Autumn Release 1995
1995 These '94 wines are amongst the last of our wines from a vintage which has been described by many as fine, and which does appear to be living up to its promise with most varieties. Lower than average crop levels, a warmer than average summer, and an extended dry summer and autumn have yielded wines with colour intensity, high levels of tannins and phenolics, and powerful flavours. At harvest the fruit was clean and the pHs low, and the resulting wines appear to have good cellaring potential.
- Gewurztraminer Selection 1994
This was harvested at the end of April from the home vineyard, when the sugars had risen to 27º brix and the flavours had gained weight and spice. The wine was fermented as dry as possible, finally being stopped at about 13.5% alcohol with around 50 grams residual sugar. The wine is in the style of the Alsace 'vendage tardive', showing typical weight and richness without obvious sweetness. The nose shows some rose petals underlaid with citrus peel and spices: The palate is rich and honeyed - again with the typical spices, lychees and orange zest. Overall the wine has similarities to the '90 Selection, being more fine-grained and perhaps a little broader on the palate at this stage.
- Pinot Gris 1994
The fruit is from Dry River Estate. The bouquet of this wine is forthcoming: floral (rose petals)) underneath ripe peaches/quinces, with hints of roasted nuts. The palate is broad and mouth-filling, with good flavour persistence. The flavours are ripe - of sweet quinces or apricots and again the underlying nuttiness present on the nose as in many other wines of this variety. The wine will benefit from another three years to soften and fill out further, and to develop the typical complex characters which can make aged examples of this varietal so delightful.
- Craighall Riesling 1994
This wine is distinct from the 'dry Craighall Riesling' released in spring. It is largely from a different block of Riesling (in the same vineyard), cropped low and picked mid-May with a little incipient botrytis. The wine was finished medium-dry, and the flavours are more limey and less floral than the Spring Release wine. This is still in a relatively dry style but it is more adaptable for casual drinking than the true dry Riesling. As always, the Riesling is suitable for laying down.
- Sauvignon Blanc 1994
This was harvested from the home vineyard, quite late in the season, when the grapes had been gaining little in sugar but continuing to progress in flavour. The flavours are ripe, appearing almost sweet, and the wine shows good weight in the mid to back palate without detracting from its elegance. It has quite a strong lemony colour for a young wine and a soft-textured palate. I would describe the flavours as limes with hints of lychees and I find it attractive for drinking now, although a gentle underlay of 'sappy' fruit tannins and the pure ripe flavours make this a Sauvignon which should age gracefully.
The structure and flavours of this wine also make it well suited to accompany food - try it with vegetable or fish soup as well as with more conventional fish, quiche and cheese.
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