The Great New Zealand Wine Tiki Tour was in Ottawa this week. The event was hosted at the Canadian Museum of Nature and it featured some outstanding Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir wines from the Hawkes Bay, Marlborough and Central Otago regions. The tour showcased a dozen New Zealand wineries presenting a selection of their production wines with some special small lot or selection wines from single vineyards.
My biggest challenge would be finding a wine that really stood out from the rest of the pack. I sampled at least a dozen Sauvignon Blanc wines and found it very difficult to pick a clear winner. Selecting a superior Pinot Noir was just as challenging but I thought that the Pinot Noir from Whitehaven vineyards was very well crafted.
Here’s my picks from the “Tiki tour”
2015 Babich Sauvignon Blanc – Marlborough, New Zealand
A Sauvignon Blanc worthy of the Marlborough region with its signature grassy and gooseberry aromas and a crisp citrus finish of grapefruit. A really nice Sauvignon Blanc that pairs well with seafood or as I tried it with some New Zealand aged cheddar which was quite delicious.
LCBO – $15.95 (620054)
Available at Stittsville and Kanata (March Rd) LCBO stores
2013 Whitehaven Pinot Noir – Marlborough, New Zealand
I thought that this was the best Pinot Noir at the tasting. A nice Pinot Noir with an earthy aroma and a slight layer of ripe fruit. Subtle tannins and a fine cherry finish. A well structured wine which would pair well with most lamb and pork dishes.
LCBO – $24.10 (245696)
Available at Hunt Club and Carling (Fairlawn) LCBO stores
Cheers!
Mark Cochrane
Email me at markuncorked@gmail.com
Visit my website at www.markuncorked.com
Follow me on Twitter @markuncorked
