Review of Wine New Zealand 2005

Review of Wine New Zealand 2005

Who are the Powertasters?
The Powertasters are a group of wine enthusiasts who are professionally involved in the hospitality industry and responsible for selecting wines for some of the best wine lists in the country. We have attended the Wine New Zealand Trade Show every year since its inception, recognising the opportunity it provides to taste the largest selection of New Zealand wines available anywhere in the world.

Because we have always taken the show seriously, tasting and separately rating as many wines in each category as possible in the 3 days available, we were 2 years ago labelled “The Powertasters” by a winery owner who shall remain nameless.

This year we donned our “Powertasters” shirts and set about the task of evaluating the myriad of wines on show and giving each a rating on a 1 to 5 scale. Over the 3 days we tasted a total of 617 wines, systematically proceeding through each varietal from Sauvignon Blanc on the first morning to the Dessert Wines on the last afternoon. Of all the wines tasted, 487 or 79% rated 3 stars or better.

Obviously it was impossible to taste all of the wines on show and we had to make some judgment calls on what to leave out. We did not taste any Sparkling wines or Pinotage this year and were selective on other varieties based on past performance or quality of other labels on show.

Overview of the Show

Congratulations to the organizers for excluding the public from Wine New Zealand. It made our mission so much easier on the Sunday and significantly reduced the level of intoxication.

We understand that due to the reconstruction of the exhibition halls the show will be held about a month later next year. We believe this should be a permanent move and would be of immense benefit to Wine New Zealand. The present timing of the show is too early with many wines on show having been rushed into bottle in time for the show or being shown as tank or barrel samples. We believe that Wine New Zealand is now the key element to the success of Hospitality New Zealand and that the wineries should have greater influence on the timing of the show than the need to avoid a clash with Technical Institute examinations.

It was noticeable this year that a large number of wines from earlier vintages were being trotted out again. Was this due to timing of the show, excess stocks still needing to be sold, or disappointing results from more recent vintages?

We were disappointed at the number of wines that were presented too cold. It makes it very difficult to give a fair appraisal to a wine that has its bouquet and flavours numbed because it is too cold.

Hooray for screwcaps! We estimated that around 80% of the wines on show this year were sealed with screwcaps and out of the 617 wines tasted we encountered only 1 affected by cork taint.



Sauvignon Blanc
2005 Sauvignon Blanc is thankfully a whole lot better than 2004!
All 22 wines that we rated four and a half or five stars were outstanding examples of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. We all found the Sileni ES “The Sounds” 2005 quite exceptional, pity there is so little of it.

Chardonnay
This class also showed better than last year, with much more consistency of quality in the 2004 vintage than we saw in the frost affected 2003 wines.
We believe any of the 130 chardonnays which we rated 3 stars or better deserve a place on wine lists.

Pinot Gris
While the top three wines were quite outstanding, this was a disappointing class.
We have yet to see a definitive regional style for Pinot Gris and styles swing wildly from the lean Italian Pinot Grigio style to highly alcoholic fruit bombs that are all too common.

Riesling
We did not find any Rieslings which merited a 5 star rating which was disappointing. There were a lot of good well made wines but no showstoppers. The drier style Rieslings tended to fare better.

Gewurztraminer
The top wines in this category were outstanding, with the top 3 being in a class of their own. The Cloudy Bay 2003 was a serious contender for our Wine of the Show.

Viognier
There was again an increased showing of this “flavour of the month” wine and the Herzog 2004 was very classy. At number 2 the Coopers Creek 2005 offered very good value for money.

Dessert Wines
For the second year in a row we found this to be the outstanding class of the show (even if it was the toughest on the teeth!). The most commonly used grape was Riesling but we also encountered wines made from Semillon, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir.

Pinot Noir
Only 5 wines were awarded 5 star status this year compared to 14 last year. The top wines in this class were very good and we found the Seresin “Leah” 2004 quite outstanding, but there were noticeably fewer standouts than previously. We believe this reflects the difficulties presented by the frost affected 2003 vintage and the even more difficult 2004 vintage in Central Otago.

