Great flavour and good value from California and New Zealnd
Marmesa Vineyards
Marmesa Vineyards is a new range of wine from Cava Remouage in Paphos. And it’s a great pity that it can only be found in Paphos. Made by a cool Californian, the legendary Larry Brooks, these wines are subtle, poised, elegant and amazing value.
Larry spent his childhood with his nose in a book which taught him the importance of imagination. Growing up in a family of chemists, he soon learned to balance his passion for literature with an understanding of science.
All of this is evident in the 2005 Marmesa Vineyards Hollister Peak Chardonnay, Edna Valley, California, Alcohol Volume 13.5%. In this wine fruit flavour is key so the Chardonnay is unoaked. This wine exhibits Larry’s ability in perfecting cool climate winemaking with its rich texture and superb fruit of white peaches, blossom and leesy lime and hints of dried herbs. On the palate it has good supporting acidity and a refreshing acidity. It makes a good aperitif but better with my grilled sea bass with fennel and lemon, served at 9?C. (Cava Remouage)
The 2005 Marmesa Vineyards Cerro Romauldo, Syrah, Alcohol Volume 14.5% is a superbly-balanced ripe wine with juicy red cherry and blackberry fruit flavours. I have tasted plenty of Californian sunshine but this is neither sweet nor jammy. Elegance and restrained are the hallmarks here with a delicious savoury edge to the long fresh finish. This is a cracking example, with intense concentrated peppery ripe fruit that works beautifully with the Sunday roast pork at 17? C. It is possible to make premium quality Californian wine at an affordable price. (Cava Remouage)
Villa Maria
Villa Maria is one of New Zealand’s leading winemakers, a family-owned New Zealand winery founded in 1961, by its current owner and managing director George Fistonich. Villa Maria is one hundred per cent New Zealand owned and has been New Zealand’ s leading wine award winner, both nationally and internationally, since the early 1980s.
The passion to succeed begins in the vineyard. Astute site selection by Villa Maria’s vineyard experts is followed by superior vineyard management and then complemented by expert winemaking. The Marlborough Winery was officially opened in March 2000. The impressive new facility, is purpose-built to handle the increasing tonnage of grapes, sourced from this premium grape-growing region. The winery is located close to the central vineyard area and crushes all grapes harvested in Marlborough, the majority of which is Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.
2006 Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc, Cellar Selection, Marlborough, New Zealand Alcohol Volume 14%
This Sauvignon Blanc is a fine example of a good Marlborough Sauvignon. It has a clear pale yellow green colour. On the nose, attractive ripe lime and gooseberry characters dominate with hints of passion fruit, lychee and grass. The wine is concentrated with vibrant fruit (melon and peach) and it has a mid palate richness. In addition it is peachy, with a racy acidity, excellent length and crispiness. The finish is long clean, dry and tart. Try this wine at 7?C with pan-seared scallops with asparagus and baby leeks. (Remouage)
2006 Villa Maria Pinot Noir, Cellar Selection, Marlborough, New Zealand Alcohol Volume 14%
The Cellar Selection range of wines is a blend from the vineyards scattered throughout the Awatere and Wairau Valleys of Marlborough.
This delightful Pinot is a bright garnet red colour with a clean Burgundy red core. The bouquet is bursting with red and dark cherries, spicy plum and cinnamon notes, pepper and tart. This is a fruit driven, full bodied styled Pinot Noir, well balanced with rounded grainy tannins and silky. It has the lovely perfume coupled with richness and depth which makes Pinot Noir so alluring. Always serve this wine at 17?C. With its rich flavours and soft tannins New Zealand Pinot suits lean meats such veal, venison and New Zealand lamb. It can flatter the flavours of turkey too. (Remouage)
Stag’s Leap
2002 Hawk Crest, Vin de Table, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Napa, California.
More from the USA. Known for its fine quality and exceptional value, Hawk Crest wines have been handcrafted in the Napa Valley by Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars since 1974. Hawk Crest consistently delivers distinctive, balanced and approachable wines that are ready to enjoy upon release and will continue to improve with age.
Hawk Crest is actually the companion brand of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. This particular Chardonnay relies heavily on the cool climate growing region of Santa Lucia Highlands, near the vineyards of the famous Monterey County. This yellow colour Chardonnay opens brightly with soft aromas of white peach, pineapple and vanilla alongside subtle notes of jasmine and caramel-covered apple. The style is reminiscent of a Macon Village Chardonnay with melon, peach, followed by an array of flavours: ginger, jasmine, butterscotch. It has a rich silky mouthfeel, medium body, and finishes with bright acidity laced with minerality. I first tasted this wine at a christening party in mid July when it was served with lunch and proved excellent with shrimps and sourdough bread. Served at 9? C, it goes beautifully with roast turkey too, or red snapper with roasted red peppers and mango salsa. (Le Sommelier)
