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Te Mania 2010 Reserve Nelson Pinot Gris
 This
week's wine comes from a winery that has got behind the Rugby World
Cup in a big way. Te Mania wines has built the World's biggest
grapevine rugby ball to celebrate the World Cup in New Zealand. The
ball measures a whopping 6 metres round and 4 metres tall.
Te Mania in partnership with the Arts Council Nelson created the
giant rugby ball as part of launching New Zealand's first grapevine
sculpture exhibition. Top artists including Michael MacMillan and
David Carson have put their creative skills to great use to twist,
bend, curve, braid and cajole vines into fantastic creative
sculptures.
"Harvesting grapes is always an exciting time and sometimes
stressful, but we always really look forward to seeing what the
season's hard work brings us," says Jon Harrey owner of Te Mania.
"While we enjoy sampling our wine, the vineyard crew would say it
also means pruning. A lot of it!!! So, time to have some fun we
thought and create something wonderful from these canes."
Lloyd Harwood of the Arts Council Nelson which is helping organise
this event says "This is a wonderful initiative to bring artists and
the public together in a fun creative collaboration. Sculptures will
be offered for sale and will make a great feature indoors or
outdoors."
The world's biggest grapevine rugby ball and other sculptures will
be on display till Christmas at the Te Mania cellar door in McShane
Road, Richmond, Nelson.
Visitors will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite
sculpture and the winning artist will receive $500 worth of Te Mania
wine.
A special limited edition of 100 cases of Te Mania Big Balls Syrah
2010 has also been released to support the All Blacks quest to
become world champions.
As its name suggests, "this is a ballsy wine which shows deep purple
red colour and intense aromas of black fruits, spices and white
pepper," says Jon Harrey owner of Te Mania. "The palate is tightly
bound like a good front row with fine grained tannins, rich dark
berry fruit, and white pepper flavours."
"A perfect accompaniment to roast Springbok, BBQ Wallaby or to wash
down any English puddings." Jon adds with a chuckle.
The wine reviewed today is not the Big Balls Syrah but their 2010
Reserve Nelson Pinot Gris. It is made from grapes grown on low
yielding, hand picked vines. I found the wine to have wonderful,
vibrant aromas of pear, apple and spice with hints of tropical
fruit. On the palate, I found the 2010 Te Mania Reserve Pinot Gris
to exhibit flavours of apricot and spiced apple with hints of peach.
It is an easy drinking wine with a silky texture and ling lingering
finish.
I would recommend trying this wine with a pasta dish that has a
creamy sauce or alternatively with seafood ravioli. It could even go
well with the rugby.
Reviewed by Stephen Clark (5/9/2011)
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