Syrah
We did not find any wines in this category deserving of a 5 star rating and generally found that wines from 2003 and 2004 lacked the concentration of flavour and were less complex than those from the very good 2002 vintage. Interestingly our top 5 wines in this class came from 5 different vintages.

Merlot
The impact of the difficult 2003 vintage was even more evident in this category with only 1 wine from that year achieving any rating. Again no 5 star ratings but the Unison Marie’s Vineyard was a deserving first choice.

Cabernet Sauvignon
The 1998 Vidal Estate “Joseph Soler” was outstanding and was so vibrant it could have passed for a much younger wine. There were few straight Cabernets on show and 5 of the 6 wines rated were from the very good 1998, 2000, and 2002 vintages. The only wine rated from the 2003 vintage was from Waiheke Island.

Malbec
There appears to be increasing interest in this grape variety and the top 2 wines were very good, showing the richness commonly associated with Argentinian Malbec.

Bordeaux Blends
This class was badly affected by the poorer 2001 and 2003 vintages resulting in a smaller number of 5 star wines than usual. Nine of our top ten wines were from the 2000 and 2002 vintages. The other was the excellent value for money Capricorn Red Rock Gravel Pit Red 2004.
The top 20 wines in this category are ample testimony to the fact that New Zealand can make world class Bordeaux style wines.


The Powertasters Top Rated Wines

Sauvignon Blanc
1. Sileni ES “The Sounds” 2005
2. Mount Riley 2005
3. Cloudy Bay 2005
4. Forrest Estate 2005
5. Wither Hills 2005
6. Mud House White Swan 2005
7. Lawson’s Dry Hills 2005
8. Astrolabe 2005
9. Saint Clair Pioneer Block B2 2005
10. Villa Maria Private Bin 2005

Chardonnay
1. Mills Reef Elspeth 2004
2. Clearview Reserve 2004
3. Vidal Estate Reserve 2004
4. Villa Maria Single Vineyard Waldron 2003
5. Margrain 2004
6. Gravitas Reserve 2004
7. Kumeu River 2004
8. Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough 2003
9. Odyssey Iliad Gisborne 2004
10. Cape Campbell Limited Release Reserve 2004

Pinot Gris
1. Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass 2004
2. Bilancia 2005
3. Grove Mill 2005
4. Canterbury House Vineyard Select 2004
5. Lawson’s Dry Hills 2004
6. Wairau River 2005
7. Huia 2004
8. Seifried 2004
9. Omaka Springs 2005
10. Bladen 2005

Riesling
1. Framingham Dry 2003
2. Corbans Private Bin Amberley 2002
3. Margrain 2003
4. Pegasus Bay 2005
5. Framingham Classic 2004
6. Martinborough Vineyard 2005
7. Riverby Estate 2004
8. Gibbston Valley 2005
9. Grove Mill 2004
10. Montana Reserve Vintage 2002

Gewurztraminer
1. Cloudy Bay 2003
2. Vinoptima 2003
3. Lawson’s Dry Hills 2004
4. Villa Maria Single Vineyard Keltern 2004
6. Forrest Estate 2004

Viognier
1. Herzog 2004
2. Coopers Creek Gisborne 2005
3. Bilancia 2005
4. Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels 2005
5. TW Gisborne 2005

Dessert Wines
1. Pegasus Bay “Finale” 2003
2. Villa Maria Reserve Noble Riesling 2002
3. TW Botrytis Semillon 2003
4. Alpha Domus AD Noble Semillon 2004
5. Matariki Late Harvest Riesling 2004
6. Vidal Reserve Semillon 2003
7. Margrain Botrytis Selection Riesling 2004
8. Astrolabe Noble Riesling 2004
9. TW Botrytis Chardonnay 2003
10. Schubert “Dolce” 2004

