The
latest Cuisine magazine, Issue 140 for May 2010 features the results of
tastings of the ‘heavy metal’ white wines of Chardonnay and Viognier. Following the recent trends and results,
there are no real surprises, but as always some interesting results. The judging panel headed by John Belsham,
with Michael Ivicevich, both winemakers of Foxes Island and Delegats
respectively), wine consultant Sam Kim
and Jane Boyle, a wine making and logistics strategy manager, are all senior
wine judges at our various wine shows, and no doubt have contributed to the
continued success of most the wines that came through well in the Cuisine
tastings.
Top New
Zealand Chardonnay was the Sacred Hill ‘Riflemans’ Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2007,
which incidentally was Champion Chardonnay at the 2010 Royal Easter Show Wine
Awards. This really is one of the
all-time great labels and the latest release will disappear soon. It is gratifying to see Marlborough pick up the next two spots, the
Westbrook BF and Saint Clair ‘premium’ labels from 2008 also earning ‘Best Buy’
ratings. Through sheer size and economy
of scale, Marlborough
should always offer value. Hawke’s Bay
fruit figured in the other successful Chardonnays of the more complex style,
with Coopers Creek ‘Swamp Reserve’ and Vidal ‘Reserve’, both from 2008 coming
in the ‘Top 10’. Just to prove that Marlborough isn’t out of
the picture in the serious stakes, the under-the –radar Vavasour Awatere 2008
also earned a place in the elite group.
Viognier
is a variety growing in popularity among the cognoscenti as the wines have
weight and complexity with an exoticism.
It will always be a specialist variety; the warmer climes are the place
to grow it. The question is whether
Gisborne or Hawke’s Bay is best? The
ever threatening autumn rains of Gisborne often cut short the growing season
for this variety that requires long hang-time.
Thus Hawke’s Bays more benevolent weather and consistency may get the
nod. But in this Cuisine result it is
Gisborne #1 and #2 with the Kim Crawford ‘SP –Tietjen’ 2007 and Coopers Creek
‘Limited Release’ 2009, from Kim
Crawford and Simon Nunns, winemakers
very experienced with the variety.
Hawke’s Bay wines rounded off the rest of the ‘Top 5’ including the
Champion Viognier at the 2010 Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, the Villa Maria
‘Cellar Selection’ 2009.