Review of 2009 Liquorland Top 100 classes

Posted: 22/10/2009 8:23:08 a.m.

Champagne
Wines labeled as Champagne can only be from the Champagne region in northern France. Traditionally made from a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, the judges declared this to be a delightful class with high quality overall, though the top wines showed extra class, purity and concentration.

Methode Traditionnelle
Made using the same techniques – i.e. bottle fermented - and usually based on the same grape varieties as those for Champagne, Methode Traditionelle wines can be from anywhere. The top wines are excellent and offer a very real alternative to Champagne when an occasion or celebration calls for something very special.

Sauvignon Blanc
The grape variety that put New Zealand and Marlborough on the global wine map – the judges were eager to assess the newly finished wines from the 2009 vintage. The gold medals were split 50/50 between wines from the 2008 vintage and those from 2009. As many of the ‘09’s had only just been bottled it was felt that many would blossom in due course. Wines from 2008 and older still had plenty of freshness, while those made using oak showed careful and considerate winemaking techniques.

Chardonnay
A very pleasing line up of Chardonnays that was rewarded with ten gold medals. Good quality fruit and considerate winemaking delivered wines with gentle oak, good balance and intensity. The older wines showed very well, perhaps starting to demonstrate that New World Chardonnay can have the ability to age gracefully.

Riesling
Riesling is incredibly versatile and can produce a myriad of wine styles from very dry to very sweet and everything in between. Good quality wines are also capable of aging gracefully for many years.
This class demonstrated both the points above with many different styles and older wines showing very well. The judges commented on the purity of the fruit and great winemaking. An excellent class.

Pinot Gris
Quite a step up on previous years, the judges enjoyed this class and found wines with a range of fresh fruit characters, lively acidity and good palate weight. As always, the best wines showed richness of fruits and texture, but were balanced with a fine acidity.

Gewurztraminer
According to the judges, this year’s show proved that this enigmatic grape variety is being taken seriously in New Zealand. Diverse styles from fruit-driven, primary and fresh through to floral and complex, but the best with great texture and true varietal character. Gewurztraminer offers a wonderful alternative to your every day white wine choices and is especially good with Asian-influenced cuisine.

Viognier
Still increasing in popularity, this grape has some stand-out features, many of which shone through during the judging. The best wines were from New Zealand and showed richness, weight, texture and an array of exotic fruit characters.
Sweet wines
Usually made with Riesling, but sometimes Semillon or surprisingly for New Zealand – Sauvignon Blanc, this class showed a variety of styles and quality levels. Sweet wines, like any other are all about balance -there needs to be enough acidity to balance the sweetness, therefore prevent the wine from being cloying.

Pinot Noir
A huge class this year with 212 entries – a 25% increase on 2008. Spread across all four panels, the 2008 vintage showed very good, fruit-driven yet balanced wines, while the 2007’s demonstrated good concentration, though occasionally over extraction. Good winemaking included sensitive use of oak to ensure the fruit was not dominated and the best wines were good examples of this practice. While many different styles were evident, some wines did not show as well with high tannins, dilute flavours and some faults, but these were in the minority.

Merlot
A clear mandate for ripe fruit balanced by fine tannins delivered a range of good wines, with the 2007 New Zealand vintage showing well. Complexity, fruit, oak, silky tannins and rich textures were rewarded with gold medals, the top wines showing strength, balance and harmony. The Australian wines from the 2006 vintage were very good – stylish, complex and well-structured.

Other reds including Cabernet Franc, Malbec or Petit Verdot dominant.
A huge number of grape varieties, blends and styles giving the judges an interesting line up – as one judge said ‘worth squirreling out as some treasure there’! Classic GSM blends plus lighter, European wines and highlights such as Tempranillo.

Cabernet Sauvignon
The judges had an array of styles to evaluate from the warm climate, big, rich wines to the cooler climate, more subtle styles. The best showed ripe fruit with plenty of varietal character and balanced by supple tannins, oak and great alcohol/acid structure. Those that didn’t make the grde showed unripe, herbal characters, tough tannins and too much oak, together with some technical faults, but these were minimal.

Shiraz/Syrah
Great to see New Zealand, in particular Hawke’s Bay and Waiheke, continuing to strive for perfection with this grape variety, taking four of the eleven gold medals. Australia dominated as usual, but with a number of different styles from lighter, coller climate more aromatic wines to the bigger, more dense and concentrated warm climate versions. As always, balance is the holy grail with the top wines rewarded for their harmonious fruit, tannin, oak, weight and acidity.

Fortified
Very few Sherries this year, some good Australian port styles and as always some delicious Australian Liqueur Muscats. Fewer entries than in previous years, but two exceptionally good wines that are on the ‘must have’ list for Christmas