Rose
1. Stoneleigh Pinot Rose 2004

Pinot Noir
1. Seresin “Leah” 2004
2. Margrain 2003
3. Mount Difficulty 2003
4. Fromm Clayvin Vineyard 2004
5. Johner Estate Gladstone 2003
6. Mud House Black Swan 2003
7. Alana Estate Premium 2003
8. Gibbston Valley 2000
9. Quartz Reef Bendigo 2003
10. Rock N Pillar 2003


Syrah
1. Mills Reef Elspeth 2002
2. Passage Rock 2004
3. Capricorn Red Rock The Underarm 2003
4. Matariki 2001
5. Okahu Kaz Shiraz 2000

Merlot
1. Unison Marie’s Vineyard 2004
2. Villa Maria Reserve 2002
3. CJ Pask Reserve 2002
4. Mills Reef Elspeth B4 2002
5. CJ Pask Gimblett Road 2002
6. Mills Reef Elspeth 2000
7. Black Barn Reserve 2002
8. Sileni ES “The Triangle”2002
9. Esk Valley Black Label 2004
10. Sileni Cellar Selection 2004

Cabernet Sauvignon
1. Vidal Estate “Joseph Soler” 1998
2. Vidal Estate Reserve 2002
3. Matariki 2000
4. Mills Reef Elspeth 2000
5. Kennedy Point 2003

Malbec
1. Villa Maria Single Vineyard Omahu 2002
2. Mills Reef Elspeth 2002

Bordeaux Blends
1. Mills Reef Elspeth One 2002
2. Matua Ararimu 2002
3. Vidal Estate Reserve Merlot Cabernet 2000
4. Esk Valley Reserve Merlot Malbec Cabernet 2002
5. CJ Pask Reserve Declaration 2002
6. Squawking Magpie “The Nest” Merlot Cabernet 2002
7. Mills Reef Elspeth Merlot Cabernet 2002
8. Forrest Cornerstone 2002
9. Capricorn Red Rock Gravel Pit Red 2004
10. Wishart “Legend” 2002

Trophy List

Best White Wine - Sileni ES “The Sounds” Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Runner-Up - Cloudy Bay Gewurztraminer 2003


Best Red Wine - Seresin “Leah” Pinot Noir 2004

Runner-Up - Vidal Estate “Joseph Soler” Cabernet Sauvignon 1998


Champion Wine of the Show - Sileni ES “The Sounds” Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Runner-Up - Cloudy Bay Gewurztraminer 2003


Best Value White Wine - Mount Riley Sauvignon Blanc 2005

Best Value Red Wine - Capricorn Red Rock Gravel Pit Red 2004


Winery of the Show - Sileni

WINE NEW ZEALAND 2005 RATINGS

WINE NEW ZEALAND 2005 RATINGS

Sauvignon Blanc
Five Stars
• Cloudy Bay 2005
• Forrest Estate 2005
• Mount Riley 2005
• Mud House White Swan 2005
• Sileni ES “The Sounds” 2005
• Wither Hills 2005

Four and a Half Stars
• Astrolabe 2005
• Bladen 2005
• Cape Campbell 2004
• Charles Wiffen Reserve 2005
• Church Road Cuve Series 2004
• Grove Mill 2005
• Lawson’s Dry Hills 2005
• Montana Reserve Vineyard Selection 2004
• Mud House 2005
• Nobilo Icon 2004
• Riverby Estate 2005
• Saint Clair Pioneer Block B2 2005
• Saint Clair 2005
• Seresin 2005
• Stafford Lane Estate 2005
• Villa Maria Private Bin 2005

Four Stars
• Babich Marlborough 2005
• Charles Wiffen 2005
• Coopers Creek Marlborough 2005
• Gravitas 2005
• Mount Riley Seventeen Valley 2004
• Saint Clair Pioneer block B3 2005
• Sileni Cellar Selection 2005
• Shingle Peak 2005
• Wairau River 2005

