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Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
 | | 01/06/2003 9:18 PM |
| Finally I have time to write what I promised LCC I would do. Following Gavin Trott's lead (thanks Gavin) I will compile information relating to NZ's regions, wines and varietals, starting with your favourite......... Sav Blanc.\
Nz's wine history is quite long but very inconcistant. Plantings occured early in the 18th century but through years of prohabition, a focus on beer and several wars, wine took a back seat.
this changed when Montana (nz's biggest producer even back then) decided to try moving away from fortified and muller thurgau and plant some other varietals. Until this moment NZ had been dominated by Aussie reds and white table wines and Muller Thurgau, Black Tower and a large number of poor quality wines. Montana's tentative steps changed all this.
At the time Montana had large plantings in Gisborne, Auckland and Hawkes Bay and are some careful selections Chardonnay and Sav Blanc were chosen as the initial white varietals, cabernet and merlot as the red varietals.
They did their research and discovered that sav blanc would work best in Marlborough. They invested in a new winery which would later become the capital of NZ's wine industry.
In 1976 Montana won several awards for the lightly vegetive highly acidic tropical wine later to become known internationally as Marlborough Sav Blanc.
These awards sprouted the beginning feathers of NZ's modern wine industry.
NZ's wine industry was structured very differently in thoise days and consequently this has shown in a mass of varietals planted broadly across the country. Sav blanc was no exception. It has been planted in suitbale to the least suitbale climatic conditions through out NZ to meet with international demand. This is changing as the NZ industry evolves but you can still find Sav blanc from northland to Southland (the extremes of NZ ironically.)
I'm sure most of you know what NZ sav blanc tastes like, but I doubt outside of Hawkes Bay and Marlborough you will have tried anything.Mores the pity.
Looking at the distinct characters of various sav blancs produced in various regions terrior and regional developement is obvious.
In the furthest northlands of NZ where they grow bananas as well as persimons vines can be found producing rich reds and powerful semillons. However sav blanc is grown here to. The soils of Northland are remarkably rich and so sites are chosen for their infertility due to the constant problem of keeping yields down (how many wine makers would complain about that...) The sun is very intense and coupled with Northlands average rainfall (quite high) botrytis, odium mildew and other problems often develope.
Due to the increased suin shine and heat Northland sav's tend to lack the acidity that people so commonly associate with NZ sav blanc. The tend to be more grassy and citrusy but with out the sharp bite that people enjoy. When made well they are often smokey complex styles when poor (which is more common for sav in Northalnd) they tend to be boring simple and one dimensional wines. There isn't one vineyard I would recomend in Northland for Sav Blanc.
From Northland going south you come to the Greater Auckland area which includes Matakana, Kumeu, Henderson, Cleveland, Waiheke and Manakau. Although sav blanc has been planted in all of these regions at some time th eonly region which continues to grow it is Kumeu.
Kumeu is a farming region with almost Burgundian climate. So much so that Kumeu has really made it name with Chardonnay. However the styles of sav blanc produced are intersting and unique and worthy of mention.
Most Wineries important grapes from other regions but those that produce Kumeu sav and make the effort to do well are often rewarded.
Kumeu sav blanc is often oak aged and blended with a small amount of semillon. This produces a remarkably smokey and complex style more reminiscent of a Bordeaux Blanc. However the acids are higher and often intergrate with the flavours better than several Bordeauxs that I have tried Kumeu examples against.
Kerr Farms Kumeu Sav Blanc is an excellent example of this. Beautiful lychee dominated nose with smokey notes and a softer grassy character reminiscent of cut grass, almost slightly minty. The palate is often dominated by initial dryness then the softer tropical flavours come through. Kumeu Sav's are not comparable to Marlborough they are far less acidic or tropical in style. They are more of a classic style than a new world style.
Waikato holds one of the keys to NZ's modern wine industry. The Te Kawhata (pronounced Tee Carphartaa)Wine research Station was founded in 1974 and helped Montana develope the intial choices and clonal selections for Marlborough.
Sav Blanc is remarkably prominant here but not commonly utilised. The style is often a little flabby and remarkably boring. However botrytis often infects the vines which are situated beside NZ's largest river (the Waikato) and the mists often remain there until mid afternoon. The desert wines made by Rongopai utilising chardonnay, sav blanc and chenin are amongst NZ's best and are extremely rare but of note.
They are a little more fruity than a classic Sauterne and are more flaboyant than traditional French styles. They are dominated by long length and high alcohol (usually about %14) and they retail for about $45 NZD-which is considered expensive by many.
Although Morton Estate and Mills Reef are also situatued in the Waikato (Bay of Plenty to be precise) they source their grapes from Hawkes Bay and Marlborough so I will not mention them.
Look out for the next installement looking at Gisborne, Martinborough and Hawkes Bay sav blancs.
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| stemor
Collierville, TN
Wine Thief
Posts:2816
| | 12/31/2002 4:39 AM |
| WOW! Thank you Jeremy! Thisis truly valuable information, and much appreciated.
You and Gavin are going to make Southern Hemisphere Winos out of us yet! | |
Cheers, y'all | |
| Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13684
| | 12/31/2002 1:44 PM |
| I concur.
I'd be interested in thoughts about NZ reds as well...  | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
| Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10707
| | 12/31/2002 1:58 PM |
| | Thanks Jeremy. This is great info and is now safely in my "spreadsheet of the wine world". | | | |
| love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12425
| | 12/31/2002 1:59 PM |
| FIRST: Thank You & thanks to people like yourself we are able to learn/expand our Wine-knowledge & buying power/smarts.
...2 things (1 an observation, 1 is another request ):
1. Observation: I knew that NZ is known for Blanc & Chards (white wines). But, like so many would like to hear on the Reds: types, quality (in-general, do you like/prefer NZ Reds or from other countries), related info...
2. May be, I am asking for too much, but if I may be so bold as to ask (when you have time) for a List of NZ Wines (White & Red---see #1) in the $12.00-$35.00 range that are available in the US & also some that you can provide (i.e. Gavin does that). I know that you post a LOT of TNs, but a List… 
THANK YOU. No rush on these. No problem if the request is toooo much!!! | | | |
| Gavin Trott
Grape Stomper
Posts:112
| | 01/02/2003 5:33 AM |
| Nice work Jeremy
Now I won't need to write my very very ordinary New Zealand information wheets!
Well done.
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| ChangeMe
Grape Truck Driver
Posts:37
| | 01/03/2003 7:28 PM |
| | Cheers, Jeremy! This was awesome. I can't wait to read about Marlborough and my cherished Cloudy Bay!! | | | |
| Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 01/06/2003 9:18 PM |
| To all,
Firstly you are very welcome. Secondly I am going to do a regional breakdown of each varietal so expect to see one on cab sav, merlot, pinot noir and other varietals as well as chard and other aromatics (ie those that aren't sav blanc.) .
As for distributors in the US it is a little hard at this time of year because most wineries send there staff on holiday with the exception of the tasting and retail staff, so I am unable to follow up with who sends what where. I can certainly put the NZD price along with a USD approx price with the notes and although some of these will be impossible to find most of the names I mention should be available in California, New York and Chicago areas. Outside of that I'm not sure. | | | |
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