In the last 20 years New Zealand has burst onto the International scene with its wines, which are so full of flavour and character. In many ways India can look at the growth of the New Zealand Wine Industry and draw some parallels to its own growth phase.
New Zealand has a somewhat cooler climate than other grape growing regions of the world, such As <![endif]>its Neighbour Australia. This cool climate allows the grapes to spend longer on the vine ripening, and this in turn is thought to lead to greater concentrations of flavanoids within each berry. Hence we witness in New Zealand Wines an intenseness and richness of expression.
The first New Zealand Region to come to the International fore was Marlborough, where the planted Sauvignon blanc was seen to display freshness and intensity of Goosebury and grassiness unlike any other Sauvignon Blanc produced in the world.
Since then many other Regions in New Zealand have gained International prominence. We focus today on one particular region which has caught the eye of the world – Central Otago.
Central Otago Location:
Central Otago can be found at the bottom of the South Island, nestled in some of the most spectacular scenery in New Zealand. At 45 deg South it is the Southermost wine region in the world. It is by far the coolest of the New Zealand Wine Regions, which made it the perfect match for the likes of Pinot Noir and white aromatics such as Riesling and Pinot Gris. If ny region in the world can match the finesse and elegance of great Burgundian wines it is either Oregon In the USA or here in Central Otago. The Pinot Noirs that have come from here have found International Acclaim.
“This is God’s Country when it comes to Pinot Noir.” (James Halliday in Panorama 2000)
"Many believe this is where the Pinot grail is to be found" (Jancis Robinson - Wine Atlas of the World)
Central Otago Climate:
Central Otago is the only area in New Zealand with a semi-continental climate resulting in greater daily and seasonal extremes of temperature than found elsewhere in the country. Locked in deep valleys, surrounded by snow covered mountains, the vineyards have very low rainfall, (40cms per year at Bannockburn), though just 120 kilometres to the West, Milford Sound is the second wettest place on Earth with around 28 feet of rain being often seen in a single year. This proximity to very heavy rainfall means that we have large amounts of water available, but not a lot of it comes from the sky. The very low humidity (30-40%, typically) means that Botrytis rarely causes problems and gentle anti rot regimes can be easily achieved.
Summers are hot and dry, with autumns cool and generally dry with cold nights. Rain falls evenly throughout the year and averages from 325-700mm per annum, generally increasing to the west. The large diurnal temperature variation - the difference between daytime and night-time temperatures - contributes to flavour intensity, gives depth of colour and stability to the wines.
Long days and very little cloud add to the heat summation. Peak temperatures are often around 31-32º in the summer, but the nights are cool - one day last year we measured 33ºC maximum and 3ºC minimum in one 24 hour period!
Heavy frosts are common throughout winter and frost can occur at any time between March and November. Vines are susceptible to frost in the growing season and as a result most vineyards are on warm north-facing slopes which promote cold-air drainage. On flatter sites wind machines, water sprinklers and misting systems or other frost protection measures are adopted.
Great Wineries:
Names to look out for are Felton Road, Mount Difficulty, Chard Farm, Olssens, Peregrine, Two Paddoks amongst many. One I particularly want to spotlight today are the Great wines of Mt Rosa. I tasted these wines recently, and believe the expression in the Pinot Noir is superb – not only the richness but the minerality and elegance which one associates with the finest and at a very fair price. Similarly their Pinot Gris – A gold Medal winner at the recent New Zealand International Wineshow, and the Riesling were just fantastic. Below I have given some information on their wines. If you have any further questions or would like to know how to get hold of their wines to sample yourself – just ask me and I’ll do my best to help.
In New Zealand, Central Otago’s Gibbston Valley has become synonymous with producing some the world’s most unique pinot noir. Located at the eastern end of this valley is Mt Rosa, a legendary merino sheep station and one of the largest wine producers in this dynamic region. Mt Rosa’s vineyards produce a range of wines including the region’s flagship, pinot noir.
Mt Rosa has extraordinary natural potential, with its extensive sunny sheltered north facing vineyards and ideal soil type.
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Wine |
Mt Rosa Tasting Note |
Wine information |
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2006 Riesling |
“Lime, spice, ginger and mineral flavours with a warm rich elegant texture and an off dry finish.”
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Alcohol 12.1%
PH 3.20
TA 6.0
R/S 9.5
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2007 Sauvignon Blanc |
“Ginger, capsicum, fennel and guava aromas, a soft textural wine.” |
Alcohol 12.5%
PH 3.15
TA 5.9
R/S 1-2 g/l |
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2006 Pinot Gris
(Gold NZIWS / Blue Gold Sydney) |
“Lime, guava, mandarin skin, nectarine and honey blossom aromatics, rich and warmly textured with lots of elegance and finesse and a soft finish.”
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Alcohol 13.8%
RS 4.6
TA 4.7
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2006 Pinot Noir |
“Spicy aromas and a generous blackcurrant and
dried herb flavour profile. A warm, richly textured
mouthfeel and soft finish.”
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Alcohol 13.5%
T/A 6.3
Ph 3.61
RS dry <2g/l
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Puneet Dhall for indianwine.com