TOP TASTINGS FROM GISBORNE FOR YOU TO TRY
No visit would be complete without sampling the exquisite product of this major wine region. With lots of sun and fertile soil, Gisborne is noted for producing exceptional chardonnays. Yet save room on your table for its gewürztraminers, albariños, sauvignons gris and more. MATAWHERO RIVERPOINT HOMEBLOCK GEWÜRZTRAMINER 2020
Lovely perfume with aromas of sweet lavender and jasmine, white-fleshed fruits, then exotic Asian fruits. A delicious mouthfeel. Long finish with purity and finesse.
BRUNTON ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2018
There’s no mistaking the intensity and signature of ripe yellow peach and golden delicious and red apple. There’s a creamy weighty roundness to the bouquet as well which follows through onto a full and creamy texture on the palate. Medium acidity, balanced and ready.
MILLTON CRAZY BY NATURE SIRIUS WHITE 2019
This is floral and very pretty, with a layered bouquet: aromas of wild flowers with soft sweet dried herb note then orchard fruits. Plush, vibrant and textured with flavours of sweet citrus. Lengthy, persistent finish with layers of fruit spice. Ready now.
TW ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2019
A classic Gisborne chardonnay bouquet with a rich yellow stone fruit and sweet red apple, quince and vanilla custard aroma package. Lovely weight and intensity with a power and richness, ripe fruit, lovely barrel toastiness and baking spice layers, well made and ready.
WRIGHTS RESERVE ORGANIC CHARDONNAY 2018
This has intriguing aromas of ripe yellow stone fruits and apple, lemon, pith and minerality. The palate distributes these flavours seamlessly. There’s a vibrant raw energy and swing between fruits and soils, oak and textures. Ready to enjoy from today.
LONGBUSH
THE FAMILY CO CHARDONNAY 2019
This is richly scented with oak, raw nuts and ripe stone fruits bouquet. Aromas of baking spices with clove and vanilla. Full of flavour. A vanilla and peach baked custard memory with a rounded buttery and classic Gisborne chardonnay mouthfeel.
KAITERE FARMS AHU CHARDONNAY 2019
An enticing bouquet with aromas of grapefruit and peach then fine layers of lees and oak. Lovely weight and intensity on the palate. Lengthy finish with decent weight and complexity. Best drinking from mid-to-late 2021 through 2025.
GISBORNE WINE COMPANY SINGLE VINEYARD BOND BLOCK CHARDONNAY 2019
There’s no mistaking the impact of oak in the bouquet – it’s toasty, rich and spicy with sweet vanilla . Flavours of peach, grapefruit and roasted apple. This is your wine for crayfish bisque.
COOPERS CREEK SELECT VINEYARDS BELL-RINGER ALBARIÑO 2019
What a great bouquet, with aromas of white peach and sea air, sweet citrus and red apple. A crisp, refreshing and dry wine. Moves nicely from a silky textured white peach to citrus. Perfect as a aperitif or with seafood.
HONORARY WINES SAUVIGNON GRIS 2019
Aromas of barrel fermentation with a smoky, toasty and light lees battonage aroma. Flavours of grapes and gooseberry. Crisp acidity keeps the palate refreshed, leading to a moderate finish. Very food-friendly style or on its own slightly chilled.
STONECROFT RESERVE SYRAH 2018
Aromas of seduction and complexity prove that careful ageing of wine of this quality is necessary. Dark roses, blackcurrants, violets and raspberries have melted together. The core of fruit dominates while the aromas of spices and toastiness of oak sit comfortably as part of the foundation. Firm youthful texture and plenty of acidity highlight the ripe tannins. Expertly crafted and will age through 2026+. RRP $60.
VIDAL LEGACY SYRAH 2018
This has a powerful bouquet with aromas of blue fruits and blue flowers, dark raspberry, plum and a complex, savoury, fruit and wood-centric core. It comes alive on the palate with flavours of farmers’ market wild blackcurrants and blueberries, raspberries and aged meats, some licorice and oak. There’s no mistaking the fine tannins, acidity, and delicious mouthfeel. Will develop for at least another six years. RRP $79.99.