Three and a Half Stars
• Artisan Marlborough 2004
• Cape Campbell 2005
• Kakapo 2005
• Nautilus 2005
• Riverby Estate 2004
• Stoneleigh Marlborough 2005
• Tohu 2005
• Tohu Mugwi 2005

Three Stars
• 3 Brothers 2005
• Belmonte 2004
• Clearview Reserve 2004
• Domaine Georges Michel Golden Mile 2005
• Esk Valley Black Label 2004
• Greenhough 2004
• Huia 2005
• Mills Reef Reserve 2004
• Odyssey Marlborough 2004
• Omaka Springs 2005
• Oyster Bay 2005
• Seresin Marama 2004
• Squawking Magpie Reserve 2004
• Te Mania 2005
• Triplebank Awatere 2004
• Vidal Estate 2004
• West Brook Blue Ridge 2005
• Woollaston Estate 2005

Chardonnay
Five Stars
• Clearview Reserve 2004
• Gravitas Reserve 2004
• Kumeu River 2004
• Margrain 2004
• Mills Reef Elspeth 2004
• Vidal Estate Reserve 2004
• Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough 2003
• Villa Maria Single Vineyard Waldron 2003

Four and a Half Stars
• Babich The Patriarch 2002
• Cape Campbell Limited Release Reserve 2004
• Church Road Cuve Series 2002
• Cloudy Bay 2003
• Coopers Creek Swamp Road Reserve 2004
• Forrest Estate Reserve 2002
• Gravitas Unoaked 2004
• Kumeu River Mate’s Vineyard 2004
• Matua Valley Ararimu 2003
• Millton Opou Vineyard 2004
• Montana Ormond Estate 2004
• Montana Renwick Estate 2001
• Odyssey Iliad Gisborne 2004
• Ransom Barrel Ferment 2004
• Selaks Founders Reserve Gisborne 2004
• Seresin Reserve 2004
• Sileni ES “The Lodge” 2004
• Trinity Hill Gimblett Road 2004

Four Stars
• Alpha Domus AD 2002
• Amor-Bendall The CRU 2004
• Babich Irongate 2001
• Black Barn 2004
• Church Road Reserve 2004
• Corbans Cottage Block Marlborough 2003
• Domaine Georges Michel La Reserve 2002
• Esk Valley Reserve 2004
• Framingham 2004
• Fromm La Strada 2002
• Fromm La Strada 2003
• Fromm Clayvin Vineyard 2003
• Greenhough Hope Vineyard 2002
• Herzog 2004
• Kaimira Brightwater 2003
• Lawson’s Dry Hills 2002
• Kemblefield The Distinction 2002
• Matua Valley Judd Estate 2003
• Mebus 2002
• Michael Craig 2004
• Morton Estate Black Label 2002
• Mount Riley Seventeen Valley 2003
• Nobilo Icon 2004
• Riverby Estate 2004
• Saint Clair Reserve 2003
• Selaks Founders Reserve Marlborough 2004
• Squawking Magpie Gimblett Gravels 2004
• Te Whau 2004
• Trinity Hill Hawkes Bay 2002
• TW Reserve 2004
• Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawkes Bay 2004
• Villa Maria Cellar Selection Marlborough 2004
• Villa Maria Single Vineyard Fletcher 2002
• West Brook Blue Ridge 2004
• White Rock Wild Ferment 2004
• Wishart Reserve 2003
• Wither Hills 2003
• Wither Hills 2004

Three and a Half Stars
• Alana Estate 2003
• Amor-Bendall Reserve 2004
• Clearview Beachhead 2004
• Coopers Creek Hawkes Bay 2004
• Coopers Creek Gisborne Reserve 2004
• Forrest Estate 2004
• Greenhough Hope Vineyard 2004
• Longbush 2004
• Matariki 2004
• Ngatarawa Glazebrook 2004
• Nobilo Dixon Vineyard 2004
• Palliser Estate 2004
• Pegasus Bay 2004
• Tiritiri Vineyard Reserve 2004
• Tohu Gisborne 2003
• Tohu Gisborne Reserve 2002
• TW Estate Unoaked 2004
• Wishart Unoaked 2004

