BABICH MARLBOROUGH RIESLING 2004

Region:
Marlborough

Winemaker: 
Adam Hazeldine

Recommended Food:   
Nice on its own or try it with Chinese style stir-fried chicken or sweet-and-sour pork.

Recommended Cellaring:
0-4 years

Production Notes:
Grapes were harvested on the 6th of May at 21.2 Brix. The juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks to retain aromatic varietal character, with various yeasts and at various temperatures. The ferments were stopped before completion to retain a level of natural sweetness. The young wine was left on its yeast lees until blending.

Tasting Notes:
The nose is greeted by a delicate, yet not shy, floral scent of orange blossom with hints of lime. The medium weighted palate is sweet fruited and juicy with apple/citrus flavours predominating over wild floral notes. An agreeable minerality lingers on the dry finish. This is an elegant and stylish wine with perfect balance.

Awards:
5 STARS 
'TOP 5 NZ RIESLINGS', 'TOP 10 NZ AROMATICS'
-Cuisine Magazine, May, 2005

GOLD MEDAL
-Hyatt National Riesling Challenge, Australia, 2005 TOP 10
-Hyatt National Riesling Challenge, Australia, 2005

SILVER MEDAL
-International Cool Climate Wine Show, Australia, 

SILVER MEDAL
-Bragato Wine Awards, New Zealand

SILVER MEDAL
-San Francisco International Wine Competition, 2005

Reviews:
"Beautifully scented wine with strong, lively passion fruit and lime flavours, ripe and well balanced. Very fresh and crisp, with a slightly oily texture and lifted varietal aromas. Drink now or cellar."
5 STARS 
'TOP 5 NZ RIESLINGS', 'TOP 10 NZ AROMATICS'
-Cuisine Magazine, May, 2005

"Start the evening off with this terrific crisp riesling, which has loads of lively flavour and gorgeous aromas. Perfect to serve with the salmon and a great foil for the richness of the chicken liver terrine."
-Lauraine Jacobs, Sunday Star Times, Canvas Magazine, May, 2005

“Also with a screwcap is my release highlight and best buy: Babich 2004 Dry Marlborough Riesling at only $15.95. Coming from the South Island's sizable Marlborough region, this one stands up and says "hello". Intense, definitely dry, medium bodied and very flavourful with honey-tinged, spicy, delicious, ripe rhubarb-melon fruit that linger perfectly on the palate. A terrific ready-to-enjoy wine perfect for mom and fine restaurant wine lists.”
-National Post, Canada, Michael Vaughan, May, 2006

“This is from New Zealand, Marlborough to be precise, where the style of Sauvignon Blanc creeps over to Riesling. Vigorous, dry, brisk, assertive, yet the fruit spectrum is quite generous and ripe. Look for pear, green apple and grapefruit flavours.”
-The Hamilton Spectator, Canada, Dan Kislenko, May, 2006

“Hints of petrol drift off the nose of this medium bodied Kiwi from a region more famous for its Sauvignon Blanc. The flavours are quite expressive – tangy citrus, ripe peach and pear plus a hint of cleansing minerality. One of those ‘well’ wines – well-made, well-balanced and well-priced, so you do not have to worry about going there too often. A lovely quaffing wine or a nice match to shrimp or salmon appetizers.”
-Winecurrent, Canada, Vic Harradine, May, 2006

“Zesty, lemony and high voltage. There’s a little Sauvignon wildness here – as there is in all New Zealand whites. Great stuff to kick off any summer event.”
-www.billysbestbottles.com, Canada, May, 2006