Coopers Creek Vineyard - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits

A small family-owned winery, Coopers Creek's aim is to produce the highest-quality wines, principally in dry styles, to reflect New Zealand's outstanding cool climate viticulture conditions. They have been awarded the title of "Leading New Zealand Small Winemaker" several years at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Grape: Sauvignon Blanc

LCBO # 957407 $16.95 Vintages Essential

Tasting- Warm days and cool nights in Marlborough produce fruits with intense gooseberry, passion fruit and nectarine characters.

Serving- This dry Sauvignon Blanc should be served cool either as an aperitif or with seafood and salads.

Hawkes Bay Merlot

Our 2002 Hawkes Bay Merlot is blended from three Merlot parcels. The biggest component comes from a hillside terrace in the Havelock hills, while the other two are from alluvial soils not far from Hastings. The three vineyards were harvested, vinified and aged separately, using a mixture of new and seasoned American and French oak.

Awards: Bronze Medal, 2003 Royal Easter Wine Show; Bronze Medal, 2003 Air New Zealand Wine Competition.

Grape: Merlot

LCBO # 937235 $16.95

Tasting- Red with a purple centre and crimson highlights at the rim. Ripe Black Doris plums dominate the bouquet, backed up by vanilla and toasty oak. This is a medium weight wine with emphasis on the fruit sweetness. The tannins are soft and integrated and the finish lingering.

Serving- The tannins were so soft and ripe in 2002 that this wine is already very approachable. It has the structure however to age gracefully for a number of years. The soft tannins and earthy flavours of merlot make it a great match with full flavoured meats such as lamb, venison, beef and game. Sauces that are not too rich will go well with this wine as will roast garlic and vegetables. Cheeses, both soft and hard are always good.

Marlborough Pinot Noir

This wine has been assembled from fruit grown in three different vineyards; one on the Wairau Plains, one in the Awatere Valley and one up the Brancott Valley. All of the fruit was hand picked and then shipped to Auckland in chilled containers.

The parcels were separately vinified using traditional Burgundian techniques and then pressed off to barrel for malolactic fermentation and aging. Apart from regular topping, the barrels were not disturbed during this time. Only French oak was used and around 38% of the barrels were new, with the balance ranging in age from one to four years of age. After nine months the assemblage was undertaken and the wine was bottled with minimal intervention.

New Zealand Pinots are always very approachable in their youth and this wine is no exception. However the tannin structure and fruit character evident here indicate that our 2003 Marlborough Pinot Noir will age gracefully if correctly cellared. Expect a sediment to form over time.

Awards: Silver Medal, 2003 Liquorland Top 100; Air New Zealand - selected for in-flight economy 2004.

Grape: Pinot Noir

LCBO # 599969 $22.95

Tasting- Mid to deep red colour with a crimson rim, with plenty of brightness in the glass. Bouquet of subtle French oak melded with Black Doris plums and black cherries. Firm but fine-grained tannins frame a sweet core of black fruit. This is a medium weight wine with excellent breadth and length of flavour.

Serving- This medium bodied, fruit driven red wine is a great match with salads, pasta and fish and simple lamb dishes.