That’s my take on this year’s ‘Hot Red’.
All of the exhibitors had wines of real interest and quality. It would be invidious to select one or a
small number as the best; doing an injustice would be poor form on my part. So I have listed a highlight from each
producer – in alphabetical order. In
doing so, there may be more than one selected, this NOT being an indicator that
this was an overall ‘better’ label. And
I should note that Regional Wines does not stock all I have listed:
Abbey Cellars ‘Temptation’ Malbec
2009, true exotic varietal character tamed to classiness.
Alpha
Domus ‘Barnstormer’ Syrah 2008, supple like a Pinot Noir with exciting char
notes.
Askerne Syrah 2008 with complexity and approachability. Wow, what beautiful fruit and oak richness in
the
Babich ‘The Patriarch’ 2007. Classical perfumes of soft red berries in the
elegant
Black Barn Tempranillo 2009. Complex, powerful spices and game in the
Bridge Pa ‘Louis’ Syrah 2006.
The
Church Road ‘Cuve’ Merlot 2007 with its lush, plush, palate was upstaged by
the
Church Road ‘Cuve’ Marzemino 2007 with its musky, spicy deep red fruit. The best value Bordeaux-styled wine could be
the
CJ Pask Gimblett Road Cabernet/Merlot/Malbec 2007. The
Clearview
‘Basket Press’ 2007 is another ‘out-there’ wine from Tim Turvey.
Corbans
Cottage Block Syrah 2008 captures the perfumes of the variety so well. We don’t know what’s in the
Crossroads ‘Talisman’ 2008, but it
doesn’t matter, it’s still brilliant. For
a new label, the
Cypress ‘Terraces’ Syrah 2007 is up with the best. As is the vibrant
Elephant Hill Syrah 2009, showing how to judge balance and
proportion.
Should the
Esk Valley Merlot/Cabernet/Malbec 2008 be
upgraded to ‘Reserve’ status? There is
no question about the deservedness of the structured
Esk Valley ‘Winemakers Reserve’ Syrah 2007! Watch out Burgundy,
Lime Rock ‘White Knuckle Hill’ Pinot Noir 2007 has your
measure! Size isn’t everything when it
comes to drinking pleasure as with the
Matariki
Syrah 2006. The
Mission Reserve Syrah 2009 is classic,
structured Gimblett Gravels expression and a beauty. Approachability and friendliness are
attributes never to be underestimated, try the
Moana Park VS Syrah 2009 to see why. And Cabernet Sauvignon is on the comeback,
Ngatarawa ‘Glazebrook’ Merlot/Cabernet 2007
is so well influenced by it.
The
Salvare Syrah 2008 was an
example of how to get it right, a textbook wine. And
Sileni
Estates ‘Triangle’ Merlot 2008 shows why this variety is so rewarding in
The Bay, with its sweet fruit richness and completeness. For an example of how interestingly Hawke’s
Bay reds can develop, one only needs to taste the
Te Awa ‘Boundary’ 2004.
Showing the facets of Syrah, the
Trinity
Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2008 was bright, but serious, while the
Trinity Hill ‘Homage’ Syrah 2007 was a
wine of magnificence.
Vidal Reserve Merlot/Cabernet 2007 was
a seriously built wine that spoke of more potential. And
Villa
Maria Reserve Syrah 2007 a velvety wine of exoticism while the
Villa Maria Reserve Merlot 2007 was one
of power allied with exhibitionism.