2018 Seresin Estate, “Chiaroscuro”, Marlborough, New Zealand

£19.95

3 in stock

Description

Roving Sommelier is passionate about premium quality New Zealand regional wines. Award-winning sommelier, Robert Giorgione is also a New Zealand Wine Brand Ambassador and enthusiastically goes about his work with great passion and knowledge and positively promotes all the New Zealand winegrowers that he represents.

I have a long-standing relationship with Seresin Estate which has lasted many years. Former cinematographer and film maker, Michael Seresin and his wonderful Marlborough-based vineyard first came onto my wine radar back in the mid-1990s. Their original winemaker was the very talented Brian Bicknell, with whom I struck up a great friendship. Moreover, Seresin Estate was one of the first vineyards in New Zealand that I visited, which was when I first toured the country in 2001/02. Over the years, whenever I have returned to New Zealand, I have always made the effort to visit Seresin and to see what has been going on and to see how the vineyards and wines have developed. In addition, I also have vintage harvest experience when I worked in New Zealand in 2006 after leaving Harvey Nichols in London and before starting at Orrery Restaurant later that year. For me, not only was it great experience to work the vintage harvest at Seresin and other New Zealand boutique wineries, but also it gave me a greater insight into their winemaking and learning more about the wines about which I am passionate.

At the time, in 2006 at Seresin, it was Brian Bicknell’s last vintage before he went on to create Mahi. Clive Dougall was assistant winemaker and then took over from Brian in 2007 when he was made head winemaker. I fondly remember when I returned to New Zealand in 2009, during another vintage harvest that Clive let me taste the first vintage of Chiaroscuro, which, at the time was a very exciting project. I was possibly one of the first people outside the winery to try the wine, and it was wonderful to listen to Clive’s future plans and how he created this unique white wine blend of esoteric grapes. Only few cases of the first vintage of the wine were released in 2009, and it was mainly targeted towards a small handful of fine-dining restaurants, and Chiaroscuro is not made every year, too. If I remember correctly, allegedly, the inspiration for Chiaroscuro, was Michael Seresin’s love of Jermann’s “Vintage Tunina” – a cult Italian white wine from Friuli in northern Italy.

Chiaroscuro is the contrast of light and dark, luminosity and shadow, and adds depth and volume to any composition. Pinot Gris, Riesling and Gewürztraminer were hand-picked together and naturally co-fermented to create a harmonious wine, more than the sum of its individual varietals. Complexly integrated and richly textured yet light and dry in style with elegance and persistence.

Seresin Estate is certified organic and practices biodynamic winegrowing and farming. They also produce a cracking olive oil at the estate.

Best enjoyed chilled and in a convivial atmosphere.

Alcohol: 12% abv (75cl)

Closure: Screwcap

Grape varieties: Pinot Gris, Riesling & Gewürztraminer

Flavour Profile: Clean, Fresh, Off-dry, Highly aromatic, Tropical, Exotic, Citrus, Complex, Intense, Mouth-watering acidity.