Blackenbrook Vineyard Nelson Gewurztraminer 2008
Daniel and Ursula Schwarzenbach run a very tight and tidy operation with 20 hectares of vines half-way between Nelson and the Abel Tasman National Park. Daniel’s winemaking background with aromatic producers Hirsch in Austria, Engelhof in Germany, Zind-Humbrecht in Alsace and Fromm in Switzerland (where he met the elegant and ever-smiling Ursula) has no doubt given the Blackenbrook wines an edge. Made from fruit from their clay soil Moutere ‘Home Block’, this was cool fermented to 14.2% alc and 9 g/l residual sugar and bottled without any fining. A firm and tightly bound wine, this has a steely edge to the crisp and minerally expression of florals and clear spice notes. The wine has a fresh delicacy and possesses the tell-tale hint of bitterness of stonefruit kernels on the finish which only Gewurztraminer shows. A silver medal winner at the 2008 ANZWA and 4 ½ Star ratings by Michael Cooper and Sam Kim. The Blackenbrook Reserve Gewurztraminer 2008 is more decadent at 20 g/l residual sugar.

Seifried Estate Nelson Gewurztraminer 2008
Established by Hermann and Agnes Seifried in 1973, Weingut Seifried was the pioneer in the Nelson region. Nowadays, Seifried Estate is one of this country’s significant producers with nearly 200 hectares of vineyards. Son Chris and daughter Heidi are responsible for the winemaking and daughter Anna has the sales and marketing role. The Seifried range is always absolutely dependable and with every vintage, as the vines become more mature and vinification becomes more sophisticated, the wines are noticeably more flavoursome with greater interest and nuances captured. The 2008 Gewurztraminer fruit is sourced from the Redwood Valley and Brightwater sites picked and vinified separately and blended to 13.5% alc and 10 g/l residual sugar. This is a bold number with plenty of tropical fruit aromas and flavours reminiscent of a summer’s day. Up-front and friendly in expression, this has a sweetness from the ripeness of the fruit. Last year, it was awarded 5 Stars in Winestate Magazine and won a silver medal at the International Wine Challenge. The marginally drier ‘Winemakers Collection’ Gewurztraminer comes solely from the young Brightwater vineyard.

Waimea Estates Nelson Gewurztraminer 2008
Moving from apple orchards, the Bolitho family planted wines in 1993 and harvested their first crop in 1997. Now with 130 hectares of vines, Waimea Estates is the second largest producer in the Nelson region, and one with a growing reputation. The Nelson region seems to succeed with a wide range of varieties (though Cabernet Sauvignon is problematic), and Waimea has seen top awards across the board. Gewurztraminer is a particular star and the 2008 picked up Elite Gold at the ANZWA and N.Z. International Wine Show last year, as well as a silver at the Bragato Wine Awards. Winemaker Mike Brown took great care with skin contact with this 14.5% alc wine which carries only 6.3% residual sugar. Pale in colour, this has a beautifully soft and perfumed bouquet of musk and rose petals. The palate has a sumptuous lusciousness and wonderfully fine textured palate that oozes luxury. The richness is purely fruit-driven and the finesse is its feature. The ‘Bolitho Signature Vineyard’ wines show distinctly more funky and ‘on the edge’ characters and can be more exciting!