Cowrie Bay Chardonnay 2011 Gisborne, New Zealand 5.99
95% Chardonnay and 5% Viognier. The grapes were sourced from vines planted on deep fertile soil and various Gisborne sites and
harvested in April 2011. Cool-fermented in stainless steel, then partial malolactic fermentation and a judicious amount of oak (5%) was
used to add texture and maintain a fruit-driven style. Shipped in bulk to be bottled in the UK. Winemaker Steve Voysey. Alc 12.5%,
TA 6.41g/l, pH 3.30, RS 5.4g/l. Waitrose Wine Direct and 263 branches.

Light on the nose, after the white Rioja. It’s OK. Difficult to come down from expensive and wonderful Spanish wines to something so pedestrian. It’s fine, just not at all interesting.


The Ned Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Waihopai River, Malborough, New Zealand 9.99
100% Sauvignon Blanc from an ideal growing season. The perfectly ripe fruit was machine-harvested and then fermented in
temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with carefully selected aromatic yeast strains. Alc 13.0%, TA 7.4g/l, pH 3.2, RS 3.0g/l. Waitrose Wine Direct and 263 branches.

Green, perhaps asparagus, nose. Quite sweet, at 3 grams of residual sugar. I find this a bit commercial and easy.

Craggy Range Avery Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Marlborough, New Zealand 12.99
100% Sauvignon Blanc from a single vineyard site in the central part of the Wairau Valley where the soils are stony and free draining. 2011
was a late, dry and excellent vintage. The fruit was machine-harvested, 100% destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks at cool
temperatures with selected neutral yeasts. The new wine spent 3 months on light lees in tank for natural clarification, reducing the
number of filtrations before bottling. Winemaker Rod Easthope. Alc 13.4%, TA 7.8g/l, pH 3.20. Waitrose Wine Direct and 249 branches.

Clean, green and refreshing nose. Wonderfully alive. Bright and exciting. Tart, tense, nervous, even. Lovely. *

Villa Maria Private Bin Riesling 2011 Marlborough, New Zealand 8.99
100% Riesling from vineyards scattered through Awatere and Wairau Valley, Marlborough. Timely canopy management such as shoot
thinning, leaf plucking and wire lifting provide balanced yields and exposed fruit. The grapes were harvested in the cool of the morning,
gently pressed and naturally settled. A cool fermentation took place with neutral yeasts and the ferment was arrested to give an offdry
style. Lightly fined. Alc 12.0%. Waitrose Wine Direct and 246 branches.

Lightly Riesling on the nose. Just off dry. A very different style from Australian. Fruity and sweet.

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mel