I hate TV shows like the X Factor. They produce the same namby pamby, dull singers year in, year out, that sell bucketloads of CDs to idiots. They rip out any interesting element that the singer's voice may have and make them dull, boring singers with a limited shelf life. I also think the same about new world wine ranges. Whenever I get a producer showing me their range of wines, I usually find that they are going to be a soulless experience. Multiple grape varieties instead of a few, excellently chosen ones producing good wine and making use of the terroir, totally inoffensive guff that tick the flavour profile of the grape but do noting more.
I expect to get the pitch perfect but dull tones of Leona Lewis instead of the imperfect, but brilliant voice of James Brown.
Then occasionally, you get something different, and that is what I got with Crater Rim.
These wines, not available (yet) in the UK, are brilliant. They have the usual new world mix of grape varieties, but they don't produce the same fruit bomb wines that you usually get.
Crater Rim Sauvignon Blanc, 2007 £10.00
Simple, gentle nose. A bit grassy, with asparagus. The palate is reasonably big, tangy with a spicy, passion fruit flavour. A little hot, but really nice stuff. If there is a weak point in the whites, it is this, but it still gets 8.5/10
Crater Rim Waipara Riesling, 2006 £10.00
Germanic nose, with soft, lemon and lime creeping off. A touch of sweetness too. The palate is all about lime, a touch of tangerine and with a lovely sweetness. It is brilliantly balanced, and so clean. Fantastic. 9/10
Crater Rim Akaroa Pinot Gris, 2006 £13.00
Not available and never to appear again. This late harvest wine is all marzipan, rich and nutty, on the nose. The palate has the marzipan again, with cooked butter, tangerine and pears. It is minerally on the finish. Brilliant. 9.5/10
Crater Rim Cantebury Pinot Noir, 2006 £13.00
Perfumy with nice raspberry aromas. Palate is soft, with earthy, stony fruit. Shows restraint and balance. Nice and sexy with a gentle spicy flavour and a bitter finish. 8.5/10
These are brilliant wines, being interesting and affordable and delivering passion in a glass. They may not be 'perfect', and doing everything that every other Kiwi wine does, but they show soul. They are the James Brown of New Zealand wine.
Crater Rim website - www.craterrim.co.nz
I expect to get the pitch perfect but dull tones of Leona Lewis instead of the imperfect, but brilliant voice of James Brown.
Then occasionally, you get something different, and that is what I got with Crater Rim.
These wines, not available (yet) in the UK, are brilliant. They have the usual new world mix of grape varieties, but they don't produce the same fruit bomb wines that you usually get.
Crater Rim Sauvignon Blanc, 2007 £10.00
Simple, gentle nose. A bit grassy, with asparagus. The palate is reasonably big, tangy with a spicy, passion fruit flavour. A little hot, but really nice stuff. If there is a weak point in the whites, it is this, but it still gets 8.5/10
Crater Rim Waipara Riesling, 2006 £10.00
Germanic nose, with soft, lemon and lime creeping off. A touch of sweetness too. The palate is all about lime, a touch of tangerine and with a lovely sweetness. It is brilliantly balanced, and so clean. Fantastic. 9/10
Crater Rim Akaroa Pinot Gris, 2006 £13.00
Not available and never to appear again. This late harvest wine is all marzipan, rich and nutty, on the nose. The palate has the marzipan again, with cooked butter, tangerine and pears. It is minerally on the finish. Brilliant. 9.5/10
Crater Rim Cantebury Pinot Noir, 2006 £13.00
Perfumy with nice raspberry aromas. Palate is soft, with earthy, stony fruit. Shows restraint and balance. Nice and sexy with a gentle spicy flavour and a bitter finish. 8.5/10
These are brilliant wines, being interesting and affordable and delivering passion in a glass. They may not be 'perfect', and doing everything that every other Kiwi wine does, but they show soul. They are the James Brown of New Zealand wine.
Crater Rim website - www.craterrim.co.nz
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