Old Stuff |
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Click here for the main Waipara wine region page and the introduction to this review. Stop 1: Fiddler's Green There is a delightful Mediterranean style tasting room at Fiddler's Green where you can stand at the door and look out over the vines and the olive trees lining the drive to the hills in the distance to the north. The wines are made at the Waipara West winery. Fiddler's Green Sauvignon Blanc 2001 Fiddler's Green Riesling 2000 We had a bit of a cork problem with the riesling. The first had insidious corkiness, the second was more obvious. The third, however, was perfect. Fiddler's Green will switch to "twintops" for 2002 and they are not yet convinced that screwcaps are the solution. Barry gave me a bottle of the Fiddler's Green 1997 Riesling, which he said was similar to the 2001 in its youth. This bottle was opened the following weekend. What a beaut little riesling. Still quite pale in colour but excellent pure varietal flavours with concentrated lime, a little toastiness and a touch of honey. There's still years of life ahead of this wine. This bodes well for the future of the 2001. Stop 2: Pegasus Bay Pegasus Bay is the third largest vineyard in the area, with 40 hectares of vines on river gravels. The photo shows the northern perimeter of the vineyard with the vines protected with nets. The hills are to the east and on the other side of the Waipara River to the Pegasus Bay vineyard. This was an armchair tour as the vine spacing is wide enough for a car to drive between the rows. We grape grazed. The sauvignon blanc was stunning. Matthew is very excited about their vineyard trials of several grape varieties, including new clones of pinot noir, merlot and malbec, on various rootstock's. ![]() Back at the winery tasting room, plates of labelled grapes were set on a table for the public to try. Excellent idea. We went out the back for a quick tasting. This was a tasting by torchlight as the power was out in the new barrel hall. We tasted samples of pinot noir, merlot and malbec. The differences between the blocks were marked. I loved the pinots from West Block and the Young Vines best. The merlot was ripe and juicy and the malbec was looking very good. Back in the light I tasted the 2001 Main Divide Chardonnay from tank. Bottling of this wine had commenced the day before. For $16.95, this is a stunning chardonnay with evidence of barrel fermentation. Grapefruit aromas, warm leesy lemon flavours and lingering stonefruit. Think this is good, wait 'til you taste the 2001 Pegasus Bay Chardonnay. The blended tank sample, waiting to be bottled, showed excellent flavours and texture. Over lunch with a platter of delicacies from the menu, the Pegasus Bay Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2001 came up trumps with goats cheese on crostini. This is a smoky, 'fumé' wine with good grassiness, soft acids, lemon juice, grapefruit, wild yeast, leesy mealy characters, a creamy texture and butterscotch nuances on the finish. Hints of passionfruit emerge and linger. There's been some classy barrel work in this wine. The ever-reliable Pegasus Bay Riesling 2001, was delightful with the Spring Rolls with vermicelli noodles and cajun coated sliced prawns. (More details on the riesling when I tasted a vertical on Day 2). Appropriately, the Pegasus Bay 'Finale' Noble Chardonnay Barrique Matured 1999 was the finale. This had spent two and a half years in oak, though you wouldn't know it. It's deep gold in colour and really luscious thick and sticky with flavours of raisins and apricots. Elegance plus. Stop 3: Torlesse Wines The tasting facility at Torlesse is three years old. It was an addition to the winery, which was once an old sheep-shearing shed. Dick Pharis, a co-owner of Torlesse and one of the growers - whose terraced vineyard on the northern banks of the Waipara River is photographed looking to the south, took me through the wines. Torlesse Sauvignon Blanc 2000 Torlesse Sauvignon Blanc 2001 Torlesse Pinot Gris 2001 Torlesse Waipara Chardonnay 1999 Torlesse Waipara Riesling 2001 Torlesse Canterbury Riesling 2001 Torlesse Pinot Noir 'Selection' 2001 made from Waipara fruit is a first bottling from the top of the casks. There's cherry and earthy aromas that are slightly smoky. The fruit is sweet with a touch of tobacco, a hint of chocolate, a flash of citrus and some herbal spice that lingers on the finish. Torlesse Pinot Noir 2001 Torlesse Cabernet-Pinot 2001 Torlesse Cabernet Merlot 2000 Stop 4: Glenmark Wines Glenmark Gewurztraminer 2001 Glenmark Proprietors Reserve Riesling 2000 ![]() I did not taste the Pinot Noir. I was meant to catch up with this wine at the Festival the next day, but I forgot. Sorry. John has sold most of his land and is currently leasing it back. He has plans to move to the 'House on the Hill', the original family house. This location gives splendid views across the valley to the vineyards on the eastern side of the valley, as shown in the photograph. Mountford Vineayrd can be seen in the distance. Day 1, Pukeko Junction But tonight the winemakers supplied the wines and there were some older treasures from their cellars as well as current releases. This was an opportunity to taste some of the regions best wines. I had some definite favourites from the evening namely
Click here for the main Waipara wine region page and the introduction to this review. The other days - |
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