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Astrolabe
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The new 2011 pinot gris from the maestro is superb. Grown in the Waihopai and Awatere Valleys , from a fabulous vintage. A portion of the fruit was hand harvested and whole cluster pressed. The cuvée juice was fermented at low temperature with grape solids retained, to impart a creamy texture we so desparately seek in NZ Pinot Gris. "Aromas of white fleshed stonefruit and fresh pear, with a little vanilla pod, cardamom and citrus zest. The palate is pure, easy-drinking wine with a fine minerality and delicacy of structure. Stonefruit and pear flavours dominate." Another beaut from Astrolabe
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Simon Waghorn is a perfectionist both in the vineyard and winery and it certainly shows in this delicious chardonnay. Simon cut his teeth making the famous Corbans Private Bin Gisborne Chardonnays - so he knows how to make that lovely classy, rich, creamy chardie. "The 2009 was hand picked, fermented and matured in oak barrels, and given a full, softening malolactic fermentation. Its a stylish, fleshy wine, buttery and toasty, with finely balanced acidity and good complexity. It will age well." Absolute top NZ chardonnay
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A single vineyard pinot gris which is sourced from a unique pocket of limestone soil. A personal favourite of ours from a vineyard that is situated inland from the 'Stone Store' on the Kiakoura Coast. Tiny yields from this old limestone gravel bed give this a unique terrior. "It's an intense and relatively oily textured wine in which ripe nectarine fuses with sweet exotic spice over a fresh citrus and minerally core. Powerful but poised"
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Because of its difficult growing nature and rather 'unfashionable' name it is so hard to find quality gewurztraminer at sensible money. The 2009 Astrolabe however is a beauty. "Gently aromatic wine with concentrated Turkish delight, tree fruit, vanilla pod and cinnamon/spice flavours. Silken-textured and appealing wine with strong varietal definition. Made from a mix of hand-harvested and machine-harvested (at night only) grapes that were given a gentle press to achieve a gentle texture. Made in a moderately sweet style with 22.1 g/l of residual sugar although the wine is beautifully balanced without any suggestion of cloying." Bob Campbell
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This meticulous winemaker has produced a superb, ready to drink pinot at great $$$. 5 Stars in Winestate Magazine "Rich, sweet fruited red, deeply coloured with substantial body and concentrarted, well-rounded flavours. Intensely perfumed and elegant, with supple tannins." Geoff Kelly also comments "Wines like this still win gold medals in New Zealand pinot judging, so it is well worth trying."
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A small excellent parcel of fruit was used for this beautiful dry riesling. With Simon Waghorn being a perfectionist you know this is an exemplary example. It has a complex mineral and lime nose with fresh, delicate and pure flavours of flowers, granny smith and ginger. Sublime N.Z.riesling.
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This is Astrolable beautiful off dry low alcohol riesling- much in the style of the great German rieslings
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Another superalative score ( 94/100 ) from Bob Campbell - and one of the top scores for a 2010 sauvignon. "From a small, limestone-laced vineyard on the coast half way between Blenheim and Kaikoura. Intense, powerful wine with lovely minerality dominating gooseberry and capsicum characters. Quite Chablis-like despite being made from a different grape variety. Long and linear." 94/100 Bob Campbell. Also featured in the NZ Herald Viva Column.
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"Astrolabe earns my vote for being New Zealand's leading Sauvignon Blanc maker." Bob Campbell . 93/100 from Bob Campbell "On the nose it’s alive with Lemon grass, lime peel and elderflower, with background notes of white currant and red pepper. The palate is already generous with currant, gooseberry and citrus flavours, and a dry mineral finish." Simon Waghorn is one of this country’s most able winemakers with winemaking experience stretching over three decades. Very very classy sauvignon.
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