The
wines of Kim Crawford, New Zealand
UK agent: Liberty Wines (tel 020 7720 5350, e-mail david@libertywines.co.uk)
Celebrated New Zealand winemaker Kim Crawford launched his
own range in 1996. Grapes are brought in from various regions. Quality
is solid: these are very good commercial wines that just fall a little
short of being truly exciting. I liked the deliciously vivid red wines
best.
Pinot Gris Boyszone Vineyard 2001 Marlborough
35% is barrel-fermented in American oak. Rich, spicy, fruity nose is
fresh and youthful. Rich textured, spicy palate finishes dry. Good
concentration and may develop nicely, but at the moment this is just a
little too youthful. Very good
Dry Riesling 2001 Marlborough
Pure, limey/floral nose. Fresh dry concentrated palate with intense
citrussy fruit. This is a very fresh style, currently youthful and may
develop. Very good
Sauvignon Blanc 2001 Marlborough
Served too cold. Very pure grassy gooseberry character. A fresh style
with good intensity and concentration. Very good+
Unoaked Chardonnay 2001, Marlborough
Crisp nose displays bright fruit with intense, citrussy fruit and a
boiled sweets edge. Fresh, slightly spicy palate with some richness to
the fruit. Richly textured, there is some interest here. Very good
Wicken Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2000 Hawkes Bay
Aged in new American oak barrels. Vivid purple colour. There’s a
chocolatey richness to the very ripe, almost jammy berry fruit. The
accessible palate shows a great concentration of juicy, ripe sweet
fruit. Striking stuff. Very good/excellent
Te Awanga Merlot 2000, Hawkes Bay
Machine harvested at night, this is aged in new American oak barrels.
Deep purple black colour. Wonderful nose of bright, ripe menthol-edged
berry and blackcurrant fruit. The palate is concentrated with juicy
ripe fruit on the palate. Extremely rich, this is very vivid with the
oak balancing the fruit well. Very good/excellent
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