This month's tasting was hosted by Martin and Auriol who presented on New Zealand Wines...
1. Saint Clair Estate Selection Sauvignon Blanc 13% 2016 Marlborough region £10
Origin - The Saint Clair Family Estate is rapidly becoming one of the most reputed wineries in Marlborough, despite producing their first wines as recently as 1994.
Taste - Aromas of passion fruit, blackcurrant leaf and gooseberry and a palate of ripe gooseberry and herbs.
Enjoy - A perfect match with fresh salads, seafood and vegetarian dishes.
2. Saint Clair Pioneer Block Sauvignon Blanc 13% 2016 Marlborough region £15
Origin - The Pioneer Block wines are made from small parcels of fruit identified by the winemakers as expressing special flavours.
Taste - An almost otherworldly intensity of fruit, with pungent aromas of gooseberry and passion fruit, with a steely dryness, herbaceous characters, underlying minerality and a long, lingering finish.
Enjoy - Asian-inspired cuisine is ideal, as the wine echoes the lemongrass and fresh coriander often used in these dishes.
3. Waimea Gruner Veltliner 2016 13% Nelson region £11
Origin - Within the vineyard just 3 rows of vines known as the "Railway Reserve", owing to their following the path of a disused railway line, are planted with Gruner Veltliner. The wine is made deliberately off-dry to achieve the perfect flavour balance.
Taste - an inviting golden colour, this is a fresh and crisp wine with a little extra richness. Stone fruit and pineapple flavours are accentuated with nuances of fennel, white pepper and a lingering minerality.
Enjoy – Pair with fine seafood or poultry dishes.
4. Russian Jack Pinot Gris 2017 13% Marlborough region £9
Origin – From a multi-awarding winning and customer favourite winery in Martinborough, the name of Russian Jack is in honour of a much loved "gentleman of the road" who each harvest picked the fruit for many years.
Taste – Flavours of Williams pear, red apple , honey and spice.
Enjoy – Pair with Friday night Thai
5. The Ned Pinot Rose 2017 13% Marlborough region £8.99
Origin – Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir are gently pressed to extract colour whilst minimising tannin. Yeast strains are selected to enhance aromatic intensity.
Taste – On the nose and palate this wine is all about summer berries matched with a creamy texture. The acidity is well balanced with just the slightest hint of structure from the Pinot Noir.
Enjoy A perfect match for seafood based rice dishes such a risotto or paella.
6. Oyster Bay Merlot, 2015 13.5% Hawkes Bay region £9.44
Origin – grown in New Zealand's second largest wine region, the Hawkes Bay wine region is arguably the most exciting find for the cultivation of Merlot in New Zealand. Ancient alluvial soils, an abundance of pure river water for irrigation and a temperate maritime climate create the unique environment in which Merlot produces vibrant, fully ripened varietal flavours.
Taste – Plumy, jammy and ripe berry fruits augmented by hints of spice, toasted oak and chocolate aromas are followed by a rich, rounded and fruity palate with subtle oak and spices and an intense finish.
Enjoy – Enjoy with everything from pizza to spaghetti bolognaise and from roast turkey to pork chops.
7. Mud House Pinot Noir 2014 14% Central Otago region £12.99
Origin - The free-draining loam and gravel soils and wide diurnal temperature variation has resulted in Central Otago becoming known for superb Pinot Noir. This is a single-vineyard wine from the sub-region of Bendigo.
Taste - Intense and powerful, full of bright red cherry and darker bramble fruit, layered with gentle notes of mocha and spice. Finely balanced tannin and acidity provide great grip and length.
Enjoy – Enjoy with duck or lamb.
All wines available from Majestic Wine
