Hello All!
Last week I covered the reds from this Antipodean case (see here:) so this week we're onto the whites.
So, without further ado, here's how the whites fared...
This is made by the famous Kumeu River estate, just outside Auckland, who according to the Wine Spectator make the best and most long-lived Chardonnays in NZ. Lets, have a peep at this one then....12.5%
The Look: A deep lemony yellow with green hints.
The Smell: Lovely minerally smells with some citrus and tropical hints.
The Taste: Complex, minerally example of Chard. Lots of fruit, can't quite pin it down but citrussy/peachy/tropical/pineapple type flavours? Bright. Delicious. I'd agree about the long-lived also: this was still fresh after spending several days in the fridge after the initial glass - no discernible difference!
The Score: Bright acidity, good fruit and minerality. Well made and not at all harsh. Excellent 8/10. Highly Recommended
VFM: This is £12.50 normally, so not on the cheap-side but slightly cheaper than Kumeu's usual branded wines. VFM is decent at 0.64. Again, it's worth re-iterating that NZ is making complex "terroir-driven" (to use the cliché) Chardonnay to compete with the best.
From the cool climate of Tasmania's east coast. This is made in a Burgundian style using French oak barriques for 8 months' maturation.13.5%
The Look: A crisp, glassy, pale lemon with a watery white rim.
The Smell: Lovely nutty, almondy, vanilla-cream. Slight grapey-fruitiness to it also.
The Taste: A nice complexity, balancing acidity, honeyed texture. (D says "Syrupy"). Plenty of fruit, but restrained and not any one particular fruit evident, just hints of ripe, zesty fruit, maybe grapes or apricots. Not even a slight hint of harshness - very well made.
The Score: Very good. Burgundian creaminess, restrained fruit and a delicious glass of wine. 7.5/10. Recommended
VFM: This is £13.95 normally, so again, not cheap and not exceptional value at VFM = 0.54. Again, cool-climate Antipodean wine making is triumphing. As good as many other Burgundies we've had in this price range.
This is made by the famous Jane Hunter OBE from Hunter's Wines who've been in Marlborough for almost 30 years. This has been superseded by the 2010 since purchasing but is normally so consistent I doubt any difference could be told (by me at least!). 13.5%
The Look: A pale lemon with a hint of deeper gold.
The Smell: Hallmark Marlborough; grassy, peas, tropical fruit, zesty...in abundance.
The Taste: VERY bright and refreshing, typical Marlborough with lots of passion fruit and ripe gooseberry. Zingy and tangy acidity with a bitter, grapefruity edge on the finish.
The Score: Very nice but not the best we've had. 7.5/10. Recommended
VFM: This is £10.95 normally, and in my opinion a bargain. NZ Sauv can be, and more often is, £13 plus. This gives a VFM of 0.68.So, there you have the trio of Exhibition whites to finish of the case. All Recommended or higher and slightly better than the reds, which I would not have guessed prior to drinking! Again, well done to The Wine Society on some cracking wines, but for pure value and taste/price ratio I would also recommend the Society's Own label wines.
As always,
Speak to you soon.
Cheers
WBFTF
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