Notes from tasting 8 wines from Aurum Wines, Central Otago

Aurum Wines is a small vineyard located in the Central Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand and we enjoyed a large number of their wines this evening at the North Shore Wine & Food Society.

2007 Riesling

Light kerosene to the nose, pale yellow, thin smell, very strong big citrus flavour, honey notes with an off-dry sweetness, very thin, long tail, crisp.  Will keep for many years.  A very nice wine.

2008 Riesling

Slightly dryer in style than the 2007 Riesling although otherwise very similar.  My preference was the 2007 although both were good.

2008 Pinot Gris

Medium to sweet citrus grip, a little powdery.  (This is Jane’s descriptor)

2009 Pinot Gris

Less powdery with a bit of quince flavour.  The preference of the two with a little more sweetness, much softer, and a hint of rose on the nose.

2008 Pinot Noir

Plum to the nose, dry, light plum red, a little bit of toastiness, quite a bit of body although quite thin.

2009 Pinot Noir

Deep ruby red in colour this wine had more acid and tannins than the 2008, medium length and thicker with a bit more body although it was still quite light.  This was my preference of these two Pinot Noirs.

2007 Madeline Pinot Noir

This is Aurum’s flagship Pinot Noir with a price to match.  It is a deep ruby red, smooth wine with a huge body with a hint of game and green, complemented with a bit of acid.  It is a magnificent wine.

2009  18 carat Pinot Gris

With a lovely Manuka Honey nose this botrytised Pinot Gris is thin (not clogging or syrupy), soft and very nice.  It has a nice fruit balance.