Our Top 10 Wines of 2010

Well everyone else is doing it, so why can't we? The following is a list of 10 of the most exciting and downright bloody delicious NZ Wines we had the pleasure of tasting in 2010. Please note, the rankings are in no particular order, and sales figures were not taken in to account when compiling this entirely subjective list! We will also say though that the reviews are not in any way commercially motivated - we just simply wanted to share what we think are some exciting wines...Cheers!

Pegasus Bay Waipara Riesling 2008

We do love our aromatics from Waipara - a region that is starting to really stamp it's authority on the NZ Wine market in several varietals. Pegasus Bay are one of the pioneers of Waipara, and produce nothing short of excellent wines across everything they do. This Medium style Riesling has achieved an incredible balance and tension between sweetness and acidity, tropical and citrus fruits, bound together in a soft minerality and with a hint of spritz on the tongue to add further interest. 95/100

Craggy Range 'Te Kahu' Hawkes Bay Merlot Blend 2008

You expect Craggy to produce great wines - it's a given - but with Te Kahu they have managed to achieve a really exceptional blend that would happily compete with others at twice the price. Great dark fruits with some spice/cinnamon lead to a generous mid-palate, and a long smooth finish courtesy of supple tannins. Drinking well now, we think even better in 2012 onwards. We can hardly wait for the 2009 vintage as it was a stunner for reds out of Hawkes Bay. 93/100

Kumeu River Mate's Chardonnay 2007

The top wine from the extensive Kumeu River Chardonnay stable, this is our favourite NZ Chardonnay (though the 2006 Kumeu River Coddington was a very close second).100% oaked and 100% malo, this wine is both powerful and poised - Concentrated stonefruits are matched with a distinct minerality and a long savoury finish through fine acids finishes the wine perfectly. Consistently out-performs many of it's global peers. 2007 was probably the best Mate's yet. 96/100

Greystone Sand Dollar Pinot Gris 2010

Not surprising to see Waipara top our list for Pinot Gris. Greystone have won a massive number of accolades in the short time they have been established, and this wine took out Winestate Magazine's Pinot Gris/Grigio of the year for Aus/NZ. Greystone have achieved an excellent level of 'dryness' to this wine - something many other Kiwi pinot gris have yet to get right. Initial fruit sweetness is immediately taken over by fine acid and the faintest hint of phenolics - great focus and linearity from start to finish - a trademark of Waipara aromatics. Stunning food wine. 93/100

Vinoptima Gisborne Gewurztraminer 2006

Nick Nobilo has dedicated the Vioptima winery to producing only gewurztraminer - a gutsy move given this variety is still only at 'cult' status in these parts of the world ( a travesty given how much Asian-influenced foods we eat!). We felt the 2006 was a step up from the 2004 - a little less oily and more focus on wonderfully complex lifted spices ( a by-product of the vintage , according to the winemaker). Expensive for  Gewurz, but a wonderful wine to indulge in at least once! Will cellar well for many years. 94/100

Amisfield Central Otago Pinot Noir 2007

One of our top three selling Pinot's last year, and a really fantastic example of Central Otago Pinot Noir. 2007 was a low-yielding year, and we were lucky to have access to the 2007 for so long (due to run out in march this year). Loads of sweet dark fruits on the nose innediately backed up by spices. Palate is powerful and attractive from the start with waves of fruit, Christmas cake spice, followed by a lengthy gaminess..Soft supple tannins provide the structure for a long finish. The 2008 is rumoured to be just as good, already winning a series of medals and accolades - we can hardly wait! 93/100

Wither Hills Pinot Noir 2008

A great example of how good Marlborough Pinot Noir can be. This wine again won so many awards it's almost silly to list them all, though James Halliday's recent 96 Point review is worthy of mention. Being from such a large producer, the price has been incredibly competitive against some of it's peers (now only circa $30 in most stores in Australia). Powerful, effortless fruit is combined with silky smooth tannins that give an incredible length to the finish. A true credit the winemaking team. 94/100

Quartz Reef Central Otago 2006 Methode Traditionelle

This one sneaks in at the last minute as we just tried this over Christmas, and it is the best sparkling wine out of New Zealand we have ever tried. A blend of 97% Chardonnay and 3% Pinot Noir. Nose displays creamy, biscuity notes with a hint of peach. Palate is lively with a fine bead and creamy mousse. Dry, mealy, wonderful long finish. Crisp acidity. 94/100

Trinity Hill 'Homage' 2007 Hawkes Bay Syrah

This wine tends to battle with Craggy Range's Le Sol for best Syrah in NZ year after year after year in various tastings. We tried this vintage (alongside others) at our Syrah Masterclass in July last year, and had just 6 bottles to sell to the public. The nose is incredibly floral and elegant. The palate is big, dense, plenty of sweet fruit (blackberry and plum) and the obligatory white and black pepper notes..Needs another couple of years in the bottle, but the potential is obvious...Not cheap at $125+, but often rated higher than Grange by some critics. 97/100

Vavasour Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Vavasour are masters at Sauvignon Blanc - they make a lot of them under several labels and all are good - this one is excellent. Aromas of blackcurrant and citrus with a hint of tropical fruits. The palate is dominated by stonefruit with a hint of herbs and minerality. Excellent focus and crisp long finish. Ridiculously good value. 93/100