This month we are suggesting fruity, juicy, fresh wines, showing the typical character of the grapes. A Riesling from Germany, and a Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Noir from New Zealand, perfectly refreshing for the hot summer months.
2009 Dönnhoff Niederhäuser
Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese | Germany, Nahe Region
Spätlese literally means “late harvest” indicating that the grapes were picked 7 to 15 days after the harvest time. Therefore, the grapes are riper and have a higher sugar concentration giving origin to a fuller wine. On the nose it shows delicate aromas of pears, apples, limes, lychees and white flower blossoms, with delicate mineral notes and a touch of petrol. Off-dry to medium dry, the palate is wonderful providing fruit, fruit and more fruit. It feels like tones of pears, apricots, peaches, tangerines and limes were crushed to concentrate the juice. The structure is oily with a vivid acidity and freshness to balance. And it has a finish that just keeps going on and on. It still needs to wait to reach its best complexity. Pair it with cold meats, fresh salads, light cheeses, smoked fish and rich pâtés.
2009 Churton Sauvignon Blanc
New Zealand, Marlborough Region
Winemaker Sam Weaver follows the motto “New World wine tempered with Old World style”. His wines are fruity, revealing the purest expressions of the varieties, complemented with a light degree of complexity that brings the wine to a higher level of interest and enjoyment. An aromatic perfumed wine, showing citrus, lemon, peach, floral, elderflower and herbaceous grass notes. On the palate, it is bone dry, fresh with crisp acidity, a light creamy texture and a great expression of the ‘green’ fruit profile of the grape variety, with delicate herbal and citrus notes with a lean finish. Great with seafood salad, grilled fish dishes, goat’s cheese and Thai food.
2009 Churton Pinot Noir
New Zealand, Waihopai Valley, Marlborough Region
Made from organically grown grapes, this is one of the very few Marlborough Pinot Noirs to be bottled with a traditional cork. It is a fairly intense wine with a blend of cherry, strawberry, plum and savoury flavours. On the palate, it shows a good degree of complexity with cherries, dry musky rose-like perfume, combined with forest floor earth, mushroom and spice. The texture is silky with fine grained tannins and a finish of earthy and cherry fruit. Good to pair with poultry, beef and lamb, truffle and mushrooms, from light to creamy dishes.
