WineNZ Summer 18-19 (1)

new releases
Five-star
by the sea
Words by Paul Taggart
This section is
always a bit
of fun as the
genuine Kiwi
new releases
are usually
supplemented with a few odd
balls that have found their way
into the WineNZ office. On this
occasion the odd balls were
from Thailand and Queensland.
One of my favourite wineries
in the land is Clearview Estate
in Te Awanga. It pre-dates
the “Napa comes to Hawke’s
Bay” wineries and has a great
restaurant which is the perfect
place for a summer lunch with
a bottle of chardonnay or rosé.
It also has a great range of reds.
Clearview’s current
winemaker (Matt Kirby) and a
former Clearview winemaker
(Barry Riwai) were on our
tasting panel on this occasion
– but were unaware of whose
wine they were tasting.
The coastal climate at
Clearview produces interesting
wines, but it is more a result of
good luck than good planning,
as co-owner Tim Turvey picked
the site back in the eighties as he
was a keen surfer and wanted to
be by the sea, rather than because
of any deep and meaningful
terroir considerations. But luck
was on his side and the winery
has prospered over the decades
since, during which other winery
businesses have arrived and
disappeared.
Clearview’s reputation means
it can now sell its top chardonnay
at $150 a bottle, but there are
many wines at more affordable
prices.
For the new releases we had
two entries and the first – their
2018 gewürztraminer – smacked
the ball right out of the park,
recording a five star rating.
Even if Matt the winemaker’s
score was discounted, and even if
Barry the ex-winemaker’s score
was also discounted, this wine
was a five-star success.
Clearview
Estate Coastal
Gewürztraminer
2018
Simon Nash: Quite full
lemon/lime, bright.
Vanillin, honey or clover,
soft ambrosia. Broad,
plump fruit.
Matt Kirby: Nice
weight, well structured.
Gewürztraminer. Lychee,
Turkish delight and ginger.
Barry Riwai: Turkish
delight, broad richness to
palate, glaceé ginger, spice
and opulence.
$22
12
WineNZ Magazine | Summer 2018-19