Kim Crawford Marlborough Pinot Noir'04, Marlborough, New Zealand

Characterful and smooth Pinot Noir from New Zealand, really well crafted!

Technical Data:100% Pinot Noir. A portion of the wine was racked to older barriques for malolactic fermentation and ageing for 5 months. The wine has been sealed with a screw cap, this ensures cork taint is eliminated and oxidation is minimized.

Description:Garnet red color. Medium bodied style Pinot Noir with a berry nose focused on raspberry and strawberry with a hints of rhubarb and herbs. Elegant well balanced palate showing ripe sweet fruits laced with soft tannins, dusty- earhty characters, a touch of oak and a lingering clean finish.

Food Pairing & Service:Great with pasta, lighter red meat and fish such as salmon or tuna. Ready to drink as young but up to 3 years with careful cellaring.

Score:8/10

Suggested Retail Price:$18.99

Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc'04, Marlborough, New Zealand

A very grapefruity Sauvignon Blanc from the most famous region of New Zealand, Marlborough.

Technical Data:100% Sauvignon Blanc, aged in stainless steel tanks only. The wine has been sealed with a screw cap, this ensures cork taint is eliminated and oxidation is minimized. Within the differents wine-region in New Zealand, Marlborough is the 1rst one for its production of crisp and grassy Sauvignon Blanc.

Description:Straw yellow color. Classic Sauvignon Blanc characters for this full bodied wine which displays lots of ripe fruits such as grapefruit, gooseberry, figs and a touch of herbaceousness on both nose and palate. The palate is rich, well balanced with a nice crisp acidity. Citrus and grapefruity flavors are coming back again at the end with a slight bitter aftertaste .

Food Pairing & Service:Quite refreshing and light this wine could be drink as an aperitif or ideally suited to asparagus, oysters and summer salads. A wine to enjoy chilled now up to 5 years.

Score:7/10

Suggested Retail Price:$16.99

Drylands Sauvignon Blanc'04, Marlborough, New Zealand

A crisp and quite grapefruity Sauvignon Blanc with all the characters of New zealand ones!

Technical Data:

Description:Silvery yellow color with little beads of microbubbles that denote freshness. Citrus alike aromas but it is also grassy and flinty, a rich Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with ripe tropical and herbal aromas and flavors. A beautifully balanced wine, also layered with luscious sweet flavors of passion fruit, banana, with fresh, vibrant acidity and an intense, dry, lingering herbal finish.

Food Pairing & Service:Serve chilled with fish and seafood.

Score:7/10

Suggested Retail Price:$12.99

Bilancia Red'01, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Smooth "meritage" blend form Hawke's Bay. A new-comer on the US wine-market.

Technical Data:80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, grapes handpicked, aged 12 months in French oak.

Description:Dark garnet color. Very concentrated wine, lots of black cherry on both nose and palate. Some spiciness too, hint of toasty characters from the oak aging. Smooth tannins.

Food Pairing & Service:Ready to drink now, but will continue to improve with several more years of cellaring.

Score:8/10

Suggested Retail Price:$23.99

Puriri Hills'01, Clevedon, New Zealand

From a small estate, a new brand on the us market, made from us citizens lately emigrated in New Zealand. We wish you luck, keep up the good work!

Technical Data:65% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, grapes handpicked, aged 18 months in 80% new French oak. Grapes are handpicked.in 2001, 5000 cases only.

Description:Lively red color. Loaded with fruits on both nose and palate, the plum is followed by a slight earthiness with herbal characters and a hint of spiciness for a long lasting soft finish. Smooth tannins.

Food Pairing & Service:Ready to drink now, but will continue to improve with several more years of cellaring.

Score:7/10

Suggested Retail Price:$19.99