Scents of harmony - NZ Gewürztraminer (Issue 139, March 2010)
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 If Riesling is discipline with a twinkle in its eye, Gewürztraminer is frivolity trying hard to behave. Its exotic perfumes and voluptuous sweet-spice flavours can be heady fare and will run riot if not balanced by other elements such as acidity. In New Zealand, the variety has quietly established a small, but strong presence. Our best practitioners make outstanding wines and the tasting panel was delighted with the quality of some new releases. Unusually for an aromatic variety, more than half New Zealand’s Gewürztraminer plantings are in the North Island. This was not reflected in the results of the tasting; the lion’s share of the top wines was from the south.
Tasting Panel
Facing the music with John Belsham, Cuisine’s regular tasting panel chair and owner of Foxes Island Wines, were an aromatically well-attuned pair of judges. New Zealand’s only master sommelier, Cameron Douglas, filled one seat. Anna Flowerday, winemaker and co-proprietor of Marlborough winery Te Whare Ra, took the other. Although raised in South Australia’s famous red wine district McLaren Vale, the call of cool-climate aromatics brought Anna to New Zealand. The associate judge was Jane Boyle, product strategy manager at New Zealand Wine Cellars.
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Cuisine Top 5 NZ Gewürztraminer
To qualify for Top 5 status, wines must be readily available for general purchase. Some wines might rate as high or higher but are hard to find. Wines are listed in order of final scores.
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1 |
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Te Whare Ra Gewürztraminer 2009 (Marlborough) |
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2 |
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Spy Valley Gewürztraminer 2009 (Marlborough) |
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3 |
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Framingham Gewürztraminer 2009 (Marlborough) |
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4 |
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Morton Estate White Label Gewürztraminer 2009 (Hawke’s Bay) |
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5 |
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Chard Farm Gewürztraminer 2008 (Central Otago) |
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