Villa Maria Private Bin East Coast Gewürztraminer, 2010

With its polysyllabic, Germanic-sounding name and tendancy to come in off-dry styles, Gewürztraminer isn't exactly a marketer's day-dream. Originally from the German-speaking Italian province of Südtirol (or Alto Adige), its spiritual home is Alsace where it ranges in style from dry to lusciously sweet, but always perfumey.

Gewürztraminer's signature characteristics are naturally high sugar levels and aromas of lychees, rose petals and a touch of sweet spice (hence the gewürz tag).

This Villa Maria Gewürztraminer is pretty much a textbook example - the nose is floral, with honeysuckle and elderflower in the mix along with a dusting of sugar and spice and below it all, a hint of minerality.

The floral notes continue on the palate which has balanced, ripe-fruit acidity, more sugary spice and again an underpinning of minerality, which along with the perfumey notes, lingers on the finish.

Like Villa Maria's wines generally, it feels technically well-made, with both bright, prominent fruit and a good depth of flavour; moreover, the differing elements feel well-integrated despite the fruit coming from a number of regions.

The sweetness and acidity will match well with smoked salmon or gravadlax, but it's harder to think of what will match well with the floral, perfumey  aromas; "Asian food" is often said to be a good match, but I find that as meaningless as saying French food matches well with Chardonnay, so thanks to the following tweeters for their suggestions (for me, the coriander seems the most convincing).

@VillaMaria_Euro - a coriander-heavy stir fry
@jobarneswines - clafoutis and blue cheese (presumably not together)
@pawpawapps - Pathia curry (whatever that is)

£9.99 from Majestic (currently running an offer on NZ whites), Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Wine Rack, nzhouse ofwine.co.uk, Matthew Clark, wine-studio.co.uk; provided for review.

Links

Villa Maria - http://www.villamaria.co.nz/
Majestic - http://www.majestic.co.uk/
Sainsbury's - http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/
Waitrose - http://www.waitrosewine.com/
Wine Rack - http://www.winerack.co.uk/
nzhouse ofwine.co.uk - http://www.nzhouseofwine.co.uk/
Matthew Clark - http://www.mathewclark.co.uk/
wine-studio.co.uk - http://www.wine-studio.co.uk/