Short notes from a tasting at the Santi's Wine Bar for selected clients.
Wild Rock by Craggy Range, New Zealand
The Infamous Goose Sauvignon Blanc 2007 - Nice nose. Very fruity. Soft. Good.
Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2005 - Some oak. Soft, Some complexity. Good.
Vin Gris Pinot Noir Rose 2007 - Light, nice body. Fresh tasting. Good.
Gravel Pit Red Merlot/Malbec 2006 - Tannic. Berries. Decent length. Nothing great.
Cupid's Arrow Pinot Noir 2007 - Strawberry nose, smoky, rubbery, Pinotage-like. A bit odd.
Craggy Range
Yacht Club Sauvignon Blanc 2007 - Closed. Very light and dry. Didn't like it.
Glasnevin Riesling 2006 - Semi sweet, ripe fruit. Easy, friendly. Very nice.
Gimblett Chardonnay 2005 - Lots of oak but well-balanced. Long finish. Good.
Te Kahu 2006 - Mostly Merlot I think. Dry, tannic. Not too interesting.
Te Muna Pinot Noir 2006 - Good nose. A bit of alcohol sticks out. Soft. Strawberry and cherry. Quite forward. Very good.
Block 14 Syrah 2006 - Lots of fruit. Spicy and soft. Dry, dried herbs. Slightly bitter finish. Very good.
Planeta (Sicily)
La Segreta Bianco 2007 - Grecanico and Chardonnay. Soft and simple. Good quaffer.
Alastro Bianco 2006 - Grecanico and Chardonnay. Very soft. Soapy. Boring.
La Segreta Rosso 2007 - Nice nose. Very fruity. Good fruit. Solid wine. Nice.
Cerasuolo di Vittoria 2007 - Nero d'Avola and Frappato. Very nice nose. Sweet strawberry fruit. Light, friendly and sweet. Sort of like Beaujolais. I could drink a lot of this. Very good.
Burdese 2005 - Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Good nose but hot. Sweet fruit. Very spicy. Quite soft. Very good.
Fontanafredda
Gavi del Comune di Gavi 2007 - Attractive. Some sweetness. Prickly mouthfeel. Very refreshing. Very good.
Papagena Barbera d'Alba Superiore 2004 - Soft, but firms on the finish. Good fruit. Very nice.
Barbaresco Coste Rubin 2004 - Good nose. Some menthol. Good fruit. Medium body. Already approachable for such a young Barbaresco. Very good.
Poggio Bonelli Chianti Classico 2006 - Sweet fruit. Very tannic. Good.
