![\"Nick](\"http:\/\/www.wineanorak.com:\/wineblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1292146-500x366.jpg\")
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This masterclass was led by Nick Nobilo, who is the expert on this variety, and one with some experience: he\u2019s now completed 56 vintages. He began making wine when his father let him experiment in the 1960s. He grew lots of different varieties, but Gewurztraminer was the the one that he fell for. It\u2019s history goes back 1000 years, beginning as Traminer in southern Tyrol, in the north of Italy. As it moved westwards it found itself in Alsace. As a variety prone to mutation, Traminer changed colour to pinkish\/garlic, and they noticed it had a nice spiciness. For years the name Gewurztraminer (\u2018spicy traminer\u2019) wasn\u2019t used, but in 1973 it became the official name for this variety.<\/p>\n
Nick pointed out that while Riesling relies on acidity, Gewurztraminer relies on phenolics. \u2018It is a white grape trying to be a red,\u2019 he says, \u2018and this is where the phenolics come in. It is very important that the flavour just under the skin is extracted in the winemaking process.\u2019 For Nick, the skins are the most important part. \u2018I do skin contact for up to 20h to extract those flavours.\u2019 Phenolics, though, give a bit of bitterness. \u2018Bone dry Gewurztraminers don\u2019t really work,\u2019 he says. \u2018It\u2019s essential to have a bit of sweetness.\u2019<\/p>\n
Nick loves Gewurztraminer. \u2018For me it is the best of the white varieties,\u2019 he says. \u2018It is a shame that it doesn\u2019t have a following in the market place or the interest \u2013 it\u2019s time will come, so we are all waiting.\u2019 And he thinks that New Zealand does a good job of this. \u2018Outside of Alsace not many peopke produce Gewurz as well as we do.\u2019<\/p>\n
To make good Gewurztraminer, you need what Nick describes as the perfect triangle of phenolics, sugar and alcohol. \u2018I place no importance on pH and acidity,\u2019 says Nick. He refers to the analysis of good Alsatian Gewurztraminer as 4 by 4 \u2013 pH 4 and 4 grams of total acidity. Skin contact is important, but it needs to be cool skin contact, with the must chilled down before the skin contact takes place.<\/p>\n
![\"OLYMPUS](\"http:\/\/www.wineanorak.com:\/wineblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1292156-500x333.jpg\")
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We tried nine wines, and these are my notes.<\/p>\n
Ruru Gewurztraminer 2015 Central Otago, New Zealand<\/strong> Mud House Gewurztramuiner 2016 Marlborough, New Zealand Millton Riverpoint Gewurztraminer 2014 Gisborne, New Zealand<\/strong>Powerful, spicy and savoury with some ginger, pepper and green tea, as well as bold ripe pear fruit. Such a distinctive wine with real depth of flavour. Long spicy finish. 92\/100 Villa Maria Single Vineyard lhumatao Gewurztraminer 2014 Auckland, New Zealand Blackenbrook Gewurztraminer 2014 Nelson, New Zealand Zephyr Gewurztraminer 2015 Marlborough, New Zealand<\/strong>Nice fruit and spice drive to this. Lychees and table grapes with lovely balance between the sweetness, the soft texture and the slightly spicy, fruity finish. 89\/100 Te Whare Ra SV5182 Gewurztraminer 2016 Marlborough, New Zealand Lawson\u2019s Dry Hills The Pioneer Gewurztraminer 2014 Marlborough, New Zealand<\/strong> Vinoptima Reserve Gewurztraminer 2004 Gisborne, New Zealand<\/strong>
\nPowerfully flavoured with a savoury, spicy, smoky edge to the sweet grapey fruit. Some Turkish delight character. Stony and quite linear with good acidity. Tastes dry, but there\u2019s a hint of sweetness. 91\/100<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Sweet jelly-ish lychee nose. Fresh palate has tangerines and spice with sweet grapey richness. Honeyed and finishes sweet. 88\/100
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\n<\/strong>Fresh and fruity with some grape and spice notes. Open, with a bit of clementine and pear fruit. Light and delicate with not so much varietal character. 87\/100
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\n<\/strong>Lovely aromatics here: sweet, perfumed lychee and grape notes. Very delicate framing to the rich, broad palate. Grapey, smooth, spicy and off-dry. 90\/100
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\n<\/strong>Very pure, linear, fruity nose. Fresh, clean, fruity palate shows grapes, pears, lemons and a bit of lychee. Nice length and focus here, carrying the sweetness really well. 90\/100
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"OLYMPUS](\"http:\/\/www.wineanorak.com:\/wineblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1292158-500x330.jpg\")
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\nPowerful and bold with sweet lychee and conference pear characters, as well as a bit of green tea baked apple character. Has a long, spicy finish. Nice weight and balance, with some sweetness. 91\/100<\/p>\n![\"Vinoptima](\"http:\/\/www.wineanorak.com:\/wineblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/P1292157-500x333.jpg\")
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\nPowerful and intense with a lovely spicy edge to the sweet tangerine, apricot and table grape fruit. There\u2019s some toasty development here, too. Nice contrast between the sweet and the savoury. Showing a lot of development here. Really nice, and very distinctive and powerful. 93\/100<\/p>\n