Intense and lovely Marlborough like blackcurrant when lightly chilled. The flavour fades upon chilling and becomes rather tart and grapefruity.

I wonder if this wine will ever again hit the heights of 2007 when it was one of the best sb's out there.

Goose, that wine is from the Robertson region ? Is it. Do you rate the Robertson vintage for SB generally for the '07 season. Just to eliminate other factors... How mature was the '07 when you last enjoyed it ?

Selecting New World wines for 2011 has Never Been More Important for us, if we are to consider the duty and price hikes on the horizon for 2011 (particularly in Europe and the cost of fuel, may be NZ as well, but there was a glut harvest there, with over stocks they say).

I'm jolly glad you that occasionally sample out of the MSB box I'm concluding from the reviews that SB from other regions of the southern hemisphere, aren't so immediately beguiling, but ......could / will / should come good with more bottle age - or never ????

A massive subject this.....

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Duncan

Could this need another 6+ months before drinking?

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Yep, Im still here.

Robertson.

There's not many wines from here about and most of those that are, are made by Springfield. Life From Stone being the most expensive and Firefinch the cheapest.

I last had the 07 in Jan of 2009 and it was still wonderful but showed no development. The label always says that the wine will improve over two years. The 09 was nice enough it just needed to be drunk as warm as you could cope with to extract the flavour. The 10 is better but still can't handle chilling.

The 09 Life From Stone was a mimic for the Special Cuvee 2010. I was disappointed but only because I expected a more flavoursome wine as it comes with the bigger reputation. Twas very nice in it's own right.

I will continue to buy the 2010 but only when on offer for around £7 Waitrose and Majestic sell as well.

My favourite non NZ New World sb.........the competition is poor though. SA is by and large too vegetal. Australia is just not the place for flavoursome sb and Chile despite the odd half decent wine is the most overrated producer of this grape in the world.

If I could ban two nations from making this wine it would be Chile and France ( exc the Central Vineyards Sancerre etc )

G ~

G~ Thanks for the follow-up. I know where I'm not going.

I want to try Life from Stone. Yes. I'll keep an eye for the offers.

Cheers

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Duncan

This gets a 10



A favourite from your favourite store. Cuts your gums up like no other. Unadulterated Exide

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Duncan

Springfield is an Estate: both Special Cuvee and Life from Stone are single vineyard wines.

I find it fascinating to note the differences between the two: same variety, planted around the same time, same winemaker and grown close to each other and yet there are distinct differences.

I usually prefer Life from Stone as this is usually greener, more gooseberry and crisper but some years Special Cuvee wines out.

Special Cuvee seems to be getting better distribution now, haven'y seem LfS for some time but in the past they have been priced the same but there has been variances as a matter of retailler pricing.

Firefinch is not an Estate wine, hence the cheaper price

Thanks but I've not seen it in Tesco stores.


I'll pop into the winery next week and pick up some 2010.

Opened bottle no 2 last night. Wairau Valley passion fruit/blackcurrant leaf nose. Passion fruit and grapefruit taste. Passion fruit dominates when lightly chilled grapefruit when cold but the passion fruit is at least hanging on now when cold. Still searingly acidic but very flavousome.

Winemaker says this will mellow and drink beautifully for 2/3 years from the vintage.

I like the acidity as it is but many will wince. Hopefully time will bring out some more passion fruit. Long finish but lacks the wonderful aftertaste of the 07.

Suits me but not yet a star.

Dark yellow now but the acidity would still floor MrD. He'd need a comforting hug orfa MrsD. Tart, nettley flavour. Needs to taste as mellow as it looks.

Give it 4 years says the winemaker. Dunno about that but will give it another 6 months.