TOP NZ SPECIALITY WHITE
Falconhead Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2019
- 4 $16 ★★★★★
FOR DECADES New Zealand falcons (the only remaining birds of prey endemic to New Zealand) have been revered guardians of Falconhead’s Riverview vineyard on the banks of the Ngaruroro River in Hawke’s Bay. There the resident falcons help the viticulture team with their natural sustainability program by managing pest control operations from the skies above the vines. Considering these majestic birds are such hardworking members of the team it seems only appropriate that the falcons grace each bottle of Falconhead wines.
The fruit for this Falconhead viognier was sourced from 20-year-old vines at the warmer Tantallon vineyard in the Bridge Pa triangle subregion of Hawke’s Bay. The summer of 2019 delivered perfect ripening conditions in the Bay, with long, hot, sunny days and cool nights allowing the vineyard team the luxury of time and choosing to pick the grapes once they hit optimum ripeness without any weather pressure. The result is a gorgeous, supple, true-tovarietal viognier with creamy apricot and peach-compote characters which come together perfectly to really bring this well-balanced deft vioginer home.
Delicate sulphides harmoniously sit alongside bright aromatics and provide all the nuances of a finely crafted, elegantly textured viognier. A standout wine. As for the falcon, it’s worth noting that the same iconic bird graces New Zealand’s $20 bank note and you can exchange just one note for a bottle of Falconhead viognier and have change to spare, which is extraordinarily good value for this exceptional wine.
2 / Stonecroft Gimblett Gravels Viognier 2019 (Hawke’s Bay) ★★★★★ - 4 $27
A plush and rich viognier showing its pedigree and exercising its authority in the glass. An exquisite example with layers of spice and delicate rose-petal aromas and a hint of lemon meringue playing with your senses on the nose. A powerful palate with apricot-stone flavours and a superb weighty textural mouthfilling profile.
3 / Hopesgrove Viognier 2018 (Hawke’s Bay) ★★★★ - 4 $30
A superb, stylish viognier showing lots of lemon, lime and stonefruit notes on the nose. The weighted palate reflects the nose with a savoury character that provides brightness and poise culminating in a well-integrated, deft, dry finish.
Esk Valley Winemakers Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2019
★★★★ - 10 $35
Elephant Hill SEA Viognier 2019 (Hawke’s Bay) ★★★★ - 5 $34
Matavino Amelia Reserve 2019 (Matakana) ★★★★ - 4 $40
Matawhero Church House Chenin Blanc 2018 (Gisborne)
★★★★ - 4 $27
Neck Of The Woods Orange Pinot Gris 2019 (Central Otago)
★★★★ - 5 $32
Petane ‘Tracks Block’ Viognier 2019 (Hawke’s Bay) ★★★★ - 6 $31
Seifried Nelson Grüner Veltliner 2019
★★★★ - 4 $18
So I urge you, next time you order a glass or buy a bottle of something hardto-pronounce, do it with confidence and don’t give a fig if you get it wrong. Seifried, Nelson