I tasted these a couple of days ago with viticulturist Rachael Hughes when she was passing through town. The wines are very, very modern and quite commercially styled but extremely well executed. I think what I am trying to say is that while they are not my sort of wines they are very good indeed.
Other than the Pinot Gris which is grown on Pounui Island, just south of Waiheke all the wines are grown on the 150 acre Man O' War Estate on Waiheke.
2008 'Pounui Island' Pinot Gris
This is a really bright, fresh Gris with peach, apricot, pear and quice fruit - dry but with a nice ripe fruit sweetness. Quite rich but it has balance and finesse. Very creamy - with almond meal like texture and white pepper and cinnamon spice. The wine also has a small portion of Viognier in the blend which may account for the stone fruit component. VG
2008 Chardonnay
Very bright peach fruit with a nice yeasty/bready autolysis component and sweet Lemon and orange marmalade. VG
2008 'Valhalla' Chardonnay
Toasted coconut with grilled pineapple, banana and vanilla - this wine is HUGE!!! It has lemony acidity underneath all that fat and oak. Super tropical. I have to admit that on my second tasting of the wine it was so oaky it made me want to vom - I think it suffering from a bit of bottle shock and may balance out in the future. If you see it around the 07 is still big but more refined and balanced. G
2008 Syrah
Talk about Bacon Explosion! Ultra smokey bacon and meat with very bright red cherry fruit and nice powdery tannins and a hint of floral action. Very much in a style I don't like but extremely well executed. E
2008 Merlot Cabernet Franc
Very ripe plum and blackcurrant with a slight hint of green tobacco. Taut tannins and a long finish with a hit of chocolate and espresso. VG
I have previously reviewed their 08 Sauvignon Blanc here.
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