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RONN WIEGAND RECOMMENDS:
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Noir Wine
 We
look to New Zealand this month,
for wines with intense varietal
character and refreshing acidity.
Many of these wines were
released in
the last half of last year, and are beginning
to drink extremely well. Known for its distinctive, high
quality Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand is quickly establishing
a reputation for other excellent white wines, and first rate
Pinot Noir.
Below, I suggest 7 Sauvignon Blancs,
3 Pinot Gris, 2 Rieslings,
1 Chardonnay, and 2 Pinot Noirs.
Recommended New Zealand White Wines
Central Otago
* 2006 PINOT GRIS, $16-$18
* 2006 RIESLING, $16-$18
First releases from this winery. Both are outstanding wines.
The Pinot Gris is full bodied, yet elegantly flavored, crisp,
and well balanced, with a long, persistent finish, tasting
of pear, lemon peel, and passion fruit. The Riesling tastes
like a fine, nearly dry German Kabinett. It is delicate and
fine in character (peach, grapefruit, jasmine), medium full
bodied, and crisp on the finish. Drink through 2008.
2006 SAUVIGNON BLANC
MARLBOROUGH
$20-$22
Screw cap. Extremely aromatic (pink grapefruit, passion
fruit, guava, pear, apple, and lime), round, full bodied,
smoothly textured, and very long on the palate, with a persistent
finish. Great value. Drink through 2008.
2006 SAUVIGNON BLANC, VINEYARD SELECT
MARLBOROUGH
$18-$20
Screw cap. A full bodied, elegant Sauvignon, that is delicately
flavored, crisp, and long on the finish, tasting of pear,
white peach, and pink grapefruit. Drink through 2008.
2006 SAUVIGNON BLANC
MARLBOROUGH
$16-$18
Full bodied and round, this Sauvignon has good depth of
fruit, and a long finish, tasting of green apple, lime, and
pineapple. Fine value. Drink through 2008.
Marlborough
* 2006 SAUVIGNON BLANC, $19-$21
* 2006 PINOT GRIS, $19-$21
Both wines are complex in character and elegant in style.
The Sauvignon is medium full bodied, delicate and distinct
in flavor (lime, mango, peach), with crisp acidity, and a
very long finish. The Pinot Gris is exceptional: a full bodied,
dry wine, that has refined character (peach, litchi nut,
passion fruit, pineapple, grapefruit), great balance, and
a very long finish. Drink through 2008.
2006 SAUVIGNON BLANC, WAIRAU RESERVE
MARLBOROUGH
$23-$25
Wonderful Sauvignon, in a full bodied, intensely flavored
style. It is very distinct in character (lime, grapefruit,
passion fruit, lemon grass), well balanced, and crisp and
long on the finish. Drink through 2008.
Marlborough
* 2006 PINOT GRIS, $20-$22
* 2006 RIESLING, $19-$21
Spy Valley’s string of excellence continues here.
The Pinot Gris is ripely flavored and full bodied, with intense
fruitiness (pineapple, apple), smooth texture, a hint of
sweetness, and a long finish. 1% R.S. The Riesling is very
floral and fruity in character, virtually dry, crisp, and
very long on the finish, tasting of honeysuckle, apple, and
lime. Drink through 2008.
2005 CHARDONNAY
MARLBOROUGH
$23-$25
Excellent Chardonnay: finely flavored, supple in texture,
and well balanced, with a very long finish. An elegant, complex
style. It tastes of peach, cherimoya, toast, and roasted
nut. Drink through 2008.
2006 PRIVATE BIN, SAUVIGNON BLANC
MARLBOROUGH
$16-$18
Great value. Fragrant and both fruity and lightly herbal
in character, this is a round, full bodied, well balanced
wine, with a long finish, tasting of lime, grapefruit, apple,
and lemon grass. Drink through 2008.
2006 SAUVIGNON BLANC, CELLAR SELECTION
MARLBOROUGH, $21-$23
Intensely flavored, round, and full bodied; a fruity wine
(pineapple, lime) with modest herbal overtones. It has good
depth of flavor, and a long, persistent finish. Great value.
Drink through 2008.
2006 SAUVIGNON BLANC
MARLBOROUGH
$18-$20
Very distinct and "fresh" in character (green
apple, lime, lemon grass, grapefruit), this is an excellent
wine, that is round, full bodied, and crisp and long on the
palate. Classic Marlborough style. Drink through 2008.
Recommended New Zealand Pinot Noirs
2005 PINOT NOIR
MARLBOROUGH
$28-$30
Exceptional: richly flavored, full bodied, and long on the
finish; a Pinot with intense fruitiness (plum, cherry), modest
oakiness, and excellent balance. Drink through 2008.
2005 PINOT NOIR, CELLAR SELECTION
MARLBOROUGH
$25-$27
An elegant, complex Pinot Noir, that is full bodied, moderately
rich in flavor (cherry, rose petal, red currant, toast),
well balanced, and very long on the finish. Great value.
Drink through 2008.
-- RW
If you enjoyed these wine reviews, you
might also find the following wine resources
to be useful:
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