We are getting seriously southern this week, from South America to Southern sauvignon, to a pink that’s been aged in the drink. It’s a smorgasbord of cool treats …
Corralillo Chardonnay 2013 $25 Sourced from the region of Rosario in Chile's San Antonio Valley, this chardonnay grows in decomposed granite soils studded with quartz and volcanic material, which probably explains the vein of minerality stitching the stonefruit, yellow plum and slivers of grapefruit together. Pronounced "matt-eh-cheech", it's nutty,slightly creamy on the finish, and darn lovely.
Sip with slivers of strong gouda.
Bladen Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $21 The thing I really like about this wine is that it doesn't have any thing OTT about it. All the citrus layers of lemon, lime and feijoa are contained in layers of sweet, grassy goodness. Elegant and herbaceous, it's a wine that Christine and Dave MacDonald have done themselves proud with, making a snazzy, pea-pod and passionfruit-packed sauvignon.
Sip with mussel fritters drizzled with lemon and sprinkled with parsley.
Greystone Waipara Rosé 2014 $25.50 At the foot of the Teviotdale Hills on the western side of the Waipara Valley is a series of fossil-studded vineyard slopes known as "the golden mile". The pinot noir used to make this rosé grows here. Five barrels were aged underwater through spring and summer to produce a wine oozing with baked cherry and raspberry tea flavours and boasting a dry, tangy finish. Smooth, generous and lengthy.
Sip with lamb and pomegranate salad.
Yvonne Lorkin is a wine retailer, wine writer and member of the Wine Writers of NZ.
