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Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
 | | 03/26/2003 5:41 AM |
| The sav blancs of Canterbury and Otago are rare and far between with climatic conditions and soils suiting the more (noble) aromatics of Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurzt, and in red Pinot Noir. Chardonnay is also produced but the focus of whites is towards those afore mentioned varietals.
However Sauvignon Blanc is produced but is limited in scope and style, often being blended with Semillon to produce more complex and often lengthier wines.
Canterbury and Waipara (as opposed to Wiaparapa/Martinborough) is a small region in comparison to the other areas of NZ but is growing in popularity. Larger than Nelson in hectares planted (136 Hectares vs 216 Hectares in Canterbury) it still is amongst NZ's smallest planted areas (figures from 2000) but much as any other area is on the increase with a further 40 hectares planted in 2002.
The large area of land known as the Canterbury Plains(and I'm not talking about the area planted) is slowly converting to wine and olive plantings and according to many could be one of the future areas of NZ wines. Stretching from Kaikoura in the north to Dunedin in the south the area is well over 500 kilometers from one end to the other and has a great deal of land being utilised for sheep farming. Slowly but surely however it is converting and this is a good sign.
The styles of sav blanc produced differs from the north to the south (known as the Waipara) but it is hard to really determine terrior effect due to the limited number of vineyards. Mostly they are centralised around Christchurch (about half way between Dunedin and Kaikoura) and consequently tend to exhibit similar styles however Kaikoura Vineyards and one or to others have proven that the various terrior of the Canterbury plains produce some splendid examples when produced.
The wines tend to retain a little residual sugar in their production and having even retained this they still often contain 13.%+ alcohol. Very high for sav blanc indeed. This can often produce slightly flabby wine so to combat this adverse effect many Canterbury producers add the leaner Semillon, and by doing so produce grassier , smokier styles.
Excellent examples of Canterbury Sav Blanc variants include:
- Pegasus Bay Semillon Sav Blanc (55%-45%blend), from just outside Christchurch, this style exhibits classic Canterbury sweetness (residual sugar) excellent straw and lime notes. The texture is outstanding and the acids are high enough to out way any note of expected flabby characters.
- Morworth Estate Sav blanc(Northern Canterbury), a 75% majority blend of sav blanc and Semillon. This wine exhibits grape fruit characters with flinty mineral hints. Year to year this wine has been very consistant.
- Of the Southern areas Daniel Schuster makes a sav blanc (%100) in co-operation with Marchese Antinori. This is probably my favourite Waipara Sav Blanc, with extended lees contact and stainless fermentation the wine is very fruit driven while having a beautiful texture. While Schuster Wines is probably the top sav blanc his style is becoming more popular in the Southern Canterbury areas.
Otago on the other hand produces sav blanc that is unique within NZ. The many varied producers of Otago focus on the other aromatic varietals much like Canterbury, mostly because land value and availability is a limiting factor.
However what sav blanc is produced is often of a very high standard focused on pure fruit quality. Due to the high lime and stony soils in Otago (picture LOTR and the Plains of Rohan and you have Otago) the wine maintains high acids. Combined with the extended sunshine hours (the worlds most southerly wine region ,the equivalent of Spey in Scotland on the northern latitude.) the wines are often very powerful and intense. These are not food wines as the incredibly high acids, dominating flinty fruits often make pairing an impossibility. Although they do go very well with Oysters in particular, nearly every other food I have tried has become over powered and over wrought by the wines high acids.
Good examples include Chard Farm, Gibston Valley and Carrick.
Next time Chardonnay
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| Ken Bueckert
Grape Destemmer
Posts:93
| | 03/26/2003 6:34 AM |
| Thanks for the post Jeremy.
Funny, I had read something a while back about these regions (Canterbury and Otago)...so after reading your post I went and looked it up.
The source I read says...
"From a standing start, Canterbury suddenly became New Zealands promised land for Pinot Noir."
"Loess and gravel river terraces and their stressed low crops create a wine style that is lush and warm for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and thrillingly lean for Riesling."
Not a word of SB was mentioned.
About Otago...
Commenting about the "Remarkable intensity of Central Otago fruit"... "Hot days equal high ripeness; cold nights equal high acid. Result: memorable fruit flavours in the wines."
"Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc all show promise here, but the star is Pinot Noir."
I guess that explains your statement..."The sav blancs of Canterbury and Otago are rare and far between..."
Thank you for your SB rec's from these regions.
How are the Pinot Noirs in these regions?
Any rec's? | | | |
| Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 03/27/2003 1:32 AM |
| Tyee,
I will be doing a follow up for pinot noir after chardonnay, however to give you a head start.
Canterbury-
Pinot of note
Daniel Schuster
Pegasus Bay
Mountford
Waipara Springs
Kaituna
In Otago
Pinots of Note (where to start!!)
