Craggy Range ‘Gimblett Gravels Vineyard' Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2010 
Clones 95, 96, 15 and Mendoza from the ‘Gimblett Gravels' vineyard, WBP and fully barrel-fermented by indigenous yeasts to 13.87% alc., the wine aged 9 months in 24% new French oak with lees contact. Bright, very pale straw-yellow colour with lemon and green hues, this is very elegant and tightly bound on bouquet with aromas of white stonefruits and citrus fruits, along with nutty, toasty oak and complexing flinty elements that build in the glass. Medium-full bodied with depth, concentration and an underlying power, the citrus and mealy fruit is packed and slowly reveals flavours of creamy butter, grilled nuts and toast with smoke and minerals. A fine textural thread forms the palate line and together with fresh acidity, leads to a long finish. A classically styled Chardonnay that will develop over the next 4-5+ years. Match with grilled seafood, chicken and roasted pork. 18.5/20 Nov 2011 RRP $31.95
Glasnevin ‘Nobre' ‘Limited Release' Noble Riesling 2011
Made from late-picked Riesling fruit with 75% botrytis infection from Glasnevin soils on Georges Road in the Waipara Valley, cool-fermented to 10.6% alc. and 160 g/L rs. Fullish straw-yellow with golden hues to the colour, this has a full rich nose of honey, marmalade, yellow florals and apricots, showing very clean botrytis infection with ripe fruit. Very sweet, this is still tightly bound and showing excellent concentration of ripe and luscious lime and orange marmalade fruit flavours and considerable botrytised honey and apricot amalgam, all well-balanced and harmonised. The palate combines richness and a near unctuous texture with moderate acidity resulting in a degree of elegance and freshness. This is a rich and beautifully botrytised sweet wine with poise. It will be a match with fruit desserts as well as creamy blue cheeses over the next 4-5+ years. (750 ml) 18.5+/20 Nov 2011 RRP $50.00
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