Five star wines from New Zealand

by Sarah J. Gim, Posted Sep 6th 2006 @ 12:14PM

new zealand wines If you're sitting around trying to decide on a new wine to try tonight with you dinner, may we suggest a little something from New Zealand?

Forbes picks 15 "Five Star" wines from the tiny country that served as backdrop to a giant movies about hobbits:

Cable Station Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2004 ($18) - "bright, ripe fruit flavors balanced with just the right amount of acidity to keep it food-friendly. Forget those ponderous zins and shirazes, this is the red for a barbeque"
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, 2005 ($26) - "Deceptively light at first, it slowly evolves in the glass to eventually reveal a long, rich finish packed with a smoky minerality."
Craggy Range Merlot, Hawkes Bay, 2003 ($35) - "a perfect balance of silky tannins, lush ripe fruit and good acidity for a robust structure that's unusual for this varietal."
Crossroads Destination Series Chardonnay, Hawkes Bay, 2003 ($16) - "Rich and lush with ripe fruit in the front of the mouth, but with a fine, tart, green apple finish."
Drystone Pinot Noir, Central Otago, 2003 ($30) - "bright flavors of red cherry fruit and June strawberries abound, pulled together by a soft touch of oak and round, ripe tannins"

Glazebrook Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, 2005 ($14) - "lush flavors of tropical fruit"
Jackson Estate Unoaked Chardonnay, Marlborough, 2003 ($15) - "bright fruit flavors shine through with dazzling sparkle. A delightful, clean, uncomplicated wine that's perfect for an al fresco summer lunch."
Kim Crawford Pinot Gris, Marlborough, 2004 ($17) - "simple, unpretentious wine, clean and well made, showing just the right balance of ripe fruit and crisp acidity."
Kumeu River Village Chardonnay, 2004 ($19) - "zingy acidity and pronounced minerality balancing the ripe summer fruit flavors"
The Navigator, Alpha Domus, Hawkes Bay, 2002 ($21) - "bursts with glorious red summer fruits like strawberries and cherries, accented by subtle spicy highlights"
Spy Valley Riesling, Marlborough, 2005 ($20) - "Steely dry but with an intense citrus flavor for balance. Superb with shellfish or simple grilled chicken, swordfish or tuna. Or even barbeque, it's so rich in flavor."
TeAwa Sauvignon Blanc, Hawkes Bay, 2005 ($16) - "not astringently dry and has some body to it, and not made "interesting" by the addition of a lot of grassy flavors."
Whitehaven Pinot Noir, Marlborough, 2004 ($30) - "a bit angular at the moment, with assertive tannins and unresolved acidity"
Woodthorpe Syrah/Viognier, Hawkes Bay, 2003 ($25) - "soft, juicy and delightfully approachable"
Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, 2005 ($15) - "a polished sauvignon blanc, with real body"