Thornbury Waipara Pinot Gris 2016
The 2019 version of this wine just won the MOBEV Trophy for Champion Pinot Gris at the NZIWS, so we dug out a 2016 of this – one of our favourite PGs, to see how it was going. A bright golden colour, it’s a wine with great character – spicey and floral, with tropical fruit notes of lychee and lemon peel. A rich and textured palate (lees ageing and stirring have contributed) with a succulent off-dry sweetness that balances the spritz of acidity. A finish which sees the fruit gallop back into view – leaving pear and nectarine flavours flowing through. The bottle age hasn’t dulled it’s freshness and perhaps accentuated the lemon curd edges. Still a huge bargain for a supermarket wine of immense personality.
Thornbury Waipara Pinot Gris 2019
Ok, so we couldn’t go past the opportunity to try a drop of his award-winning 2019 wine with the winemaker and all-round top bloke, Simon Fell, recently. Champion Pinot Gris from the stellar 2019 vintage – a Waipara wine, that just showcases beautifully the edge that this region has in producing aromatic wines of outstanding varietal nuance, and just blooming great wine to enjoy. It’s a golden glow of a wine, with a big floral nose of honeysuckle and lemon blossoms. Then comes the introduction of ginger, baking spices, pear and a honeyed sweetness underneath. Excellent texture – again from time on lees – and a richness that is well balanced with moderate acidity, leading to a really long finish of candied nuts and more, more spiciness
Thornbury Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018
Made from a single vineyard of Bendigo fruit, and winning a Gold Medal at the NZIWS, this wine is a baffling $20-$25 RRP. With fruit now up to $5000 a tonne in Central Otago, it beggars belief that a wine of this quality exists at the price? We caught up with Simon Fell, to try this one. A medium cerise colour in the glass – notably lighter than many Central Pinots of 2018, it does however present a very savoury and lifted aroma of cloves, and an earthy allspice. Bright and juicy with a sweet-fruited palate of plums and cherry, threaded with a line of silky tannins. Light chocolatey layer and then a warm velvety cocoon of oak. A serious Pinot at a bargain basement price.
Thornbury Gisborne Chardonnay 2018
Gisborne is, to many people, the home of New Zealand Chardonnay, and the green landscapes out East, provide Simon Fell with premium fruit for this wine. A deep straw colour in the glass, with green accents. Hints of struck match and a cashew and smokiness in the mix, the palate delves into that blend of fig, melon and citrus that the warmer climate (or warm growing years) Chardonnays deliver. It has a great texture and a real creaminess that turns the citrus into lemon curd, and the stonefruit into peach melba. Only light nuances of oak, and the acidity is well balanced into the elegant and full bodied balance overall. It has a nice finish of sweet fruit and candied peel. As usual with the Thornbury label, you are getting outstanding value for money.
