Te Whare Ra SV Gewurztraminer 2024

Te Whare Ra SV Gewürztraminer An expressive Marlborough Gewürztraminer with plenty of perfume, flavour and composure. Lychee, mango, rose petal and ripe orange lead into quince, ginger and exotic spice, while a soft, finely textured palate carries its sweetness with freshness and length. Made from vines planted in 1979, among Marlborough's oldest Gewürztraminer plantings, this is an off-dry white with real concentration rather than simple fruitiness. A rewarding match for fragrant Thai curries, glazed pork or gently spiced chicken, and equally convincing when the occasion calls for something aromatic and a little outside the usual Sauvignon Blanc lane.

What the winery says:

The certified organic fruit was hand-picked and hand-sorted before being destemmed, gently crushed and given overnight skin contact to build texture and phenolic structure. After gentle pressing, the juice was fermented slowly at cool temperatures in stainless steel to retain its aromatics. The parcels remained on lees after fermentation for additional texture and complexity. With 16 grams per litre of residual sugar, the wine is off-dry, intensely perfumed and richly flavoured, yet balanced by a fresh, persistent finish. It was bottled without fining and is suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

What the experts say:

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, 96 Points and 5 Stars (2024)
“The varietal expression is unmistakable and seductively appealing. The inviting bouquet shows mango, lychee, Turkish Delight, rich floral, and subtle spice notes. The succulent palate displays silky texture and finely pitched acidity, making it wonderfully harmonious with a prolonged, delicious finish. This is beautifully proportioned and detailed with a multi-layered mouthfeel, promising to evolve graciously. At its best: now to 2036.”

Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, 94+ Points (2024)
“The 2024 Gewürztraminer is made utilizing fruit from the oldest Gewürztraminer vines in Marlborough, planted in 1979. The wine leads with lychee and lime oil, rose petals and ginger root. In fact, it tastes like the beautiful Turkish delight that I had at dessert last night, complete with that chalky texture that comes from the icing sugar. It has 16 grams per liter of residual sugar and is almost squeaky. The length of flavor through the finish is very good; it drags out the wine and makes it feel long and driven. The grapes are kept on skins overnight to help extract the phenolics from the wine, and this is used to drive the wine in place of acidity, which is inherently lower in this variety. It works. This is very good.”

Cameron Douglas MS, 94 Points and Excellent (2024)
“Aromatic and fragrant with an elegant pure fruit bouquet. Gentle yet distinctive spices and soft herbaceous qualities. Aromas of fresh white fleshed fruits, citrus zest and peppery spices. Satin smooth on the palate with a core of ripe fleshy pomaceous fruits, a vibrant acid line and length, this wine is just simply delicious. Finishing just dry the best window for drinking is from day of purchase through 2028+.”