An eventful year which began with a visit to Singapore and New Zealand.
Review of the Year Part 1
Tag: New Zealand
Hawkes Bay Wine Region Part 2
Back in February I wrote the first part of this post about the wines of Hawkes Bay but somehow never got round to publishing the second part. so without much further ado.
Alpha Domus
First plantings in 1991 in the Bridge Pa Triangle district of Hawkes Bay. The winery is located close to an airfield used for pilot training in old Tiger Moths hence the logo on the estates labels.
Alpha Domus Heroines Rose 2017
Made from 100% merlot. Pale salmon in colour. Strawberry on nose and palate. Very dry
Alpha Domus Skybolt Chardonnay 2015
This is a lovely style of chardonnay with lemon citrus and peach. Quite full with a lovely lingering finish. Good value.
The Fox Moth Merlot 2015
Medium bodied, soft plummy fruit and berries with a rich savouriness. A nice lingering finish.
Alpha Domus The Barnstormer Syrah 2016
Youthful in appearance. Characterful with dark berries and lots of peppery spice.
Alpha Domus The Navigator 2014
A Bordeaux style blend of Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. A good mature colour with soft berry fruits, plums, vanilla and spice. A full bodied wine with a nice finish.
Alpha Domus Noble Selection 2015
100% Semillon. Honey, nutty with a nice acidity to balance the sweetness. There are tropical fruit flavours with a touch of vanilla and marzipan.
Te Awa
Te Awa Sauvignon Blanc 2015
80% in stainless steel, 20% French oak. Limes, asparagus with  pear drop finish. A slightly richer style of sauvignon with a delicate touch of oak on the mid palate.
Te Awa Chardonnay 2015
Pale yellow in appearance. Lemon citrus, banana and a touch of vanilla. This wine has lovely balance and weight. Good value.
Te Awa Kidnappers Cliff Chardonnay 2014
Pale yellow and vibrant in appearance. lemon citrus, toast and a very pronounced flinty/gun-smoke aroma. Â Palate is dry and complex. Very good.
Te Awa Left Field Malbec 2015
Youthful, red with a purple rim. Red fruits and blackcurrants. A lighter style of Malbec for easy drinking.
Te Awa Tempranillo 2014
Ripe, dark berry fruits give a richness that is very drinkable. There is a long savoury finish with a hint of tasty vanilla.
Te Awa Syrah 2016
Very youthful in appearance. Dark berries and plummy with a good dash of pepper. There is a lovely savoury/peppery finish.
Notes from 38000 feet.
Trying to occupy myself on the fourteen hour leg from Singapore back home I wrote a few short notes about our trip to Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. The list is below and I haven’t added anything since I got back so it really is a snapshot with little editing. If I were to compile it now it might be a little different but probably not much. Â The list is in no particular order and lots of research went in to 1, 8 and 12.
- New Zealanders make the best coffee.
- Singapore is an excellent stopover en route to New Zealand, there is so much to see and do.
- 23Kg is a more than generous luggage allowance and you don’t need to use it all and you have to lug it around with you.
- I thought I knew what rain was until I went to tropical Queensland.
- Botanic gardens don’t have to be dull and boring
- New Zealand is a wonderful country in which to drive a  car, the roads are so quiet.
- Koala Bears are bigger than I imagined and difficult to spot in the trees.
- Craft beer is a big thing in New Zealand and beers are very good.
- The breakfast on Singapore Airlines is excellent
- There is so much more to the Red Centre of Australia than Uluru.
- Spending part of the winter in the Southern Hemisphere is so much better than spending it in the cold and damp of the UK.
- Old vine Grenache from the Barossa Valley really is excellent
- There is hardly any litter in New Zealand.
- Almost everyone we met on our trip were positive, friendly and helpful
- There is so much still to see and do in Australia. We need to go back as soon as we can.