Winemaker Notes
A much broader, fuller wine than the 2003 requiring longer maturation prior to release. Golden in colour and exhibiting luscious aromas of lychees, melon fruits and scented honey. Aromatic, fruits and spices with intense fruit sweetness, yet finishing drier than would be expected. Tropical fruit flavours, accentuated by pineapple and mandarin orange to shine through. Perfectly balanced with delicate spicy accents of nutmeg and vanilla.
"A stunning nose of honey, melted butter and lemongrass, the palate suddenly shows an upsurge in concentration with brilliant harmony and focus. It remains taut and imbued with nervosite: a great skill in such a flamboyant aromatic" - Robert Parker
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The wonderful 2004 Gewurztraminer Reserve comes in at 14.0% alcohol and 20 grams per liter residual sugar. A stunning nose of honey, melted butter and lemongrass, the palate suddenly shows an upsurge in concentration with brilliant harmony and focus. It remains taut and imbued with nervosite: a great skill in such a flamboyant aromatic.
Gewürztraminer, an expressive and aromatically distinctive white grape variety, is considered a noble variety in the Alsace region of France, and produces wonderful wines in the mountainous Alto Adige region of NE Italy. Generally this grape grows well in cooler regions and its natural intensity makes it a great ally for flavorful cuisine such as Indian, Middle Eastern or Moroccan. Somm Secret—Because of a charming perfume and tendency towards slight sweetness, Gewürztraminer makes for an excellent gateway wine for those who love sweet wines but want to venture into the realm of drier whites.
Occupying the North Island’s East Cape, Gisborne keeps The Bay of Plenty to its northwest and Hawkes Bay on its southwestern side. It is the country’s most distinctive producer of Chardonnay, with heavy investment here until Sauvignon blanc stole the country’s limelight. Gisborne produces soft and charming Chardonnay, boasting stone and tropical fruit flavors.
The region includes a good number of artisanal winemakers but many larger Auckland producers source from Gisborne for their own Chardonnay bottlings.