Cuisine Wine

NZ Gewurztraminer 2017 Tasting results

13 February 2017 (Cuisine magazine Issue 181)

DON’T GET ME WRONG This misunderstood varietal deserves a lot more love than it currently receives, writes JOHN SAKER.

VARIETAL WITH FUNNY name seeks affection from wine lovers eager to spice
up their lives.’ Yes, gewurz wants a little more understanding and commitment
than it’s currently getting from consumers.

It’s easy to see why. Gewurztraminer’s demonstrative flavours have been derided by some as being too showy and confronting. (Suffice to say some other varietals would he happy to have even a half of gewurz’s personality.) There are also widely held perceptions that it’s usually cloyingly sweet (it isn’t), and hopeless in partnering food (nothing could be further from the truth). This latest Cuisine tasting once again revealed that a small number of dedicated Kiwi wineries produce some truly terrific expressions of gewurztraminer.

“The best examples harnessed the variety’s flamboyance to well-crafted structure,” said panel chair John Belsham. “These wines are a credit to both the variety and New Zealand’s aptitude for it.”

TASTING PANEL

The riesling tasting panel also tasted this NZ gewurztraminer tasting

top NZ Gewurztraminer 2017

Bladen Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2016

‘CLASSIC’ IS THE right descriptor. Those heady fragrances that only superb gewurztraminer can offer are here in abundance – lychees, rose petal and “frangipani” (as noted by Cameron Douglas).

In the mouth this wine is voluptuous but fresh, focused yet delightfully decadent. It is medium in style with a creamy texture and terrific length – “a wine that speaks of its place”, noted John Belsham, who also felt a soft, smelly cheese would be an ideal match.

| $25
→ more 1 View All Results in the Bladen Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2016 Tasting

Star ratings for this tasting

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  • Outstanding 2
  • Excellent 2
  • Very Good 3
  • Good 9
  • No Award 10
  • Total Entries 26