New Zealand Rocks it with Complexity

A few days ago, I attended the 2nd Annual New Zealand Wine Day virtual wine tasting. Did I say virtual? Yes, I did.  Through social media channels, wine lovers and wine industry folks taste, share and engage through various online software platforms. Technology has come a long way, baby! And if you haven’t participated in this sort of virtual tasting, you are missing a lot of fun.  If you want to learn more on how to participate in virtual events, hit me up with a comment and I’ll get you dialed in on how it works.  Social media knows no boundaries, and it really is a great way for consumers to connect with winemakers and industry professionals.

For this particular virtual wine tasting, Complexity, which represents twenty-one of New Zealand’s wineries, hosted the event with a single purpose: to establish the credentials of their nation’s fine wine. The program really pulled out all the stops to showcase fifty-nine wines from the diverse nature of their eight great wine growing regions. Kenmore Studios broadcasted live from downtown Chicago, complete with cooking demonstrations and food pairings. Celebrity winemakers were on hand to answer questions from the live audience and tasters via virtual social media channels.

I invited some friends over to partake in this event and we tasted through six wines, which was a good sample set to wrap our heads around what the regions had to offer. And on a side note, I think one of the best ways to learn about wine is to pick a region (or a small country like New Zealand) and open a handful of wines and taste through them–identify the differences and similarities in styles, flavors and smells. When you taste a larger sample from the same (or close) region, you can pick up how similar they are a lot quicker than if you tasted them individually.  And the next time you taste it, your memory will kick in and it will become easier to recall what it is. Try this method and see if it works for you.

If it’s been a while since you tasted a New Zealand wine and you happened to miss this event, why not create your own little New Zealand party? Invite a few friends over and ask everyone bring over a bottle. Taste through the different wines and discover a few favorites. After you taste through them, you’ll start to pick up the characteristics that New Zealand is know for; racy Sauvignon blanc, elegant Chardonnay and luscious Pinot noir. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with the regions and varieties. If you can’t find a good selection in your local market, check out the Vintage New Zealand website.  There is also a good list of importers and distributors listed here.

Post party, hit me up with a comment and let me know what some of your favorites are, or if you already have some favorites, I would love to know which ones you like. Happy New Zealand wine day!

I have a few tasting notes of the wines we tasted, and each wine dressed to impress:

2006 Cloudy Bay Te Koko Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

This is an intriguing wine that really hits the mark for new wave complex sauvignon blanc’s hitting the market. It has lots of citrus and herbs to go around, finishing on a high note of lemon and spice.  Rating: Very Good (89) | $32 | 13.9% ABV

2007 Kumeu River Estate Auckland Chardonnay

Clean, racy, bright and bouncy, this hits a crescendo of multi-layered Meyer lemon and grapefruit mingled with a touch of herb finishing long and zany.  Rating: Excellent (91) | $35 | 13.5% ABV

2007 Seresin Rachel Marlborough Pinot Noir

Pretty and aromatic, this Pinot noir is earthy and fruit forward; aromas and flavors are reminiscent of the fauna of the forest floor mingling with plums and cherries that carry through the long, sensual and heady finish. This is a fresh honest expression of Pinot noir, which should be enjoyed now or cellared for a few more years. Rating: Excellent (90) | $45 | 14.0% ABV

2008 Escarpment Martinborough Pinot Noir

A seamless well-balanced package with flavors that dance in the glass–tart cherry, pomegranate and plum integrates with smoky oak nuances from a well balanced barrel regimen. This makes it a benchmark for what all Martinborough New Zealand Pinot noir should strive towards; flavors carry over to the finish with excellent balance and well-integrated tannins. Let the wine breath 15 minutes or so before consuming—a delight worth the wait.  Rating: Excellent (93) | $40 | 13.4% ABV

2007 Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay ‘Le Sol’ Syrah

A huge and massive wine that explodes in the glass, the Gimblett Gravels lives up to its reputation of sourcing great Syrah from its stony soils.  It is hard to imagine this area was regarded as the poorest, least productive land in Hawke’s Bay not that long ago, with no hope of growing a decent crop of anything. This soulful syrah maintains a perfect balance of yin and yang—harmonious, greatly balanced and smooth with white pepper and plum flavors that lead to a spicy, silky finish. Give this wine five years and you will be in for a real treat. If you cannot wait, give it a little breathing time before consuming, maybe an hour or so. Rating: Excellent (94) | $90 | 14.0% ABV

2009 Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough

Very aromatic and pretty with plenty of grassiness and passion fruit to go around; pungent grapefruit flavors in the finish; expecting a little more excitement in the mid-palette, but overall a good wine that needs a little food to pull out its unique characteristics.  Rating: Very Good (87) | $27 | 13.0% ABV

Looking for more great New Zealand wines? Check these out…