Awards and Reviews 2013 Grasshopper Rock
Awards
GOLD MEDAL – Decanter World Wine Awards 2015
BLUE-GOLD MEDAL - Sydney International Wine Competition 2015
SILVER MEDAL – International Wine Challenge 2015
SILVER MEDAL – Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2014
Joelle Thomson – TOP 20 Pinot at Central Otago Pinot Noir new release tasting Sep 2014
Best Buy - 4.5 Stars - Cuisine Magazine, May 2015
Reviews
Decanter World Wine Awards 2015
Fine, pretty nose; pure and ripe, blessed with layers of toasty oak, raspberry, strawberry and just a hint of chocolate and spice. To taste it's no less toothsome, with sparkling intensity and vibrancy, delivering reams of cinnamon-kissed, creamy red fruits. Beautifully poised and with great tension.
Sam Kim - Wine Orbit - 94/100, 5 STARS
Continuing their refined style, the 2013 offering delivers excellent depth of flavour and richness together with elegant complexity. Gorgeous aromas of dark cherry, plum, mixed spice and floral with a hint of cedar lead to a focused palate that is richly textured and beautifully framed by bright acidity. Long and engaging, lingering and delicious. At its best: now to 2023. Feb 2015. (Tasted at the Pinot Celebration)
Raymond Chan – Raymond Chan Wine Reviews 18.5+/20, 5 STARS
Moderately dark ruby-red colour, with light purple hues on rim. The nose is gently full with rich, ripe fruit aromas of dark cherry and raspberry fruits harmoniously interwoven with thyme herb notes and subtle oak elements. Some raspberry liqueur detail unfolds with aeration. Medium-bodied, the palate features a soft-textured, smooth and integrated core of ripe, dark raspberry fruit entwined with thyme herbs and a hint of minerally reduction. The fruit has a gentle sweetness and lusciousness balanced by supple, fine-grained tannins. Soft acidity enhances the seamless flow and the wine carries to a very long, sustained finish with dark cherry notes and refined tannin textures. This is a supple, smooth-flowing and harmonious, sweet-fruited Pinot Noir with real beauty. Match with poultry, pork and Asian fare over the next 5-6 years. Pinot Noir clones 5, 777, 115, 114, Abel and 667 destemmed and fermented to 13.0% alc., the wine aged 10 months in 30% new French oak barriques. 18.5+/20 Mar 2015.
[Note: Raymond Chan Wine Reviews www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz provides a service by publishing independent, assessment-based, critical reviews. His fee is $33+gst per wine]
Cuisine Magazine - Best Buy & 4.5 Stars
Regularly one of the Alexandra sub-region's finest examples of pinot noir, this version is typically fragrant and pure. Red and darker fruit, plus a herbal twist, are lifted by fine, firm tannins. "It's not a show pony," said Sam Harrop, "but very fresh and elegant." May 2015
Emma Jenkins MW – Australian Women's Weekly NZ
A rich juicy core or red berryfruit and spice, finely balanced and lengthy. Grasshopper Rock has to be one of the best value pinot buys. Super reliable, super delicious. April 2015
Mark Henderson – Otago Daily Times – Rating: Excellent
Floral, fragrant with typical Central bright cherry notes. A finer boned style in a positive way. Light on its feet with lovely flavour persistence and excellent balance. Approachable and very appealing wine with hints of underbrush and herb and fine tannins. Excellent length. Strawberry notes with time in the glass. 13 May 2015
Sue Courtney – Wine of the Week
Translucent in its light ruby-violet appearance with a bouquet that is fruity and inviting. A fine textured wine with a savoury richness, sweet and sour cherries, dried cranberries, nuances of rosehips, hints of mocha and touches of lemon thyme. There's a great vinous flow after the initial grip is chased away and a beautifully expansive finish. A wine to put in the cellar right now and enjoy the foresight you had to do this in 3 or 4 years time. 29 Apr 2015. http://www.wineoftheweek.com/wednesday/2015Apr.htm...
Cameron Douglas MS – 4 Stars Lush ripe red fruits bouquet with a distinctive silty soil layer, floral tones and medium+ complexity. On the palate - dusty powdery tannins first then red fruit flavors cherry and raspberry; medium+ (ish) oak still finding its way in the wine; medium+ acidity and length. A wine with complexity and potential. May 2015 http://camerondouglasms.blogspot.co.nz/2015/05/grasshopper-rock.html
The Sydney International Wine Competition Judge's comments when tasted with pot roast guinea fowl with cabbage and bacon:
Bryan Currie - Bright red in colour. Aromatic. Red cherry and spice with a touch of stalk. ?? long palate with length. A great match for the gamey fowl and the saltiness of the cabbage. A beautiful wine.
Kym Milne - Perfumed and bright. Quite a pretty Pinot nose. An elegant wine. A lovely palate with vibrant fruit. Light to medium bodied and very good length. A lovely vibrant wine with the food.
Steve Flamsteed - High toned high perfumed. A lovely style. Very fresh and young. This wine has a long life ahead of it. On the palate very savoury with a hint of dried orange peel and Campari and again lots of length.
