Cameron Douglas: Stonecroft Gewürztraminer 2025

Stonecroft Gewürztraminer 2025, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay.   RRP from $29.00   Gewürztraminer: Backwards, this grape reveals its origins in three words: er= from; tramin (Italy) = the original home; gewurz = herbaceous or spicy.  The wine:   An elegant bouquet of white fleshed fruits from pear to apple, quince to white apricot. As the wine touches the palate, the textures of satin and crème fraîche are contrasted by the acid line – fine fruit tannins with a gentle push of phenolics. Core fruit flavours that reflect the bouquet are persistent and ripe. Delicious and fresh, a subtle-elegant expression.     The food:   Because this is a drier style it works surprisingly well with most fish dishes, pastas with a touch of cream, and seafood like salmon. Think creamy or oily food – satin-cream textured wine. Also good with semi-hard to hard cheeses.   Definitively not good with spicy foods – this wine is not sweet enough for that.    The season:   The 2025 harvest in Hawke’s Bay is one to remember because of its warm, dry spring, excellent flowering overall, and an early start to the growing season. While summer was a bit cooler than a traditional Kiwi summer, the fruit developed well and evenly overall. It also led to one of the earliest harvests for some. The quality of the grapes ranges from very good to outstanding.    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.