Great New Whites. Clouds cast an eerie shadow over Auckland in early November, making me long to hot foot it out of the city sooner than you can pour me any liquid consolation, but since that wasn’t an option on a particularly palid day, I headed to The Grove for lunch instead. New wines from the sun-drenched shores of Lake Dunstan, Central Otago, saved my mood.
The pinot gris, riesling and gewürztraminer from Misha’s Vineyard are in their second year – Misha and Andy Wilkinson live in Singapore and employ Kiwi winemaker Olly Masters to make their heady wines. They’re heady because they pack a high alcohol punch – the pinot gris is 14.8 per cent and the gewurztraminer is 14.3 – making the riesling relatively restrained at just 11.9 per cent. It’s also the queen of this aromatic white trio. The Grove’s fresh slivers of salmon tasted great with the riesling. And that low alcohol is just what I crave at this time of year. The pinot gris was flavoursome, though I still struggle with this variety’s relative lack of personality – especially compared to the subtle power of riesling and gewürztraminer. All three wines brightened Auckland’s insipid, overcast spring. Thanks, Misha.
WINES OF THE WEEK
2008 Misha’s Vineyard Limelight Riesling $26
Here’s a perfect wine to drink on the beach, in the sun or even on an overcast day.
2008 Misha’s Vineyard The Gallery Gewurztraminer $28
Light rose aromas lead into a light, fresh white with sweet spicy flavours in a dry style.
(Joelle Thomson, Herald on Sunday, 6 Dec 2009)
http://joellethomson.com/HeraldonSundayarticles.html