Tag: South Island

Greystone/Muddy Water

Greystone wines purchased Muddy Water in 2011 when the owners retired. The two sites couldn’t be any more different. Greystone is much bigger at 37 hectares and is on limestone. Muddy Water, on the other hand, is only 12 hectares and is on a clay substrate. The wine making philosophy however is very similar, both estates are certified organic and there is a philosophy of creating the best wines possible from the different terroirs.

Greystone Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Barrel fermented in old French oak. Wild fermentation. A very Loire Valley style of Sauvignon. Gentle gooseberry, nettle and delicate stone fruit. This wine is nicely balanced and has a good finish.

Muddy Water Estate Chardonnay 2015

A very nice lighter style of chardonnay which exhibits some lovely citrus fruit. Quite mineral in character.

Greystone Chardonnay 2016

A richer style of chardonnay with tropical fruit and fully integrated oak giving a nice balance to the wine. A good citrus finish.

Greystone Sand Dollar Pinot Gris 2016

Tropical and stone fruit abound in a wine which has a lovely balance of fruit and acidity. The finish is dry and lingers with subtle tropical fruit.

Greystone Sea Star Riesling 2016

A lovely bone dry style of Riesling with herby notes and apricot stone fruit. The wine has lovely texture and is well balanced. Very nice.

Greystone Riesling 2017

Off dry in style this wine is full of fresh flowers, tropical fruits and limes. There palate is rich but with crisp acidity. A very nice Riesling indeed.

Greystone Gewurtztraminer 2015

Aromas of herbs, flowers and lime make this a very appealing wine. The palate has spicy tropical fruit with a splash of Turkish delight. Another success, very drinkable indeed.

Muddy Water Estate Pinot Noir 2016

Aromas of cherry, red berry fruits and violets. The palate has cherries and red fruits with a subtle earthy element. Tannins have some grip but this is drinking well.

Greystone Pinot Noir 2016

Nose opens out to give dark cherry and vanilla. A more complex offering than the Muddy Water and perhaps with better potential to age. There are savoury notes and a nice red berry finish.

Muddy Water Estate Pinotage 2016

Aromas of black fruits, vanilla and tar. The palate has depth with soft black plummy fruit. it is smokey and savoury and nicely balanced. Very nice and a rare find in New Zealand.

Greystone Basket Star 2013 (167g/l residual sugar)

Gold in appearance. Light, fresh aromas of apricot and orange. Palate has great balance with caramelised oranges and a touch of honey. A wine of great pleasure.

Muddy Water Estate Sugar Daddy Riesling 2016 (108g/l)

Rich and complex with honey, oranges and caramel. It has great depth and richness  and is well balanced, it is a wine to savour.

Pegasus Bay

Pegasus Bay is one of North Canterburys more important wine estates. Wine has been made here since the mid nineteen eighties and it is still owned and managed by the Donaldson family.

The estate is well worthy of a visit. There are gardens and a restaurant on site.

Pegasus Bay Sauvignon Semillon 2015

Aromas of citrus, pear, gooseberry with just a hint of honey. Lovely texture on the palate with a delicate freshness. The use of 30% semillon gives body and a touch of character.

Pegasus Bay Chardonnay 2016

Nose of stone fruit/peach, banana,citrus and a striking minerality. Palate is rich and nicely balanced. lemon and tropical fruits with a lovely lingering finish.

Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir 2014

Ripe cherries and red fruits abound with an earthy/smokey backbone. The palate is rounded, medium bodied and there is a nice finish of red fruits.

Pegasus Bay Merlot Cabernet 2016

Red/purple in colour and deep. Aromas of black fruits, plum, tobacco. Palate has rich ripe fruit, eucalyptus, chocolate and plum. Tannins give a good supporting structure.

Pegasus Bay Bel Canto Dry Riesling 2015 (7g/l residual sugar)

Lemon/lime in colour. Nose is tropical fruit and limes. Palate has lovely balance and is slightly off dry to taste.

Pegasus Bay Riesling 2015 (24g/l)

Limes and sherbet with stone fruits. Off dry and with perfect balance. This is Avery nice wine indeed.

Pegasus Bay Aria Late Harvest Riesling 2014 (84g/l)

Yellow gold with a touch of lime green in appearance. Aromas of citrus, honey, butterscotch and stone fruits. Full, rich and creamy with great balance. A long finish of honey, orange and lime at the very end.

Pegasus Bay Encore Riesling 2016 (176g/l)

Yellow gold in appearance. The palate is fresher with limes and sweet tropical fruits. The palate has elegance and superb balance with the acidity a perfect foil for the sweet fruit. Rich and opulent with a great finish of oranges and honey,

Pegasus Bay Finale Sauvignon Blanc 2014 (180g/l)

Only made in exceptional years. Golden in appearance. This is an exceptionally unctuous wine with intense flavours of orange marmalade, honey and caramel. A wine to savour and enjoy.

Pegasus Bay Gewurtztraminer 2016

lime green/yellow in appearance. Nose is less floral than some but there is tropical fruit a plenty. Palate is rose water/Turkish delight, spice with tropical fruit and some floral notes.

Pegasus Bay Muscat 2016

Nose of apricot, floral and peaches. Palate has good acidity balancing the rich fruit. This is a very quaffable wine for a summers day.

Pegasus Bay Fortissimo Fortified Muscat 2016

Made for the first time in 2016 and with very small production. Nose is delicate and light with floral perfume and tropical fruits. Palate has lovely texture and great acidity to balance the fruit.

An exceptional tasting of wonderful wines at this iconic property. I can’t wait to visit again. You can visit their website here

You can search for their wines in the uk here

Christchurch

At 4.35am on September 4th 2010 an earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale struck the Canterbury region of New Zealand’s South Island  with an epicentre about 40km from the city of Christchurch. As most people were in bed at the time and the distance from the city meant that there were no fatalaties but there was damage to some buildings in the city.

On February 22nd 2011 at 12.51pm an aftershock of the 2010 quake measuring 6.3 struck 10km from Christchurch. This time the city wasn’t so lucky and 185 people were killed, 115 of them were at the Canterbury Television Building which completely collapsed. Damage, especially in the city centre, was extensive an over 1200 buildings were eventually demolished. The scars can be seen today, seven years on, the city is very much still re-building.

Quake City (299 Durham Street North) tells the story of the 2011 earthquake. Most touching are the video accounts of the survivors, I don’t think anyone can watch this and not be moved.

What particularly strikes me about the city is the desire for rebuilding and survival. After the earthquake something like 10,000 people moved away and left the city yet those that remained  have a steadfast view that the city will remain and regrow. The attitude seems to be in some quarters that if your business was destroyed then re-open as best you can and move on. We can all learn a lot from the citizens of Christchurch.

185 empty chairs is a memorial to those that died in the 2011 earthquake. Created by local artist Peter Majendie it was envisaged as a temporary, unofficial memorial but there are plans now to make it permanent if a location can be found. All the chairs are different, reflecting the different personalities of the victims.

The Cathedral was badly damaged and even seven years on there are no real plans in place for its restoration and it has been occupied by the local pigeon  population. In its place has risen the Cardboard Cathedral. Hopefully a temporary place of worship.

Living in the United Kingdom where there are no tectonic plates coming together and no possibility of earthquakes on this scale it is a sobering experience to visit Christchurch but I am glad we went.The city is gradually rebuilding and the people so warm and welcoming.