~$15US 51% Merlot 49% Malbec, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

Without warning, this wine blew my freakin’ mind - A kinda-Bordeaux blend from Hawkes Bay New Zealand, that was a bin-end impulse buy. It starts with a complex nose, earthy (sheep? wet wooly socks?), rhubarb, bing cherries and spice cabinet. The palate is juicy, poised and medium bodied - with a beam of liquid-dried-cherries and punchy acidity. There is primal umami / soy sauce / savory edge to the flavors (especially on the 2nd day) that is like catnip to me. A fleeting flavor that also reminds me of mahogany and pipe tobacco, whatever that means. I can’t put my finger on it, the whole wine is a moving target of brilliant red fruit and strange savory goodness. The finish is chock full of stones, saline, and strawberry seeds. Fowl, pork, even pasta could team up nicely.

I called my retailer, and they are sold out. I’m crushed.  Must. Have. More. Anyone have a tip?

Anyway…I had no idea that is what Merlot and Malbec can do in NZ.  I wanna taste a Syrah next?!

I think ‘09 may be the year of the Kiwi. Brilliant wine.

~$14US 100% Gewurztraminer, Nelson New Zealand

Nelson NZ is supposedly producing some interesting southern hemisphere Gewurztraminer and Riesling. Saw this on sale and took the plunge with some chinese food. Spicy and tropical fruits, with fine complexity. Balanced fresh acidity and a just touch of fruit ripeness. Bitey. Strange moth-wing/Raid note in the finish - not bad, just an added dimension. Definitely more mineral flavors than I expected, which is nice in offsetting the fruit. Paired beautifully with a citrusy sauce. An easy drinker that just smashed the Albrecht Gewurztraminer we tried a few weeks ago (which was cloying and off-balance). It was one of those wines that was gone before we knew it…A solid weeknight white and a fresh and well-crafted expression of the grape.

Le Ragose Valpolicella Classico Superiore Le Sassine 2003: Leather, garlic greens, sour cherry, black pepper, dried apricots, brown sugar. Utterly delicious in an old-world way. Very complex and surprising. Classically proportioned and well-structured. Fabulous accompaniment to fresh pasta w/ vegetables.

Jean Milan Champagne Blanc de Blancs Spécial NV:Doughy nose, with seashells. A little nutty, with a bright and fresh mouthfeel.  Elegant. Fleeting finish holding this back from really rocking.

Alban Central Coast Viognier 2006: Ridiculous nose of flowers, Ivory soap, Big-League Chew, Skittles, pineapples. Brings a serious rainbow of tropical flavors. A little hot (~16% ABV) and syrupy. Coconuts, peaches, and fruit cocktail. Probably the most hedonistic white wine I’ve ever had - I loved it, other tasters were not so hot on it’s over-the top fruit ripeness.

Amisfield Central Otago Pinot Noir 2003: The 04 was excellent, and this 03 probably even better. Fragrant as all hell. More wood and tobacco notes to support the Cherry Cola / Dr. Pepper - truly one foot in the old (leafy tobacco, black olives) and one foot in the new world (big cherries). Silky in the mouth - medium-to-full bodied, but not heavy. Another stunner of a Pinot.

Meadowlark Cabernet-Syrah 2005 - Napa Valley: Black currant, green peppers, wet sticks and tree bark. Some petrol notes after some air-time. Juicy and fruit forward, full-bodied and well built. This is good wine - no doubt, but this point in my wine-journey, I’m realizing that I’m just not down with green-pepper in my Cabernet…I know it shows up often, but I can’t do it. Just a personal thing (being allergic to them). Probably wont rebuy.

Baumard Clos de Ste. Catherine 2002 - Loire - Coteaux du Layon (Chenin Blanc): Complex noise of marzipan, peach nectar, baking spices, honey. SWEET! Dessert style. Biting acidity to keep things in balance - but the tongue-coating sweetness won. Viscous. Some unpleasant bitterness right before the finished tainted the overall experience for me. I would rebuy another vintage only if I had some more friends interested in trying it too.

Amisfield Pinot Noir 2004 - New Zealand - Central Otago: Wow. Dr. Pepper, ripe and black cherries, strawberry jam, wild mushrooms, and plush velvet. Expansive and deep, but not over-the-top. Silky. Simply wonderful - a serious effort from NZ showing that they have something unique to say about Pinot. Love it. Rebuy.

~US$20 100% Sauvigonon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand

How does a great Sauvignon Blanc drink after 5 years?

Color: Very pale, some tiny bubbles
Nose: Fragrant - Mangos, pineapple, green tomatoes, some creamy notes as well
Palate: A flash of bright, fresh acidity, more mango and pineapple, canned sweet peas (Le Sueur) showing big on the midpalate
Finish: Short and abrupt, Asian plum candy

I have to admit, I haven’t had too many NZ Sauv blancs older than a few years, but I feel that this Isabel was unfortunately past it’s prime. While the nose showed a typical tropical flair, with some interesting green vegetable notes, the palate fell flat. The youthful zest and zing I usually expect with this wine was absent, and little else developed in it’s place. I hope to try an ‘06 to compare.