The Valleys Wairau Gewurztraminer 2008
Very much a vintage in two parts – If you had finished vintage by 4pm on Monday 14 April, and we had, 2008 was a magnificent year – both in terms of quality and quantity. If you hadn’t, then a period of wetter weather compromised fruit quality due to the ravages of botrytis rot. The only silver lining, for us, was that the timing of this rain and then a dry period in May produced the best natural conditions, I have ever experienced, for making sweet Botrytised wines. We took advantage of this and made significantly more Botrytised Riesling than the norm and also a Botrytised Chenin Blanc – for our sweet wine fans; it’s your year!
Overall, and the media have made much of this, it was a vintage where the massive investment in vineyard production, especially in Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago, came to fruition. We were all caught out, a bit, by the size of vintage because initial indications from bunch numbers, determined at flowering 2007, indicated an at best average crop. What surprised us was the success of flowering, number of berries per bunch, and the final size of individual berries at harvest. Take for example Sauvignon Blanc – a bunch of Sauvignon Blanc usually averages 140g, this vintage we routinely measured bunches over 200g!
Gewurztraminer originates from northern Italy but its spiritual home is Alsace in north-east France. New Zealand makes some great styles and among them, this pungent, authentic and memorable wine from Forrest.
Tasting Notes
Star anise, freshly-grated ginger and lychees on the nose while the palate shows molten Turkish Delight, exotic spices and a rich luscious texture. This wine has a lovely ripe sweetness balanced with an elegant acidity. Ideal with Asian-inspired foods. |
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