Have just seen that apparently 2008 isn't a good vintage for Marlborough:
http://www.winesofnz.com/Vintage.aspx?A ... eSupport=1
Infact, according to that chart it could be the worst for a decade !!
Sure the better producers will still have been able produce something decent....
But like you say, these will be in the upper spectrum of the cost scale

Guessing that many of the wines reviewed on Bob Campbell's site are limited availability here in UK if at all.

This is actually very insightful for me as I'll be able to ask the NZ producers at the Decanter New World tasting in May what they expect of the 2008 vintage.... (and hopefully might find something I like)

I'm sorry that you've only just learnt the assessment of the 2008 MSB. Being a newbie, you should use the archive here to glean real info. and realise what you have missed.

The 2008 vintage may have been the most difficult for a decade, yet many growers and producers are learning how to overcome some of the problems. St Clair and Cloudy B and VM Clifford Bay will have removed a lot of folliage to expose the fruit to the morning and evening sun, and therefore try to attain the tropical notes and ripe red capsicum nuances that MW palates appreciate. The Sauvignon blanc vine is rampant, and will produce new branches (new spures) and copious folliage in preference to bunches of fruit.

Continually working in the vineyard and constant pruning raises the cost of the wine - the best growers will strive to maintain quality and their reputation. Budget growers, who have suffered a bad season, will have to bung out the wine because it has Malborough on the label. Many new growers have equipment to finance, they will release the wine ASAP in order to pay their expenses and settle mounting debt.

This problem has been going on in the Loire for decades, I happen to prefer riper vintages, because the domaines that were hitherto on less favourable slopes have come-up to standard. Therefore the Loire wines to my palate have benefited from global warming, and the budget Loire wines (less than £12) have been marvelous value in recent years. We don't want anymore global warming now for thousands of reasons, wines from classic regions may become cooked.

I happen to agree with the MW palates, their flavour and nuance assessments are right for my satisfaction levels.

A long post - sorry for that.

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Duncan

Length is never a problem, and it's not actually all that long.

Nice to get intelligent input.

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mel

on the subject of 2008 MSB I don't know if it's worth pointing out based on what's been said so far but you can buy the 2008 The Crossings with a discount at FormulaWine.co.uk: The Crossings 2008

IIRC previous vintages have been well spoken of, and there's a chance that it could fall into the well maintained producers Duncan mention.
Usually £9.95 a bottle but in the code section at checkout type DISCOUNT and you get 20% off. No minimum order but there is a £5.95 charge.
Have used them before and customer service & delivery was very good

Here is a Pic of the 2007 Label, previous labels were slighly different.



Shez,
I bought 3 x 6 b.cases of the vintage 2007 as part of a larger order from the importers on the Albert Embankment. I was prompted to do so, after reading-up here, and in recognition of Goose's raving & rantings for the 2007 MSB vintage.

I have only 5 left, because I stupidly gave two bottles away to a very old friend who had become addicted to Lamberti pinot grigio , a very serious condition ! and I needed to shock his palate into some sense of occasion.

Of the 2007, The wine is not tart, but racey and exhibits everything that Goose 'raves for' except that the blackcurrent leaf is surplanted by the nettles. It is more of a vin-du-guarde style than Vavaseur's The Reach, with more minerality, and some pink grapefruit and stone instead of Lychees. (the 2007 Reach was swarming in lychee and a number one apperatif) It is amazing with shell fish and smoked salmon and will cut through oily ray, when grilled with heaps of ground pepper, a little salt and loads of butter burning on top.

According to tee-shirted Matt Mitchell, the smiling winemaker at the Crossings, the vineyards were amongst the first in the Awatere valley, and they had the pick of some of the best sites in the area. I really like the 2007 which is a palate wake-up call at the beginning of a supper party. Very cleansing, if you like a rocket and fresh spinach mayonaise cleaner after a heavy main course. The remainder of the bottle (s) if glugged at the sametime as the cleaner, will help remove all the cack from your cavities

I may risk saying that 2008 is a safe bet, if one were to base one's judgement of the Crossings 2007 versus other 2007's for similar money, the Crossings was well up there, and memorable.

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Duncan

I hope the sacrifice was worth it !

A small price to pay, if he's a real friend. Lamberti PG? - rather like lending him your wife to help him see that his grim girlfriend isn't good enough for him.

You may suffer if he decides the Sauvignon is the wine for him and you can no longer get a look in because of his tremendous appetite.

Actually, poor analogy.

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mel