Dry River Pinot Noir Martinborough 2008

Date of Tasting: 17 August 2015

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir

Alcohol: 12.5%

Origin: Martinborough, New Zealand

Appellation: Martinborough

Expect to Pay: ~ EUR70

Web: http://dryriver.co.nz/
Chubby Appreciation: 93/100
Critics' Opinion: WA - 91/100, WE - 91/100, JR - 17.5/20, CT - 90/100

Appearance: Ruby in colour with hint of purple.

Aroma: Sweet red fruits and cherry mainly with forest floor on the background. Mild spices.

Palate: Exhibit layers of sweet fruits primarily: cherry, raspberry, and plum. Fresh and crisp. Medium-full on the structure. Fine tannins. Hint of vanilla and oak. 

Not quite the same in character as in other New Zealand pinot noir. Its fruit character stands out pretty nicely. But its sexiness comes when more dimension started showing out: spices, vanilla, flowers, earth, and etc. It is not quite old world in style nor masculine new world. Elegant and velvety are sure ones. Though it is not my style but I cannot disagree it is an enjoyable one.

Craggy Range Chardonnay Kidnappers Vineyard 2011

Date of Tasting: 17 April 2015

Wine Type: White

Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay

Alcohol: 13%

Origin: Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

Appellation: Te Awanga

Expect to Pay: ~ EUR15

Web: http://www.craggyrange.com/
Chubby Appreciation: 89/100
Critics' Opinion: WS - 89/100, WE - 87/100, JS - 91/100, FS - 87/100, JR - 16/20, CT - 88/100

Appearance: Light yellow

Aroma: Aroma of citrus and tropical fruits. Undertone fresh herbs.

Palate: Medium-full and creamy on the palate with balance of crisp acidity and minerality. Notes of apple and lemon. Clean and pure. Dry and stony.

Clean, crisp, and subtlety in style. It is a great table wine as well as for drinking as aperitif. I like the way that it does not need much attention to enjoy it at the same time it can still manage to keep its momentum throughout. This perhaps exhibits the style in the similar pace to Chablis. Its life might not last long and it might as well last long in your cellar. Cheers.

Craggy Range Sophia Gimblett Gravels 2008

Date of Tasting: 13 March 2015

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: 89% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Franc

Alcohol: 14.5%

Origin: Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

Appellation: Gimblett Gravels

Expect to Pay: ~ EUR60

Web: http://www.craggyrange.com/
Chubby Appreciation: 95/100
Professional Rating: WA - 94/100, CT - 94/100

Appearance: Opulent garnet

Aroma: Persistent aroma of dark berries, spices, and floral

Palate: Firm and tannic kind of style with big bodied but yet subtlety. Sweet blackcurrant and cassis bursting out at the first sip. Rich and smooth texture. Vibrant acidity balanced the picture well. Apparent toasty oaky feel.

Pretty nice bottle of Merlot based wine in its own style. Rich in fruit. Elegant despite power. Somewhat fabulous with oakiness that did not overwhelm. It might, however, be a little plain for those who look for multi dimensions structure. Well, it is wonderful now for drinking. I enjoyed it with nice piece of medium-rare rib eye. Red meat dish that is not too complex should pair well. Cheers!!!

Framingham Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Date of Tasting: 4 January 2014

Wine Type: White

Grape Varieties: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Alcohol: 13%

Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand

Appellation: Marlborough

Expect to Pay: ~ THB650

Web: http://www.framingham.co.nz/
Chubby Score: 88/100
Value for money: 7/10
Professional Rating: WA - 90/100, WS - 87/100, WE - 89/100, CT - 87/100

Appearance: pale straw lemony yellow

Aroma: fragrant and aromatic grapefruit and nectarines, stony edge and mineral, hint of smoke, and floral

Palate: medium body that comprises some fair length of complexity. Dry with crisp and balanced acidity. Tropical fruits on the flavour. Some lemon, herbs, and forest floor. Chalk and mineral stone.

A wine to drink now with fading life. Fairly priced New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. This is an easy to drink one. Clear cut acidity and lack of after taste heat are really accessible. Smooth and cool with fine nose character. Only if complexity and charm are not so interesting, otherwise a classic cool climate Sauvignon Blanc. It can be really good with white fish dish, asparagus, and raw fish. Drink up now if you have in stock. Cheers!!!!

Burnt Spur Pinot Noir 2010

This time we would like to introduce a really good value for money wine from cool climate area. It is a pinot noir based wine from Martinborough of New Zealand that is just so smooth and  elegant

Date of Tasting: 9 March 2013

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir

Alcohol: 14.0%

Origin: Martinborough, New Zealand

Appellation: Martinborough

Expect to Pay: THB1,000 – 1,500 (retail price in Thailand)

Web: http://www.burntspur.co.nz/

Chubby Score: 93/100
Value for money: 10/10

Professional Rating: n.a.

Appearance: translucent bright red

Aroma: violet floral petal nose and hint of truffle

Palate: medium to light bodied pinot noir with balance tannins and acid structure, seductive sweetness of dark berries, background of spices, subtle and yet elegant, beautiful complex finish that goes on and on

This is a wine that pretty much easy to drink and well priced. Enjoyable now and perhaps can be kept for the consuming during the next few years. Fabulous it is. Recommend for pinot noir lovers to have some stock of it.