Three Stars
• Alpha Domus 2004
• Astrolabe 2004
• Belmonte 2004
• Brunton Road 2004
• C J Pask Gimblett Road 2002
• Charles Wiffen 2003
• Domaine Georges Michel Golden Mile2004
• Esk Valley Black Label 2004
• Fiddler’s Green 2004
• Francis-Cole 2004
• Greenhough Hope Vineyard 2001
• Grove Mill 2002
• Huia 2002
• Hyperion “Helios” 2004
• Kawarau Estate Reserve 2004
• Matua Matheson 2004
• Mills Reef Reserve 2004
• Morton Estate White Label 2002
• Mount Riley 2004
• Muddy Water Waipara 2004
• Mud House 2004
• Omaka Springs Winemakers Selection 2002
• Oyster Bay 2004
• Passage Rock Barrel Fermented Gisborne 2004
• Saint Clair 2004
• Seresin 2004
• Sileni Cellar Selection 2004
• Te Mania Estate 2003
• Tohu Unoaked 2004
• TW Estate Unoaked 2003
• Vidal Estate Hawke’s Bay 2004
• Wishart Unoaked 2005

Pinot Gris
Five Stars

Four and a Half Stars
• Bilancia 2005
• Grove Mill 2005
• Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass 2004

Four Stars
• Canterbury House Vineyard Select 2004
• Huia 2004
• Lawson’s Dry Hills 2004
• Omaka Springs 2005
• Seifried 2004
• Wairau River 2005

Three and a Half Stars
• Bladen 2005
• Kaimira 2004
• Martinborough Vineyard 2004
• Mud House 2005
• Ransom 2004
• Saint Clair 2004
• Seresin 2005
• Terrace Heights Estate THE 2005

Three Stars
• Burnt Spur 2005
• Framingham 2004
• Francis-Cole 2005
• Gladstone Vineyard 2004
• Margrain 2004
• Stoneleigh Rapaura Series 2004
• Torlesse 2004

Riesling
Five Stars

Four and a Half Stars
• Corbans Private Bin Amberley 2002
• Framingham Dry 2003
• Margrain 2003
• Pegasus Bay 2005

Four Stars
• Bladen 2004
• Framingham Classic 2004
• Gibbston Valley 2005
• Grove Mill 2004
• Martinborough Vineyard 2005
• Montana Reserve Vintage 2002
• Riverby Estate 2004
• Villa Maria Private Bin 2005

Three and a Half Stars
• Astrolabe Dry 2005
• Bladen 2005
• Charles Wiffen 2005
• Forrest Estate 2004
• Fromm La Strada Dry 2004
• Greenhough Dry 2004
• Greenhough 2004
• Margrain 2004
• Millton 2004
• Stoneleigh Marlborough 2004
• West Brook 2004

Three Stars
• Canterbury House 2005
• Cape Campbell 2004
• Charles Wiffen 2004
• Coopers Creek Marlborough 2004
• Fiddler’s Green 2004
• Forrest Estate Dry 2002
• Francis-Cole 2004
• Huia 2004
• Kaimira Brightwater 2004
• Mills Reef Reserve 2004
• Morton Estate Stone Creek Marlborough 2004
• Muddy Water James Hardwick 2004
• Muddy Water 2005
• Mud House 2005
• Omaka Springs 2005
• Terrace Heights Estate THE 2004
• Te Whare Ra 2004
• Wairau River 2005
• Woollaston Estate 2002

