Color: Pink and orange apricot blush.

Consistency: Thick and lush.

Taste: Sweet mandarins, almonds and honey.

Cost: $10

Quality rating: 2

Value rating: 3.5

Final words: Solid and drinkable wine. Great to see wines coming out of the Horowhenua on the supermarket shelf.

New Zealand Wine Review – Mission, Hawke’s Bay, Gewurtztraminer, 2014

Aroma: Floral aroma with lilac curry spices.

Color: Golden with hints of lime.

Consistency: Medium and a bit thick.

Taste: Lychees, lychees and more lychees with a sprinkle of honey and lime.

Cost: $10

Quality rating: 3

Value rating: 4

Final words: I love sweet Gewurtztraminer. This one is simple, clean and fresh and a really unbeatable price.

New Zealand Wine Review – Fickle Mistress, Central Otago, Pinot Noir, 2013

Aroma: Spicy and fresh like cut pine.

Color: Clear ruby red with complex light and shadows.

Consistency: Very light. Almost no body.

Taste: Soft plump plums, blueberries and vanilla bean.

Cost: $15

Quality rating: 3

Value rating: 4

Final words: An interesting and very drinkable wine at a good price.

New Zealand Wine Review – Terra Sancta Mysterious Diggings, Central Otago, Pinot Noir 2013

Food match: Pan-fried New Zealand beef fillet steak with oven baked chips, salad and a red wine reduction.

Aroma: Strong and fruity, ripe cherry and plum scent.

Color: Quite intense, deep purple. Opaque and oily.

Body: Medium bodied. Perfect match for the steak.

Taste: Very smooth. Tangy sweetness on the front of the tongue and some spice in the after-taste.

Cost: $NZD22 from the cellar.

Quality rating: 3/5

Value rating: 3/5

Final words: Recommended. Would definitely buy again. Reminded me of a well-tuned musical instrument.

New Zealand Wine Review – Margrain, Martinborough, Reisling 2010, Proprietors Selection

Aroma: Sweet limes and lavenders. Perfection

Color: Like cut ice or spring water. Very clear and even consistency.

Body: Very light. Seems like it should float.

Taste: Sweet and soft. Limes and lychees. Surprisingly robust and very easy to drink.

Cost: $NZD24 from the cellar.

Quality rating: 3/5

Value rating: 4/5

Final words: This wine was like sleeping on an expensive super-king-sized bed in a luxury resort. Loved it.

New Zealand Wine Review – Villa Maria, Marlborough, Pinot Gris 2013

Food match: Smoked fish dip with Vita Wheat crackers.

Aroma: A sweet scent of lime and chilli with a hint of icing sugar.

Color: Pale gold like summer wheat or fresh straw. Moderate intensity. Crystal clear.

Body: River water wet and light bodied.

Taste: Quite sweet with a pleasant tingling after-bite in the back of the mouth.

Cost: $NZD18 from Pak 'n' Save Kilbirnie

Quality rating: 2/5

Value rating: 3/5

Final words: Lovely light white. Brought back memories of summer on a wintry Wellington night.

It's been a busy Xmas and New Year period. Not that it stopped me drinking it just stopped me posting reviews. I've got quite a backlog so expect to be posting reviews fast and furious for the next month or 2 ...