Sue Bastian - Pale ruby red in colour with a pink rim. Quite translucent in colour. Delicate Turkish delight and leafiness on the nose. Fresh acid on the front of the palate and then with some lovely bright red berries and cherries. A soft sandy texture and a red jube finish. This was perfecto with this meal.
Fred Dame - Medium ruby in colour with a pink rim. Strawberries. Cherries. Very sweet fruits. A very, very long finish and the texture of the fowl and particularly the breast was a nice addition with this wine.
Brent Marris - A light elegant nose. A gentle fruit palate. A soft mid palate with hints of tannin on the finish. Balanced and reasonable with the guinea fowl. Still balanced and long.
Cameron Douglas - Bright fresh fruity with lots of cherry and cranberry fruit flavours. A raspberry sweet palate. The wine and food like each other just a little so we did quite well there.
Stuart Halliday - Lovely pretty fruit and slight medicinal notes. Pine needle and menthol on the back palate with firm tannins. Unfortunately with the food it tended to clash with the cabbage and become a little bit bitter.
Warren Gibson - Attractive on the nose with some oak apparent. The palate is somewhat hard and lean and there is no real improvement with the dish.
Mark Robertson - This has a lighter strawberry whole bunch character on this wine. It has a light palate also. There's good length but the raspberry cordial characters simplify this wine too much and with food it looked lollyish particularly on the finish here.
Neil Hadley - This wine shows a raspberry fruit character on the nose. The palate is lean and the tannins are over firm for the wine's overall low level of intensity. The food accentuates this.
Tim Wildman
A pale ruby colour. A subtle nose. Light bodied. Red fruit and a short finish. An easy drinking style.
Ken Dobler - A bright cherry red colour. Rich cherry berry aromas on the nose. The palate showing similar cherry fruits with lovely savoury length.
Rob Geddes - To me it was woodsy spiced earthy strawberries with dried herbs. It was pretty on the nose but it was acid edged and very drying and lacking fruit weight on the palate.
Articles of interest
Rose Murray Brown MW - My Pick of New Zealand Pinot Noirs
"Most impressive estates at this tasting were the well-established estates of Felton Road, Rippon , Peregrine and Quartz Reef with the most promising newcomer estates, Akarua, Valli, Grasshopper Rock and Terra Sancta" - Pinot Celebration 2015. Full story here
Black Gold - Jo Burzynska discovers you don't have to search for long to strike on impressive pinot noirs in Alexandra Basin.
"Other players making waves outside its boundaries include Grasshopper Rock, which has consistently delicious pinots that have notched up a raft of awards". Full story here
Updated by Phil: 14/05/2015
GOLD MEDAL – Decanter World Wine Awards 2015
BLUE-GOLD MEDAL - Sydney International Wine Competition 2015
SILVER MEDAL – International Wine Challenge 2015
SILVER MEDAL – Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2014
Joelle Thomson – TOP 20 Pinot at Central Otago Pinot Noir new release tasting Sep 2014
Best Buy - 4.5 Stars - Cuisine Magazine, May 2015
Reviews
Decanter World Wine Awards 2015
Fine, pretty nose; pure and ripe, blessed with layers of toasty oak, raspberry, strawberry and just a hint of chocolate and spice. To taste it's no less toothsome, with sparkling intensity and vibrancy, delivering reams of cinnamon-kissed, creamy red fruits. Beautifully poised and with great tension.
Sam Kim - Wine Orbit - 94/100, 5 STARS
Continuing their refined style, the 2013 offering delivers excellent depth of flavour and richness together with elegant complexity. Gorgeous aromas of dark cherry, plum, mixed spice and floral with a hint of cedar lead to a focused palate that is richly textured and beautifully framed by bright acidity. Long and engaging, lingering and delicious. At its best: now to 2023. Feb 2015. (Tasted at the Pinot Celebration)
Raymond Chan – Raymond Chan Wine Reviews 18.5+/20, 5 STARS
Moderately dark ruby-red colour, with light purple hues on rim. The nose is gently full with rich, ripe fruit aromas of dark cherry and raspberry fruits harmoniously interwoven with thyme herb notes and subtle oak elements. Some raspberry liqueur detail unfolds with aeration. Medium-bodied, the palate features a soft-textured, smooth and integrated core of ripe, dark raspberry fruit entwined with thyme herbs and a hint of minerally reduction. The fruit has a gentle sweetness and lusciousness balanced by supple, fine-grained tannins. Soft acidity enhances the seamless flow and the wine carries to a very long, sustained finish with dark cherry notes and refined tannin textures. This is a supple, smooth-flowing and harmonious, sweet-fruited Pinot Noir with real beauty. Match with poultry, pork and Asian fare over the next 5-6 years. Pinot Noir clones 5, 777, 115, 114, Abel and 667 destemmed and fermented to 13.0% alc., the wine aged 10 months in 30% new French oak barriques. 18.5+/20 Mar 2015.