Gewurztraminer
Five Stars
• Cloudy Bay 2003

Four and a Half Stars
• Lawson’s Dry Hills 2004
• Vinoptima 2003

Four Stars
• Forrest Estate 2004
• Villa Maria Single Vineyard Keltern 2004

Three and a Half Stars
• Bladen 2005
• Seifried Winemakers Collection 2004
• Te Whare Ra 2005
• Villa Maria Private Bin 2005

Three Stars
• Coopers Creek Gisborne 2004
• Framingham 2004
• Fromm La Strada 2004
• Huia 2004
• Mills Reef Reserve 2004
• Te Whare ra 2004
• Wairau River 2005


Viognier
Five Stars

Four and a Half Stars
• Herzog 2004

Four Stars
• Bilancia 2005
• Coopers Creek Gisborne 2005
• Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels 2005

Three and a Half Stars
• Odyssey Reserve Iliad Hawke’s Bay 2004
• TW Gisborne 2005

Three Stars
• Millton 2004
• Passage Rock 2005
• Rongopai “Ultimo” 2004

Other White Varieties
Five Stars
Four and a Half Stars
Four Stars
• Sileni ES “The Circle” Semillon 2004

Three and a Half Stars
• Millton 2004
• Vin Alto Pinot Grigio Chardonnay 2004

Three Stars
• Esk Valley Black Label Verdelho 2005
• Schubert Tribianco 2003
• Sileni Semillon Sauvignon 2004

Dessert Wines
Five Stars
• Alpha Domus AD Noble Semillon 2004
• Pegasus Bay “Finale” 2003
• TW Botrytis Semillon 2003
• Villa Maria Reserve Noble Riesling 2002

Four and a Half Stars
• Astrolabe Noble Riesling 2004
• Canterbury House Noble Riesling 2004
• Clearview Noble Harvest Chardonnay 2004
• Margrain Botrytis Selection Riesling 2004
• Matariki Late Harvest Riesling 2004
• Schubert “Dolce” 2004
• TW Botrytis Chardonnay 2003
• Vidal Reserve Semillon 2003

Four Stars
• Canterbury House Late Harvest Pinot Gris 2004
• Fromm La Strada Riesling 2004
• Fromm La Strada Riesling 2005
• Johner Estate Noble Pinot Noir 2005
• Martinborough Vineyard Late Harvest Riesling 2004
• Sileni EV Pourriture Noble 2004
• TW Botrytis Viognier 2005

Three and a Half Stars
• Alpha Domus Leonarda Late Harvest Semillon 2004
• Charles Wiffen Dessert Riesling 2002
• Clearview “Sea Red” 2004
• Cloudy Bay Late Harvest Riesling 2002
• Coopers Creek Marlborough Late Harvest Riesling 2004
• Huia Botrytised Riesling 2004
• Lincoln Heritage Ice Wine 2004
• Palliser Estate Autumn Riesling 2004
• Pegasus Bay “Aria” 2004
• Seifried Winemakers Collection Riesling Ice Wine 2004

Three Stars
• Alpha Domus Leonarda Late Harvest Semillon 2005
• Fromm La Strada Riesling Auslese 2003
• Selaks Ice Wine 2004
• Sileni Estate Selection Late Harvest Semillon 2004

Rose
Five Stars
Four and a Half Stars
Four Stars
• Stoneleigh Pinot Rose 2004

Three and a Half Stars
• Esk Valley Black Label 2005
• Kirkpatrick Estate “Wild Rose” 2005
• Millton 2005
• Sileni Cellar Selection Saignee 2005
• TW “Lilly” 2005
• Woollaston Estate Pinot Rose 2005

Three Stars
• Te Mania Estate 2005
• Vin Alto “Vino Amabile” n.v.

