AUSTRALIA
Langhorne Creek Marsanne Roussanne 2011 £9.99
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Ben Riggs, Zonte‟s Footstep
Grape varieties: 52% Marsanne, 48% Roussanne
Region: Langhorne Creek, Fleurieu, South Australia
Viticulture/Vinification: Whole bunches of flavour ripe Marsanne and Roussanne were harvested, then gently crushed, drained off skins and fermented together in static fermenters for 5 days. No use of oak or other winemaking artifact was used to ensure the true varietal flavours of each grape shine through.
Availability: 188 stores
Sweet, fruity nose, which initially seems atypical, and then there’s a burst of spicy, southern fruit. Unfortunately, there’s something stale on the palate, which I don’t like at all. Clean finish, but the frown is only just clearing from my face.
12.5% vol.
Vermentino 2011 £9.99
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Louisa Rose, Yalumba
Grape varieties: 90% Vermentino, 10% Riesling
Region: South Australia
Viticulture/Vinification: The grapes were picked in the cool of the night to maximise freshness. They were crushed and de-stemmed then gently pressed to extract pristine juice. The juice was settled then racked to ferment where it was fermented cool to retain the varietal flavours and fresh aromas. 2 months of post ferment lees mixing has added texture and richness to the palate.
Availability: 188 stores
Light, fresh and appealing nose. Bright, sharp and lovely taste. Really tart and dry. Exciting. Great label, too.
11.5% vol.
Xanadu Chardonnay 2011 £16.99
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Glen Goodall, Xanadu Estate
Grape variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Margaret River
Viticulture/Vinification: Blend of estate and grower fruit sourced from central and northern Margaret River on gravelly loam over clay. Machine picked at night, whole berry pressed followed by 24hr cold-settling with no enzymes. 100% barrel fermentation at 20-22˚C with regular lees stirring and no malolactic fermentation.
Availability: 161 stores
This has a very appealing nose. Not oaky, per se, but with promise of texture, of weight. The palate has more oak. There’s a definite structure about it. Lemony fruit and a lightness and lack of the weight that was promised. It will absolutely suit those who don’t like the weight. Nice grapefruity finish.
13.5% vol.
NEW ZEALAND
Earth’s End Riesling 2009 £12.99
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Duncan Forsyth, Mount Edward Wines
Grape variety: 100% Riesling
Region: Central Otago
Viticulture/Vinification: Earth‟s End Riesling is grown from vines in the Lowburn sub region of Central Otago. This is a single vineyard grown on schist based gravels originating from the glaciers that formed the southern alps of Zealand. The wine has been made in a traditional fashion, hand harvesting, gentle whole bunch pressing followed by fermentation with natural yeasts. The wine was stopped before dryness to balance the natural acidity. It is off dry in style. Availability: 100 stores.
Great label with, I’m guessing, little rugby players. All pretty aggressive!! Lovely weighty riesling on the nose. Oh, my goodness, it’s sweet. Wasn’t expecting that. It is quite lovely. Clean, clean and fruity finish. Long and lovely.
13.5% vol.
Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2011 £9.49
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Chris and Heidi Seifried, Seifried Estate
Grape variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Nelson
Viticulture/Vinification: The fruit for the 2011 Nelson Sauvignon Blanc is a blend from 3 vineyard sites with the majority coming from 2 vineyards close to the winery. The final part of the blend is taken from Edens Road, with Sauvignon Blanc grapes from here making up the final 18% of the overall blend. Cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks ensures that the clean aromatic flavours are retained.
Availability: 419 stores
Very strong aroma. Intense peapod and elder twigs or maybe currant leaves. Bone, bone dry. Tart, almost austere, with fresh grapefruit. A very, very different style from Marlborough.
13.0% vol.
Single Block Series S1 Sauvignon Blanc 2011 £12.99
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Tamra Washington, Yealands Estate
Grape variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Awatere Valley, Marlborough
Viticulture/Vinification: This distinct parcel of Sauvignon Blanc was harvested by both hand and machine. The fruit was crushed and de-stemmed and pressed gently separating the free run juice from the pressings. The juice was cold settled for 48hrs then racked prior to a long cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Each parcel was fermented separately using a range of selected yeasts. Following fermentation the wine was blended, lightly fined and filtered prior to bottling.
Availability: 56 stores
Interesting ordnance survey label, with touchy feely lines. Quite a catty nose. The merest hint of residual sugar. Fruity, gooseberry and tart. Typical. Quite long, grapefruity, finish.
13.5% vol.
St Clair Thomas Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2011 £15.99
Marks & Spencer
Winemaker and winery: Hamish Clark, Saint Clair Family Estate
Grape variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Marlborough
Viticulture/Vinification: The fruit was sourced from a single vineyard on the fertile, free-draining soils of the lower Wairau Valley. The juice was pressed off immediately to minimise skin contact and juice deterioration following harvesting. After settling, the juice was fermented using a variety of selected yeast in 100% stainless steel at cool temperatures to retain fruit flavour and freshness. This batch was selected as a single vineyard wine due to its intensity of flavour and oily texture on the palate.
Availability: 136 stores
A little reductive initially. Could call it ‘flinty’. Sharp and varietally obvious without showing any gooseberry at all. Dry and pithy. Very long.
13.0% vol.