The newly-released 2014 Spy Valley Gewürztraminer is sourced from the Johnson Estate vineyard in Marlborough, New Zealand.
Individual parcels are picked and fermented individually with a portion in old oak vessels. Fermentation was slow at low temperature to preserve the primary fruit aromas. The wine spent 7 months on lees prior to blending and bottling.
Find out more with the full 2014 Spy Valley Gewürztraminer Technical sheet.
So what is this wine worth? The answer is in the tasting note:
Nose: literally an explosion of intense aromas, like a basket full of tropical flowers and fresh tropical fruit, with lychee dominant. Freshly cut pineapple, passion fruit, mango, pear and a touch of grapefruit. Wow, this is astonishingly intense. Almost difficult to describe the nose as it smells like no food does, more fragrant and more concentrated than anything natural you’ve ever smelt (well I’ve ever smelt anyway!).
Palate: a little sweeter than off-dry. The sugars do not feel dominant though, well-balanced by a decent acidity. Medium bodied. No surprises on the flavor profile, it’s the same storm of tropical notes, though with the addition of biscuit characters suggesting well-managed lees contact after fermentation. This, with a touch of grassy character on the background, gives the wine a slight savory feel. It surrounds the fruit flavors with subtle butter (nuts/grass) aromas, like fresh juicy fruit in a buttery pudding.
Overall, a well-made, clean and fresh Gewürztraminer. A great wine if you’re a fan of exuberant Gewurz/Muscat aromas, this will make your day. Your week even probably. There’s easily your recommended weekly amount of fresh fruit in there, at least aromatically!! The concentration is outstanding.
If you’re not a big fan of tropical fruits, but you don’t mind them, this may be still worth a taste for its unique intensity. Drinking many glasses may prove challenging given the aromatic intensity, so share the bottle between a few people as an aperitif. It will be sure to transport everyone on a blue-lagoon island…
Awards & accolades:
Gold Medal – Spiegelau International Wine Competition 2015
5 Stars / 95 Points – Bob Campbell Wine Reviews
4 1/2 Stars – Winestate Magazine
4 Stars – Raymond Chan Wine Reviews
Read the full Spy Valley Producer Profile:
Learn more about Spy Valley Winery on their website Spyvalleywine.co.nz
Find this wine to buy online on Wine-Searcher.
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