A typical New Zealand wine this week - fresh vibrant and fruit-driven.
It has a very pronounced bouquet of gooseberries and passion fruit. On the palate it's full of gooseberry taste giving it a slightly sweet edge.
It's 12 per cent alcohol, has an excellent balance and a lengthy finish. Wonderful with a variety of foods, e.g. goats cheeses, herby pork sausages or shellfish.
The provenance is Marlborough, South Island where Neill Culley of the title has selected his grapes from many different vineyards and soil types.
He believes in cold maceration (6C), low temperature fermentation and then maturation on the lees for several months. This all makes for aromatic wines. This bottle comes from Aldi at £5.99.
Aldi also do a Culley red wine from pinot noir grapes at the same price. This wine was made in the traditional Burgundian manner with eight months ageing in French oak. It has rich plum and ripe cherry aromas with a hint of cinnamon on a long finish. Recommended with a leg of New Zealand lamb.
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