Assorted Assortages: Early March

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Just a few off-the-top-of-my-skull notes from the last fortnight or so.

Tasman Bay Vintage Special Selection 2003 Pinot Gris: Given to me by my mother as a birthday gift late last month. Popped it along with a simple dinner of fish cakes turned into burgers with plenty of greens. Probably the most enjoyable PG I've tried, as I've never found one that really appealed yet. Mellow, soft and drinkable, with a beautifully creamy aftertaste. Even pretty good sans food.

Selaks Marlborough Ice Wine 2002: The little brother of my favourite sticky. (The Selaks Founders Reserve) and another birthday gift. (I'm easy to buy for, huh? [img]http://wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img] ) Doesn't have to take a backseat to the F'sResrve, either... nice apricot/marmalade flavours, sweet, but not cloying, and dangerously drinkable. A very popular seller in most supermarkets here, I believe. I can see why. Good value-for-money, good wine!

Church Road 2002 Merlot/Cabernet: The same wine we sell at the cafe/bar at work, but this was a bottle the family and I enjoyed during my wife and I's first wedding anniversary lunch yesterday. Ballanced, smooth, nice smoky character and long, long length. Paired my flambeed venison w/juniper berries perfectly. (Note, Be wary of juniper berries, they stain your teeth purple.)

I also sampled the wines of the month at the winemakers center and can't find my notes. Really only the Rongopai Malbec from my Feburary Assportages stood out, though. (Might have been a bad day to taste... I'm sure the Burger King I scarfed earlier killed my tastebuds.) One other wine does stick in my memory, though, from a Winemakers Center Case Club tasting.

Stony Batter 2002 "Gravestone" Sauvignon Blanc: Yowza. Oak-aged, hailing from Waiheke Island, and my god, it's a stunner. You'd probably never pick it as a kiwi SB if you tried it blind. Ultra-complex, impeccably made, and sadly.. out out my price-range for everyday drinking. (NZ$40+/bottle) Still, if anyone wants gift ideas for me... [img]http://wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]