[Note: Raymond Chan Wine Reviews www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz provides a service by publishing independent, assessment-based, critical reviews. His fee is $33+gst per wine]
Cuisine Magazine - Best Buy & 4.5 Stars
Regularly one of the Alexandra sub-region's finest examples of pinot noir, this version is typically fragrant and pure. Red and darker fruit, plus a herbal twist, are lifted by fine, firm tannins. "It's not a show pony," said Sam Harrop, "but very fresh and elegant." May 2015
Emma Jenkins MW – Australian Women's Weekly NZ
A rich juicy core or red berryfruit and spice, finely balanced and lengthy. Grasshopper Rock has to be one of the best value pinot buys. Super reliable, super delicious. April 2015
Mark Henderson – Otago Daily Times – Rating: Excellent
Floral, fragrant with typical Central bright cherry notes. A finer boned style in a positive way. Light on its feet with lovely flavour persistence and excellent balance. Approachable and very appealing wine with hints of underbrush and herb and fine tannins. Excellent length. Strawberry notes with time in the glass. 13 May 2015
Sue Courtney – Wine of the Week
Translucent in its light ruby-violet appearance with a bouquet that is fruity and inviting. A fine textured wine with a savoury richness, sweet and sour cherries, dried cranberries, nuances of rosehips, hints of mocha and touches of lemon thyme. There's a great vinous flow after the initial grip is chased away and a beautifully expansive finish. A wine to put in the cellar right now and enjoy the foresight you had to do this in 3 or 4 years time. 29 Apr 2015. http://www.wineoftheweek.com/wednesday/2015Apr.htm...
Cameron Douglas MS – 4 Stars Lush ripe red fruits bouquet with a distinctive silty soil layer, floral tones and medium+ complexity. On the palate - dusty powdery tannins first then red fruit flavors cherry and raspberry; medium+ (ish) oak still finding its way in the wine; medium+ acidity and length. A wine with complexity and potential. May 2015 http://camerondouglasms.blogspot.co.nz/2015/05/grasshopper-rock.html
The Sydney International Wine Competition Judge's comments when tasted with pot roast guinea fowl with cabbage and bacon:
Bryan Currie - Bright red in colour. Aromatic. Red cherry and spice with a touch of stalk. ?? long palate with length. A great match for the gamey fowl and the saltiness of the cabbage. A beautiful wine.
Kym Milne - Perfumed and bright. Quite a pretty Pinot nose. An elegant wine. A lovely palate with vibrant fruit. Light to medium bodied and very good length. A lovely vibrant wine with the food.
Steve Flamsteed - High toned high perfumed. A lovely style. Very fresh and young. This wine has a long life ahead of it. On the palate very savoury with a hint of dried orange peel and Campari and again lots of length.
Sue Bastian - Pale ruby red in colour with a pink rim. Quite translucent in colour. Delicate Turkish delight and leafiness on the nose. Fresh acid on the front of the palate and then with some lovely bright red berries and cherries. A soft sandy texture and a red jube finish. This was perfecto with this meal.
Fred Dame - Medium ruby in colour with a pink rim. Strawberries. Cherries. Very sweet fruits. A very, very long finish and the texture of the fowl and particularly the breast was a nice addition with this wine.
Brent Marris - A light elegant nose. A gentle fruit palate. A soft mid palate with hints of tannin on the finish. Balanced and reasonable with the guinea fowl. Still balanced and long.
Cameron Douglas - Bright fresh fruity with lots of cherry and cranberry fruit flavours. A raspberry sweet palate. The wine and food like each other just a little so we did quite well there.
Stuart Halliday - Lovely pretty fruit and slight medicinal notes. Pine needle and menthol on the back palate with firm tannins. Unfortunately with the food it tended to clash with the cabbage and become a little bit bitter.
Warren Gibson - Attractive on the nose with some oak apparent. The palate is somewhat hard and lean and there is no real improvement with the dish.
Mark Robertson - This has a lighter strawberry whole bunch character on this wine. It has a light palate also. There's good length but the raspberry cordial characters simplify this wine too much and with food it looked lollyish particularly on the finish here.
Neil Hadley - This wine shows a raspberry fruit character on the nose. The palate is lean and the tannins are over firm for the wine's overall low level of intensity. The food accentuates this.
Tim Wildman
A pale ruby colour. A subtle nose. Light bodied. Red fruit and a short finish. An easy drinking style.
Ken Dobler - A bright cherry red colour. Rich cherry berry aromas on the nose. The palate showing similar cherry fruits with lovely savoury length.
Rob Geddes - To me it was woodsy spiced earthy strawberries with dried herbs. It was pretty on the nose but it was acid edged and very drying and lacking fruit weight on the palate.
Articles of interest
Rose Murray Brown MW - My Pick of New Zealand Pinot Noirs
"Most impressive estates at this tasting were the well-established estates of Felton Road, Rippon , Peregrine and Quartz Reef with the most promising newcomer estates, Akarua, Valli, Grasshopper Rock and Terra Sancta" - Pinot Celebration 2015. Full story here
Black Gold - Jo Burzynska discovers you don't have to search for long to strike on impressive pinot noirs in Alexandra Basin.
"Other players making waves outside its boundaries include Grasshopper Rock, which has consistently delicious pinots that have notched up a raft of awards". Full story here
Updated by Phil: 14/05/2015