Zinfandel

Zinfandel 2007

2007 was a cool vintage but finished with a warm dry autumn. It is rare to finish a vintage without any rain for this critical period for the fragile Zinfandel.Dark magenta colour with a lifted aromatic bouquet of wild fruits. The palate is large and exhibits bold sweet blackberry flavours followed by soft lingering tannins. Great structure and balance. Should age extremely well.An early offering of this wine for the annual charity wine auction fetched over $750/cs. 5* review already.

Rosé - Zinfandel 2005

This is the first Rosé I have made. It was not high on the list of priorities (after about 20 vintages, that is probably stating the obvious), but there is a first time for most things. The weather pressure for vintage 05 suggested trying to make a full blooded Zin from this precocious grape was going to be like getting Winstone Peters to tell the same story twice. Many Rosés are made by running juice off to enhance the rest of a red ferment – colour and tannin wise. This wine was destined to be a Rosé from the start, and was made from 100% of the Zin crop harvested in excellent condition. The wine has lively aromatics reminiscent of strawberries, and a fresh alive palate suggesting light cherry flavours, and finishes with fresh natural Zin acidity.

Zinfandel 2004

Dense ruby colour, fresh aromatics of wild fruits. The palate has a lovely rich spicey feel, reminiscent of cloves while the finish is of long and fine grained tannins. Aged for 18 months in American oak. Nice wine looking for some wild game (venison?). Very attractive well balanced wine with very interesting complexity.

Zinfandel 2003

Deep garnet red. Richly scented vibrant aromatics of wild berry fruits. Rich, ripe plummy palate followed by grainy textural, tannin/spice finish typical of Zin. Drinking well. Crying out for some wild game food.

Zinfandel 2002

Medium colour – bright cherry with violet edges. Attractive lifted floral scented aromatics. Sweet fruit that envelops the mouth – soft sensuous racy palate finishing with a slight tang of acidity – typical of Zin. This wine is a bit light compared to what I would prefer to make – thanks to some early season rain. However it is a wine of many interesting dimensions with many typical Zin characteristics.

Zinfandel 2000

A rich array of aromatics, resembling a range of wild berry fruit. The palate is of medium density with typical Zin blackberry/raspberry mid palate flavours followed by a robustly structured acid/tannin finish, also typical of Zin. A most precocious variety.

Zinfandel 1999

Aromas of wild berry fruit and blackberry are followed by a full mid palate and a robust, slightly spicy finish. The wine has considerable character and complexity, but may not turn out to be our final stylistic impression of Zinfandel as the style and experience evolves. A generous wine with some medium cellaring potential and a piece of New Zealand's developing wine history.