Gibston Valley
Mt Difficulty
Ollssen's
Chard Farm
Felton Rd
Cornish Point
Mt Edward
Akarua
Alexandra Wine Company
Bannock Brae Vineyards
Carrick
Dry Gulley Vineyard
Mount Michael
Rippon
Two Paddocks
Valli
These all would be 85+ point wines. Some such as the Felton Rd Block V and the Carrick Vineyard Pinot Noir and the Sngle Vineyard Mt Difficulty are 95+ point wines.
Now keep in note most of these won't be available in Canada or the US, however most have internet shipping facilities. Type NZ+ Otago Wine for a list of sites.
Otago, Martinborough (North Island) and Canterbury are fighting for NZ's prominant pinot capital label, so far Martinborough and Otago look most promising. Canterbury doesn't have the number of vineyards to capitalise on the label.
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| Ken Bueckert
Grape Destemmer
Posts:93
| | 03/27/2003 3:44 AM |
| Thanks for the rec's Jeremy.
The emergence of these two regions, especially Otago (according to my info), should see the wine world hearing more in the not so distant future.
Hopefully that means availability in places like Canada.
The info I have says that..."By 2004, Pinot Noir will dominate all other varieties in Central Otago, covering almost three-quarters of the region's vineyards. The Bannockburn district, a north-facing ridge riddled with abondoned gold mines, and the driest area in New Zealand, looks very exciting. The suntrap of Earnscleugh, behind Bannockburn, could turn out to even better."
Jeremy, probably a stupid question, but, is it due to climate/terrior, or is it being in the shadow of (not wanting to compete with) Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs that is propelling this region into mainly Pinot Noir?
If it means there is a better (perceived) market for Pinot Noir, in your opinion, how will they stack up against 'Old World' PN's on the world market? | | | |
| Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 03/27/2003 4:46 AM |
| Tyee,
As NZ sav blanc is really only coming onto the world scene now, you have to keep in mind that NZ wine makers have been producing wine for twenty to thirty years and many of them have been involved in the evolution of quality in nations such as Italy and Spain (Schuster for example helped at Marchese Antinori, developing new grafting and canopy systems.). Because many people outside of NZ are ignorant of this (And I don't mean this meanly, I just mean people are unaware) many presume NZ produces only decent Sav and now pinot.
This focuson Sav and now Pinot has been bought about by the likes of Parker and Steinman coming to NZ and trying the larger more prominant brands (Brancott is a prime example.) ,what is often not said is just how many varieties we do grow well.
For example Syrah is probably going to be the red that will dominate NZ's red future, but varietals that have done well in the past include Cab Sav, Merlot. According to Haliday he believes the Syrah's of NZ will rival the best of the northern Rhone (I'm not sure about this but I can see why he may say this- see my Stonecroft Syrah tn)
Pinot is grown in Otago because it works well there. Sav is produced mostly in Marlborough because it works well there. NZ producers don't really care about what they grow as long as it turns out well. Consequently it isn't uncommon to find vineyards that only produce 5000 cases with as many as ten differant verietals/styles being produced on the property. In other words it is probably terroir orientated.
As for regional competition it just doesn't happen. The terroir is so undefined that areas have reputations for specific varietals (Pinot from Martinborough, Canterbury and Otago for example) but also produce outstanding examples of other varietals.
If I was to define regions by varietal it would look something like
Northland -Syrah, Pinot Gris
Auckland- Chardonnay, Pinotage
Waiheke- Merlot, Cab Sav blends
Celevdon- Merlot
Waikato- Dessert styles
Gisborne- Chardonnay and Gewurzt
Hawkes Bay- Chardonnay and Cab Sav
Martinborough- All varietals , but predominantly Pinot Noir, Riesling, Syrah and Cabernet.
Marlborough- Sav Blanc
Nelson- Riesling and Chardonnay
Canterbury- Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling (keep in mind this is a huge area.)
Otago- Pinot Noir, and white Aromtaics.
But having said this there are some stunning Chardonnays produced in Otago and some brilliant pinot produced in Auckland. So there is no set rule, it really is just what has worked best in certain areas.
Many critics are writing about Otago's pinot yet it is the third most popular varietal planted behind Chardonnay and Riesling.
I hope that helps (although it probably confuses more than helps. Sorry- I do tend to get carried away.)
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| Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 03/27/2003 4:50 AM |
| Almost forgot-
In relation to how they stack up against old world styles.
Martinborough produces more berry oreintated styles with a more masculine style.
Canterbury is more Burgundian.
Otago is a mix of the to.
