The 2009 Heritage Collection Red Band Riesling has intense orange blossom, white peach and honeycomb aromas with hints of lemon marmalade and some muskiness. The medium bodied palate reveals a dry style with just a touch of sweetness and plenty of flavor and texture, finishing long and layered. Drink it now through 2015+. Sherwood Estate was started 25 years ago by Dayne and Jill Sherwood. They now have 8 vineyards covering 200 acres - 3 in Marlborough and 5 in Waipara. “Waipara has good mid-palate weight compared to Marlborough with lower cropping in general and the tannins tend to be a bit firmer,” Dayne commented during my visit in July 2011. The wines are naturally fermented using indigenous yeast. The “Heritage” range is made purely with Waipara fruit, with these wines in particular aiming at “being different from your average NZ wine”. These guys are doing a commendable job and their prices offer incredible value.Importer: Southern Starz, Huntington Beach, CA; tel. (714) 892-3030

The 2008 Heritage Collection Red Band Riesling undergoes extended lees contact. It has an understated but well-defined grassy/chalk dust nose followed by a lively apply palate with touches of pear and a hint of nectarine. Vibrant and poised towards the finish, this should drink well over 2-4 years. Importer: Southern Starz, Huntington Beach, CA; tel. (714) 892-3030