Reviews
What they are saying about our wines
Wine-lovers are excited about New Zealand's Pinot Noir and this is a good one, with a haunting nose of earth, pepper and a little funk and a silky, fruity taste. Best red of the tasting. We also liked Goose Bay's 2005 Sauvignon Blanc , which was crisp, juicy and very easy to enjoy.
Goose Bay Sauvignon Blanc. 88-90 Points "COLOR-light golden; NOSE-great nose, really aromatic, little fruit (boysenberry) & cat pee; TASTE-very good, not too grapefruity, nice acidity & balance, like a $20 Sancerre" GV-89/90
"Spencer Hill winemaker, Phil Jones, likes to combine the ultra modern with traditional techniques when it comes to making wine and it certainly seems to be working for him."
"Tasman Bay Chardonnay is a classy, well-made wine that blows all others away at a similar price."
"This is an impressively pure, lovely cherry tasting expression of Pinot Noir."
Public tastings of the best Australian and New Zealand Chardonnay's resulted in the 2001 Spencer Hill Coastal Ridge Chardonnay being selected in first place. 1)2001 Spencer Hill Coastal Ridge 2)2001 Houghton Pemberton 3)2001 Ati Rangi 4)2000 Leeuwin Estate 5)2001 Villa Maria 6)2001 Petaluma 7)2000 Heggies Eden Valley
"Ask a Kiwi wine afficionado to name five of New Zealand's superstar chardonnays and you can probably safely bet that the list will include Te Mata Elston, Neudorf Moutere and at least one, or perhaps both, of the Kumeu River labels. On current form, I'd add Spencer Hill Coastal Ridge to the list too."
"No other New Zealand Chardonnay has been showered with as many top awards recently as Tasman Bay Chardonnay. With the first vintage in 1994, they already have a collection of major trophies from competitions around the world - Auckland, Sydney, Hong Kong, San Francisco, London. Seductively soft, rich and creamy smooth, Tasman Bay is hugely drinkable in its youth."
"Spencer Hill is certainly a leader rather than a follower. The wines are typically concentrated, rich and often smooth textured with a variety of complex flavours that can impress."
"Spencer Hill in Nelson fashions innovative and individual wines, and their Tasman Bay Pinot Noir is a welcome newcomer to this popular range. It is a smooth, savoury Pinot with lovely balance and surprising complexity."
"Since the first vintage in 1994, Spencer Hill has forged a reputation for outstanding Chardonnays - Tasman Bay Chardonnay being the leading light in the stable - but the first Pinot Gris is among the country's best ever produced."
"Jones's wines are those to get your teeth into, to enjoy and relax with, rather than to pose alongside. It is a measure of Spencer Hill's commitment to quality that it has the basics of balance, finesse and flavour dead right. With degrees in viticulture and winemaking, Jones has the training, as well as the inclination, to make the grade."
"Owner, Philip Jones, charts his own course using often adventurous methods in both vineyard and winery, resulting in wines that are welcome, though sometimes a departure from mainstream styles."
Goose Bay Sauvignon Blanc. 88-90 Points "COLOR-light golden; NOSE-great nose, really aromatic, little fruit (boysenberry) & cat pee; TASTE-very good, not too grapefruity, nice acidity & balance, like a $20 Sancerre" GV-89/90
"Spencer Hill winemaker, Phil Jones, likes to combine the ultra modern with traditional techniques when it comes to making wine and it certainly seems to be working for him."
"Tasman Bay Chardonnay is a classy, well-made wine that blows all others away at a similar price."
"This is an impressively pure, lovely cherry tasting expression of Pinot Noir."
Public tastings of the best Australian and New Zealand Chardonnay's resulted in the 2001 Spencer Hill Coastal Ridge Chardonnay being selected in first place. 1)2001 Spencer Hill Coastal Ridge 2)2001 Houghton Pemberton 3)2001 Ati Rangi 4)2000 Leeuwin Estate 5)2001 Villa Maria 6)2001 Petaluma 7)2000 Heggies Eden Valley
"Ask a Kiwi wine afficionado to name five of New Zealand's superstar chardonnays and you can probably safely bet that the list will include Te Mata Elston, Neudorf Moutere and at least one, or perhaps both, of the Kumeu River labels. On current form, I'd add Spencer Hill Coastal Ridge to the list too."
"No other New Zealand Chardonnay has been showered with as many top awards recently as Tasman Bay Chardonnay. With the first vintage in 1994, they already have a collection of major trophies from competitions around the world - Auckland, Sydney, Hong Kong, San Francisco, London. Seductively soft, rich and creamy smooth, Tasman Bay is hugely drinkable in its youth."
"Spencer Hill is certainly a leader rather than a follower. The wines are typically concentrated, rich and often smooth textured with a variety of complex flavours that can impress."
"Spencer Hill in Nelson fashions innovative and individual wines, and their Tasman Bay Pinot Noir is a welcome newcomer to this popular range. It is a smooth, savoury Pinot with lovely balance and surprising complexity."
"Since the first vintage in 1994, Spencer Hill has forged a reputation for outstanding Chardonnays - Tasman Bay Chardonnay being the leading light in the stable - but the first Pinot Gris is among the country's best ever produced."
"Jones's wines are those to get your teeth into, to enjoy and relax with, rather than to pose alongside. It is a measure of Spencer Hill's commitment to quality that it has the basics of balance, finesse and flavour dead right. With degrees in viticulture and winemaking, Jones has the training, as well as the inclination, to make the grade."
"Owner, Philip Jones, charts his own course using often adventurous methods in both vineyard and winery, resulting in wines that are welcome, though sometimes a departure from mainstream styles."