Wine review by Raymond Chan Wine Reviews: http://www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz/
Tua Marina Vineyards is the Marlborough wine venture of Franzi Grab and Lex Thomson who own 4 ha of Sauvignon Blanc and 1,000 Arneis vines on the northern bank of the Wairau River on Kaituna-Tuamarina Road. The vineyard was planted to Sauvignon Blanc in 2003 and the Arneis in 2008 and 2009 after being impressed with the variety while travelling in Piedmont. Franzi and Lex are both trained viticulturists and winemakers and tend the vineyard, which was certified BioGro organic in 2014. The Sauvignon Blanc goes to Seresin Estate, while the Arneis goes to their own label. I reviewed the 2014 and 2015 vintages of Arneis in March last year (click here to see my reviews). Here, I review the 2016 Arneis.
Tua Marina Marlborough Arneis 2016
Bright, light straw-yellow colour with light golden tints, a little lighter on the rim. The bouquet is firm and elegantly concentrated with deep and well-packed aromas of savoury white and yellow stonefruits with near-chalky, nutty and waxy layers and a suggestion of oxidative detail, Dry to taste and medium-bodied, the palate has a good core of savoury white and yellow stonefruits with nutty detail and a layering of waxy and oxidative hints. The fruit has good depth and the palate has light textures, and is driven by a little alcohol power, providing good linearity. The wine possesses presence and carries to a finely concentrated, lingering, nutty finish. This is a dry Arneis with savoury white and yellow stonefruit flavours with nutty notes and subtle waxy and oxidative detail on a light-textured, linear palate with good weight. Match with antipasto and tapas over the next 3 years. Hand-picked fruit, WBP, 50% fermented in tank and 50% in seasoned oak, all by indigenous yeasts to 13.2% alc. and 3 g/L RS, the barrel portion undergoing batonnage and all of the wine undergoing MLF. Certified BioGro organic. 17.5-/20 Dec 2017 RRP $30.00
