Richmond Plains in New Zealand is a certified organic and biodynamic producer of various types of wine. Situated in Nelson, at the top of the South Island of New Zealand, they were established 20 years ago by Samantha and Lars Jensen, and are still a family run company. One of their wines was labelled 'Blanc de Noir', and I couldn't for the life in me figure out why.
The 2009 Richmond Plains Sauvignon Blanc was fine. Priced at £14, it had an aroma of hot lawnmower box then grass and nettles galore with a bit of elderflower creeping in. There is more of the grass on the palate, a lot of acid but quite nice at the same time and all its little flaws (alcohol, acid) merge together at the end and disappear into a finish with sweet citrus on the finish and green pepper too. It is worth the money, is a tasty wine and I scored it 6.5/10.
The 2010 Blanc de Noir is a different kettle of fish. Made as a white wine, with whole bunch pressing and getting the grape juice away from the skins as quickly as possible, this rose had a little redcurrant coming off, with graphite aromas. Then there was, strangely, a lot of white cabbage! There is a little sweet fruit off the front end of the palate with some very subtle red berries and crisp pear. A bit minerally and then with peach stone coming through on the finish. A creamy texture but a touch too high acid but I quite like it. 6/10
My problem though, was why not label it as a rose? Nobody is ever going to ask for a Blanc de Noir unless they are buying a Champagne, and even then the likelihood of that happening is slim to nil. I grant you, a wine geek (and for that I include myself) may try it specifically to see what a Pinot Noir is like when made as a white wine, but I can just see this causing more confusion to the punter than it is worth.
Today I tried two decent wines from Richmond Plains - a Sauvignon Blanc and a rose. It is a lot easier for the majority of people to understand that then a Sauvignon Blanc and a Blanc de Noir.
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