Winery - Vavasour
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Seems mature and ready to drink now, with earth and mushroom flavors layered over black cherries and finishing with a touch of anise. An easy-drinking Pinot that’s not heavy or extracted yet displays complexity and balance.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Vavasour has done better than this in the past, and undoubtedly will do better in the future. The 2008 just lacks a bit of the jacked-up pungency that it has had in the past, instead offering relatively tame white grapefruit aromas and flavors and just a touch of grassiness. Well made, clean and refreshing.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The Awatere is a Marlborough subregion whose wines are often a touch more edgy than those grown in the main valley. After nine months in French oak, this wine’s black cherry fruit is marked by touches of vanilla and toast, a slightly creamy mouthfeel and a crisp, refreshing finish. Approachable now, but should develop more nuance over the next year or two.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This medium-bodied Pinot shows a touch of clove and saddle leather to go with coffee and earthy black cherry flavors. Picks up a bit of Band-Aid® on the finish, which is nicely textured, with a dusting of silky tannins.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Right now this wine presents itself as being rather light and lacking intensity, but it does have some pretty black cherry fruit and intriguing spice notes, and it should fill out a bit and put on weight over the next year or two. Finishes clean and long, with mild peppery notes and slightly dusty tannins.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Standard Marlborough Sauvignon done well, although in this case the wine comes from the slightly more extreme Awatere Valley. The bouquet features passion fruit, lime and grassy notes, while the flavors are also greenish, but with hints of stone fruit and melon to round them out. The long, herb-inflected finish confirms this wine’s quality.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A bold, assertive Pinot Noir, with a lattice of briary, herbal complexity layered over a base of ripe black cherries. Together, they make a fascinating intertwined contrast that lingers on the crisp finish.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The Awatere is a subregion of Marlborough receiving more and more notice for its distinctive Sauvignons and Pinots. Vavasour was an early pioneer, and the 2007 is especially successful, offering up some slightly sweaty, nettle-y aromas to go along with hints of ripe melons and nectarines. It’s nicely concentrated, with a slightly oily mouthfeel and good persistence.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Almost seems creamy, perhaps because half of the juice was fermented in neutral barrels. Grapefruits, green plums and a pinch of black pepper lead into a long, broad finish.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The restrained nose shows little in the way of herbal or grassy aromas, instead offering up melon and passion fruit. Full-bodied and intense, with a long citric finish that would make a perfect partner for a bowl of moules.
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