The now well-established New Zealand Wine new releases tasting was on Tuesday 1st November. As usual it was held in the Penthouse of New Zealand House, which has one of the most spectacular views in Central London.
In total there were some 135 wines to taste – many from the 2017 vintage for the whites and 2016 for the reds but also examples from previous vintages going back to 2013. Unlike previous occasions Sauvignon Blanc was not the grape variety with the most examples to taste. This time Pinot Noir headed the list with 40 examples, while there were 37 for Sauvignon Blanc.
The 40 Pinot Noirs showed a big range from bright red fruit, easy drinking pleasers to seriously complex and structured wines, especially the range from Felton Road.
The other most popular styles were Chardonnay with 12 and sparkling wines with 11.
There was a short section (four examples) of 'smaller planting (other whites)' – an Albariño and a Grüner Veltiner from the Awatere Valley (Marlborough), a Sauvignon Gris from Marlborough, and a Verdelho from Hawke's Bay. With just four examples and all different grape varieties it is naturally impossible to come to any conclusions over what of these varieties might have a New Zealand future. For what it is worth I found the Grüner Veltiner and the Verdelho the most interesting. I thought that tasted blind the Sauvignon Gris would be indistinguishable from a Sauvignon Blanc.
Smaller plantings of other whites:
Hawke's Bay Verdelho 2017 Esk Valley
Awatere Valley Grüner Veltliner 2016 The Crossings
Marlborough, Sauvignon Gris 2017, Brancott Estate
Awatere Valley, Albariño 2016, Stanley Estates
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