Pinot Noir
Five Stars
• Fromm Clayvin Vineyard 2004
• Johner Estate Gladstone 2003
• Margrain 2003
• Mount Difficulty 2003
• Seresin “Leah” 2004

Four and a Half Stars
• Alana Estate Premium 2003
• Alana Estate 2004
• Bannock Brae Barrel Selection 2003
• Churton 2003
• Fromm Vineyard 2003
• Fromm La Strada 2003
• Gibbston Valley 1999
• Gibbston Valley 2000
• Herzog 2003
• Johner Estate Gladstone 2004
• Lawson’s Dry Hills 2002
• Martinborough Vineyard 2002
• Mount Riley Seventeen Valley 2002
• Mud House Black Swan 2003
• Pegasus Bay 2002
• Pegasus Bay 2003
• Quartz Reef Bendigo 2003
• Quartz Reef 2003
• Rock N Pillar 2003
• Schubert 2003
• Te Mania Reserve 2003
• Villa Maria Reserve 2004
• Wither Hills 2004

Four Stars
• Alana Estate Premium 2002
• Alexandra Wine Company “Davishon” 2004
• Bannock Brae Goldfields 2003
• Capricorn Strugglers Flat 2004
• Fromm La Strada 2002
• Gibbston Valley 2003
• Gravitas 2004
• Johner Estate Gladstone 2001
• Odyssey Marlborough 2004
• Palliser Estate 2003
• Quartz Reef 2004

Three and a Half Stars
• Alexandra Wine Company “Davishon” 2001
• Burnt Spur 2003
• Charles Wiffen Marlborough 2004
• Cloudy Bay 2003
• Fairmont Estate Block 1 2004
• Greenhough Hope Vineyard 2003
• Johner Estate “Des Amis” 2004
• Kawarau Estate Reserve 2003
• Main Divide Selection 2004
• Matariki 2002
• Mills Reef Reserve2004
• Muddy Water Waipara 2003
• Rippon 2003
• Riverby Estate 2004
• Saint Clair Omaka 2003
• Te Hera Estate 2004
• Te Hera Estate 2003
• Wither Hills 2003

Three Stars
• Alana Estate 2003
• Bladen 2004
• Domaine Georges Michel La Reserve 2003
• Dry Gully 2003
• Framingham 2004
• Gladstone Vineyard 2004
• Huia 2003
• Martinborough Te Tera 2004
• Mud House 2004
• Sileni ES “The Plateau” 2004
• Terrace Heights Estate THE 2003
• Tohu Marlborough 2004
• Villa Maria Cellar Selection 2004
• Wishart 2003

Syrah
Five Stars
Four and a Half Stars
• Capricorn Red Rock The Underarm 2003
• Matariki 2001
• Mills Reef Elspeth 2002
• Okahu 2003
• Okahu Kaz Shiraz 2000
• Passage Rock 2004

Four Stars
• Artisan Oratia 2004
• Babich Winemakers Reserve 2004
• Capricorn Red Rock The Underarm 2004
• CJ Pask Gimblett Road 2004
• Kennedy Point 2003
• Trinity Hill Gimblett Road 2004

Three and a Half Stars
• Kennedy Point 2002
• Sileni Cellar Selection 2004
• Wishart 2003

Three Stars
• Bilancia 2003
• Vin Alto Clevedon 2000

Merlot
Five Stars
Four and a Half Stars
• Black Barn Reserve 2002
• CJ Pask Gimblett Road 2002
• CJ Pask Reserve 2002
• Mills Reef Elspeth 2000
• Mills Reef Elspeth B4 2002
• Unison Marie’s Vineyard 2004
• Villa Maria Reserve 2002

Four Stars
• 3 Brothers Hawke’s Bay 2004
• Esk Valley Black Label 2004
• Mills Reef Reserve 2003
• Sileni Cellar Selection 2004
• Sileni ES “The Triangle” 2002

Three and a Half Stars
• Christensen Estate 2003
• Coopers Creek Reserve “The Gardener” 2002
• Kemblefield The Distinction 2002
• Kennedy Point 2004
• Kirkpatrick Estate Top Flat Reserve 2004