Parker wrote back in 1999 that the Felton Rd Blovk 5 pinot was comparable to a top Musigny (although he named no particular producer). Dry River Pinot (from Martinborough) has been described as the Nuit St Georges of the Southern Hemisphere by Jancis Robinson. GMT (on the WS site) gave Dry River a very positive response.
So the best compare well, the rest are probably comparable to Oregan and Californian pinots in diversity (both in style and quality). | | | |
| Ken Bueckert
Grape Destemmer
Posts:93
| | 03/27/2003 6:22 AM |
| I appreciate your response Jeremy.
Very fascinating wine Country (NZ).
Your comment about the potential strength of Syrah could make sense due to, for instance, Central Otago being on the same Latitude (45* south) parallel with the heart of the Rhone Valley as well as Bordeaux in the northern hemisphere.
It is said that there are hot spots here and there - on the shores of lakes, beneath sheer rock faces that reflect heat and retain it in the chilly summer nights.
I guess the question would be how many areas are going to be conducive to the growing of Syrah?
BTW, my wife and I are leaving in the morning to attend the Vancouver Wine Festival. Unfortunately, there are only two wineries from New Zealand represented there...Brancott (which you mentioned) and Stoneleigh.
Any rec's (unfortunately...I'm hoping your going to respond in the next 2-3 hours).
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| Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 03/27/2003 6:29 AM |
| | Brancott (aka Montana) owns Corbans (the producers of Stoneleigh) so you're actually only getting one company represented (sorry to put a downer on it.) However, try the Stoneleigh Riesling. In the Brancott range the Brancott reserve Pinot Noir (sells for around $30 NZD so about $15 USD -don't know Canadian exchange -sorry)is worth trying and ask if they have the Church Rd Range. It is a cheaper ($10USD ) range of wines that offer good value, the reserve Church Rd Range (if available) is excellent. Also the Brancott Signature series is outstanding QPR. Ask if they have the Patutahi Gewurzt- brilliant wine, the Ormond Chardonnay is good as well. | | | |
| Ken Bueckert
Grape Destemmer
Posts:93
| | 03/27/2003 6:32 AM |
| Jeremy
Just for fun, I am providing a link to our Provincial Government controlled liquor distribution (BCLCB) stock of New Zealand wines.
If you get an opportunity, perhaps you can give a 'Heads Up' on any good-great wines...(I'm a NZ wine rookie).
web page
(sure hope the link works)
Not required right away 
edit addition:
btw, I see our BCLCB has some of the rec's you have already mentioned. | | | |
| Ken Bueckert
Grape Destemmer
Posts:93
| | 03/27/2003 6:44 AM |
| BTW, thanks for the Brancott/Stoneleigh rec's Jeremy...we will be sure to give them a try.
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| Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 03/27/2003 7:03 AM |
| Some of the wine seem a little high in price (I know the Canadian dollar can buy more than the Kiwi) so I will list the approx NZD price here for you with regard to the wines I would recommend. 2 NZD = 1USD
Morton White Label Chardonnay- Hawkes Bay ($19.50) - A good cheapy and one of the better QPR chards available, but nothing spectacular.
Isabel Chardonnay- Marlborough ($35)- A very complex fruit driven wine.
Cloudy Bay Chard($35)- need I say more?
1998 Kaz Shiraz- Okahu, one of the best Shiraz ever produced in NZ. Fifteen gold medals between Air NZ, IWC, Syndey Top 100, Liqour Land Top 100. ($50 NZD)
Matariki Quintology 2000 - Another stunner. $45 NZD
Okahu Cliffton 1998 Chardonnay- A very good wine for the money. It picked up four medals at various events, maybe on its last legs however. ($25)
Mount Riley PN 99 - A lighter but very enjoyable PN. ($22.50)
Framingham Dry Riesling 2000- A stunner as far as Dry Riesling goes. $25+ in NZD
Coopers Creek Reserve Sav- A couple of medals and consistant write ups. $22 NZD
Craggy Range Avery Sav Blanc- a very good wine but may be a little high in price. ($25 NZD)
Framingham 2001 Sav Blanc- Very good sav blanc, a consistant producer. ($22)
Isabel Sav Blanc- A regular high scorer, more complex than most NZ sav's. $33
St Clair Sav- A good producer of NZ sav's. Intense fruit and acid driven style ($22)
Staet Landt Sav- Very surprised to see this. It is an oustanding producer, with a growing reputation. $29 NZd
Wairau River Sav- A good wine, well worth the dollars. ($20 NZD)
Hope that helps you Tylee.
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| Ken Bueckert
Grape Destemmer
Posts:93
| | 03/27/2003 7:29 AM |
| Once again, thank you Jeremy.
When I get back from Vancouver, I will set out to obtaining some of your rec's that they still have in stock.
I fear there won't be any Cloudy Bay SB...it is usually gone before it reaches the shelf.
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