2011 Wines from Wineries List: U

Upside Down is a play on 'Down Under' and reminds us that things are a little different in New Zealand, sitting at the bottom of the world, where everything seems a little upside down! New Zealand is known for having birds that cannot fly (The Kiwi), a national love for bag pipe music, and a country with a love for a nice, warm cuppa, yet is still renowned for producing world class cool climate wines, like this Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc! (Ironically to be enjoyed on the long, hot summer days that never quite make it that far south!) Upside Down is a delightful drop; light green in colour with a nose full of gooseberry and tropical scents. It's crisp and clean with plenty of na...

Proudly, family owned. Our vision is to produce outstanding single vineyard wines that reflect their origins. We feel the only way to give integrity to this vision is to grow grapes and make wine utilising both organic and biodynamic principles. Urlar; Gaelic for the Earth, is the heart of our farming system. Our desire is to bring an abundance of life back to these ancient soils so you can discover the purity of flavour that is inherent in our land. The 2011 vintage has delivered zesty gooseberry, passionfruit, and citrus flavours with a hint of capsicum. While it remains a distinctively New Zealand sauvignon blanc the palate is full with great weight and length. ...

At the other (pale) extreme; however, the grapefruit has let some white peach have a brief moment on stage, and the wine does end up with enough varietal character.

Obvious colour pickup for a wine less than a year old is a fact, not a fault, although the wine does show the thumbprint of the winemaker; a powerful texture and structure, and some inevitable phenolics.

Very pale fresh pink with youthful purple tinge. Vanilla and strawberry essency aroma. A bit confected. Faint, shy and simple. Tangy, light, crisp and a tiny bit shrill. There is zing and astringency, but not much real flavour. Clean and technically OK.

One of the better examples varietal petit verdot. The colour is so dense and the nose so powerful. Spicy oak and dark plummy earthy nuances. Then you dig into the palate to reveal all manner of goodies. Dark concentrated fruit balanced with a spicy oak influence. The tannins are ripe and supple providing excellent support Damn god stuff.

Sourced from the Chittering Valley. The nose displays a raspberry confectionary character which is immediately striking and appealing. A little black cherry and spice adds further interest. The sweet fruit of the mid palate is balanced by fine dry tannins and the natural varietal dusty savouriness. Excellent food wine.

Light to medium green-yellow; hand-picked and small batch produced; young verdelho seldom has greater flavours than those expressed here, the full gamut of fruit salad plus a sprinkle of lime juice.