Three Stars
• Alpha Domus 2004
• Artisan Merlot Gimblett Gravels 2002
• Coopers Creek Hawke’s Bay 2004

Cabernet Sauvignon
Five Stars
• Vidal Estate “Joseph Soler” 1998
• Vidal Estate Reserve 2002

Four and a Half Stars
• Matariki 2000

Four Stars
• Kennedy Point 2003
• Mills Reef Elspeth 2000

Three and a Half Stars
• Kennedy Point 2002

Malbec
Five Stars
Four and a Half Stars
Four Stars
• Mills Reef Elspeth 2002
• Villa Maria Single Vineyard Omahu 2002

Three and a Half Stars
• Kemblefield The Reserve Malbec Merlot 2002

Three Stars
• Witters 2004

Bordeaux Blends
Five Stars
• CJ Pask Reserve Declaration 2002
• Esk Valley Reserve Merlot Malbec Cabernet 2002
• Forrest Cornerstone 2002
• Matua Ararimu 2002
• Mills Reef Elspeth One 2002
• Mills Reef Elspeth Merlot Cabernet 2002
• Squawking Magpie “The Nest” Merlot Cabernet 2002
• Vidal Estate Reserve Merlot Cabernet 2000

Four and a Half Stars
• Alpha Domus The Aviator 2002
• Alpha Domus The Navigator 2002
• Capricorn Red Rock Gravel Pit Red 2004
• Herzog Spirit of Marlborough Merlot Cabernet 2001
• Matariki Quintology 2001
• Squawking Magpie “The Cabernets” 2003
• Te Motu Cabernet Merlot 2000
• Te Whau “The Point” 2004
• Villa Maria Reserve Merlot Cabernet 2000
• Wishart “Legend” 2002

Four Stars
• Babich Gimblett Gravels Quartet 2004
• Church Road Reserve Merlot Cabernet 2002
• Esk Valley Black Label Merlot Cabernet Malbec 2004
• Mills Reef Reserve Cabernet Merlot 2002
• Mills Reef Reserve Merlot Malbec 2003
• Montana Fairhall Estate Merlot Cabernet 2001
• Morton Estate The Regent 2002
• Passage Rock Forte 2002
• Passage Rock Sisters 2004
• St Jerome “Matuka” 1998
• Schubert Cabernet Merlot 2002
• Squawking Magpie “The Cabernets” 2002
• Te Motu Cabernet Merlot 1997
• Te Motu Cabernet Merlot 2002
• Te Whau “The Point’ 2003
• Unison Selection 2002
• Villa Maria Cellar Selection Cabernet Merlot 2003
• Vin Alto “Di Sotto” 1999
• Wishart “Alexis” 2002

Three and a Half Stars
• Babich Irongate Cabernet Merlot Franc 2001
• Clearview Estate Old Olive Block 2003
• Mudbrick Reserve Cabernet Merlot 2002
• Obsidian 2002
• Squawking Magpie Cabernet Merlot 2004
• Squawking Magpie Cabernet merlot 2002

Three Stars
• Artisan Cabernet Merlot Hawke’s Bay 2004
• Cable Bay Waiheke Five Hills 2004
• CJ Pask Gimblett Road Cabernet Merlot 2002
• Mebus Cabernet Merlot Malbec 2001
• Mudbrick Cabernet Merlot Franc 2003
• Mudbrick Shepherd’s Point 2002
• TW “Makauri” 2004
• Unison Estate 2002

Other Red Varieties
Five Stars
Four and a Half Stars
Four Stars
• Herzog Montepulciano 2003
• Matariki Sangiovese 2002
• Okahu Chambourcin 2003

Three and a Half Stars
• Vin Alto “Celiao” 2000
• Vin Alto “Ritorno” 1999
• Vin Alto “Retico” 1999
• Vin Alto Clevedon Hills Monticello 2002

Three Stars
• Kemblefield The Reserve Zinfandel 2002
• Trinity Hill Tempranillo 2004