At day's end, no more need to spit out each taste, we enjoy a glass and happily accept a second before heading back to Sue and Neil's home to get ready for dinner. Kerr Farm 1999 Pinotage - Inky garnet, almost black. Earthy, gamey black fruit and fragrant white pepper. Surprisingly good match with spicy holiday fruitcake. Craighall Dry Riesling - Petrol, minerals, a hint of tangerine.
Full flavors follow the nose, uff-dry and steely acidic.
Oak well integrated. Fine Chardonnay, holding up very well. Waiheke Island Cabernets - Black coffee and cassis, structured and tannic. That wrapped up the New Zealand leg of the tour. In the morning I would head across the Tasman to Sydney and a week of judging at the Sydney International Wine Competition .