TOP OF THE TASTING
1 Lawson’s Dry Hills The Pioneer Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2016 ($30) Gold Medal The second our judges put this wine to their lips, there were sighs of delight. “I love how focused, flavoursome, concentrated and multi-layered this gewürztraminer is,” gushed Yvonne, while Jo agreed it was nicely styled, showing old world spice and floral complexity and buckets of stonefruit “It’s big, rich and generous – just what good gewürz should be,” she added. Cameron noted how exotic and bold and beautifully balanced in every department this wine is. “So well made, I could drink this all day” he said.
2 Villa Maria Single Vineyard Ihumatao Gewürztraminer 2017 ($29.99) Gold Medal Grown in a sheltered volcanic basin on the edge of Manukau Harbour, this wine has developed an enviable reputation. “This vintage is a great example of aromatics being subtle, elevated yet elegant and understated” noted Yvonne. “The Turkish delight perfume, gorgeous ginger notes and soft spices saturate through onto the palate, leaving a
juicy, beautifully balanced, slippery texture and long, exotic finish.” Jo and Cameron praised the lychee syrup and rosewater notes alongside citrus and lemonade layers. “The balance is spot-on,” Jo added.
3 Wairau River Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2017 ($25) Silver Medal The Rose family sure know how to inject roses into their gewürz! “Such a lovely palate, spicy, fruity, energised and exotic,” said Cameron, while Yvonne was seduced by the floral aromas and frisky texture. Jo correctly identified it as a Marlborough example. “I really like the palate; it’s clean, bright and slippery, with some judicious sweetness and an attractive lightness that’s very appealing.”
4 Waimea Nelson Gewürztraminer 2017 ($21) Silver Medal “Sniffing this wine is like someone poured honey, white pepper and ginger herbal tea into Nana’s makeup purse,” Yvonne declared. “This should be a go-to gewürz.” Cameron felt it had great fruit concentration and layers of spice, while Jo agreed it was really well made and creamy-textured to finish.
5 Pegasus Bay Waipara Gewürztraminer 2016 ($30) Silver Medal This wine had our judges reaching for the adjectives. “Golden in the glass, incredibly rich and luscious and edged with gingersnap, lychee syrup and fragrant spices” said Yvonne. Cameron loved how fruity, ripe, floral and expressive it was. A hint of honeysuckle on the finish completes the picture.
6 Lawson’s Dry Hills Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2016 ($25) Silver Medal Lawson’s do it again. While lovely on the nose, this gewürztraminer reveals far more on the palate. “I like the attractive, aged barrel character and rich bouquet. It has so much complexity and interest,” said Jo. “Highly complex, saucy and spicy, and boasting buckets of personality,” added Yvonne.
7 Main Divide North Canterbury Gewürztraminer 2016 ($20.99) Silver Medal Named after the Southern Alps which form the South Island’s spine, Main Divide started life as a sister-brand to Pegasus Bay, as a second-tier, but now sits up front with its sibling. “Has good balance, freshness and fruit focus,” said Jo. Yvonne loved the classic musky aromas and creamy, rich macadamia notes, while Cameron enjoyed the spicy edge, solid fruit concentration and peppery finish.
8 Blackenbrook Nelson Gewürztraminer 2017 ($25) Silver Medal Daniel and Ursula Schwarzenbach have an enviable track record with gewürztraminer and this vintage is no exception. “It’s very varietal, with good solid white nectarine, peach and sweet apple characters. Very easy to drink,” said Cameron. Yvonne enthused, “The nose is very sexy. I love the Turkish delight, ginger and cardamom characters and its luscious textures.”
9 Spy Valley Handpicked Single Vineyard Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2017 ($22) Silver Medal Our judges loved this wine’s delicacy, subtlety and sophistication on the nose, yet overdelivery on the palate. “Very fruity with obvious spices on the palate, and an intensely flavourful mouthfeel,” noted Cameron. “Ripe, punchy pineapple, sweet apricot, apple and a pinch of ginger; very well made,” he added.
10 Torlesse Omihi Road Waipara Gewürztraminer 2014 ($25) Silver Medal “So bright, aromatic and loaded with lychee, citrus zest and musky spices,” Yvonne noted. Cameron added, “It’s really well made, with white fleshed peach, white pepper, fresh herb notes and a deceptively long finish.” Despite being a couple of years older than most entries, this wine is still seriously fresh with loads of flavour, slippery texture and very good length. Maturing beautifully.
11 Soljans Estate Gisborne Gewürztraminer 2017 ($19) Silver Medal An instant hit with Jo: “This wine has great glossy colour, it’s bright and ripe with spicy fruit, and really fresh acidity.” Yvonne and Cameron agreed, noting the “superluscious lychee, ginger and spice at the fore, loads of fresh fruit, white pepper and lovely bruised apple complexity.
12 Hihi Gizzy Gisborne Gewürz 2014 ($20) Silver Medal “I really like this toasty, roasty style with intriguing layers of complex botrytis, characters of beeswax, ginger and spice mixed with tropical fruit characters,” said Yvonne. Jo seconded that: “Lots of textures, extremely satisfying”, adding “It’s highly floral, honeyed, fresh and has elements of cooked apple, clove and a touch of candy.”