SMITH & SHETH CRU HERETAUNGA SYRAH 2018
This has a complex and curious bouquet with aromas of red berries, plums and redcurrants. There are moments of pink peppercorn and white pepper, licorice and red flowers. An underlying stony Gravels earthy quality provides a strong foundation. It is youthful, savoury and dry, with firm tannins and abundant acidity. Best drinking from mid-to-late 2022 through to 2027+. RRP $40.
SMITH & SHETH CRU OMAHU SYRAH 2018
This is beguiling on the nose, layered, varietal, and seductive. It has aromas of raspberry and keriberry then clove, vanilla, licorice and toasty wood scents. There’s no mistaking the oak and stony soil aromas. Textures from ripe tannins, plenty of acidity and flavours of herbs and spices. Delicious now, but will continue to age with best drinking from 2022 to 2028+. RRP $60.
ELEPHANT HILL HIERONYMUS 2018
There’s no mistaking the complexity and fullbodied power in this cabernet and merlot-led blend. It has a youthful core of dark red fruits, toasty, almost sweet barrel scents, violets and dark roses, forest mushrooms and baking spices. Flavours of blackberry, fresh coffee bean, some chocolate, clove, vanilla and barrel smoke. Firm tannins, plenty of acidity, power and length. Best drinking from late 2022 to 2032+. RRP $120.
SQUAWKING MAGPIE GRAND GIMBLETT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018
A compact, varietal and enticing bouquet with blackberry and tobacco, olive and black cherry, sweet vanilla and wood smoke, crushed roses and violets. It is even more complex on the palate with flavours of gunpowder, toasty barrel spices and stony earth. Decant for service with best drinking from 2024 through 2034+. RRP $80.
MISSION ESTATE JEWELSTONE ANTOINE 2018 ELEPHANT HILL STONE SYRAH 2018
A complex bouquet with a core of dark berries and wood spices, a mix of pepper, licorice, violets and a stony clay earth frame. Youthful and delicious with sweet toasty wood and fruit. Still quivering with concentration, power and tension, and tightly wound with flavours of dark red berries and wood spices. Decant if you want to open today, but best wait until end of 2022 and through 2028+. RRP $99.
Made with the cabernets and merlot, the bouquet entices with salivating aromas of violets and sweet blackberry, dark plum and black cherry. Complex and textured with an equal measure of fruit and oak at the core suggesting cherries, plums, blackberry, chocolate, cigar, violets and black spices. It reminds me of Left Bank of Bordeaux reds with a heart of Hawke’s Bay. Best drinking from late 2022 to 2030+. RRP $50.
TRINITY HILL THE GIMBLETT 2018
Made with equal portions of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc, this wine has a fantastic bouquet packed with aromas of dark berries, a swathe of fleshy black olives and field mushrooms, baking spices, smoky wood and cigar. It is powerful, rich, fruity and dry on the palate with tense tannins, acidity, oak and savoury complexity. Best drinking from late 2022 through to 2030+. RRP $40.
TRINITY HILL HOMAGE SYRAH 2018
This is still very youthful and totally alluring. Forest berries and toasty barrel spices are layered between aromas of violets and licorice, stony soils, pepper and meat. As the wine begins to open up in glass, the fruit seems more pure and sweet, with the oak and myriad scents revealing a complex storyline. A wine for the cellar please: with best drinking from 2023 to 2030+. RRP $150.
SAINT CLAIR PIONEER BLOCK 17 CABERNET MERLOT 2018
This is a fresh, youthful and classic Gravels example. I’m reminded of the true aromas of cabernet, first with its bell pepper and tobacco spices underpinning a core of blackberry and Doris plums, then violets and a chocolate layer signal aromas of merlot and malbec. Firm tannins with satin polish. Approachable today with best drinking from early 2022 to 2028+. RRP $37.90.
VILLA MARIA NGAKIRIKIRI 2018
Made with cabernet sauvignon and merlot malbec, the bouquet is captivating with aromas of dark berries and brooding complexity. Scents of iron and blackberry, violets and spicy skinned plums. Toasty barrel scents suggest clove and baked vanilla pod, smoke and sweet wood. It is taut and delicious on the palate. Firm tannins have a satin polish. Best drinking from 2023 to 2040+. RRP $150.