Part
9: New Zealand's Central Otago region
Quartz Reef
Rudi Bauer with his wines
Website: www.quartzreef.co.nz
Austrian ex-pat Rudi Bauer is one of the most talented and respected
winemakers in Central Otago. Rudi started out working for Rolfe
Mills at Rippon (a recently tasted bottle of Rippon Pinot Noir 1990
was made by him, and was showing beautifully), and then left the
region in 1992 to work for Giesen, before returning to set up his
own venture in Central.
He founded Quartz Reef in partnership with Clotilde Chauvet (of Marc
Chauvet Champagne), John and Heather Perriam, and Trevor Scott in
1996, initially using contracted vineyards, but now the wines are
based on 30 hectares of vines in the Bendigo subdistrict: a 15
hectare north facing slope with clay, fine gravel and quartz soils
(largely Pinot Noir, but also with Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and more
recently some Grüner Veltliner), and a 15 hectare vineyard adjacent
to this with sandy loam soils (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot
Gris). These vineyards are now operated biodynamically.
As well as making a stylish, structured Pinot Noir that is among the
region’s best, Quartz Reef is also a sparkling wine specialist
THE
WINES
Quartz
Reef Pinot Noir 2002 Central Otago
Beautifully open, sweet pure nose with cherries, herbs and a bit
of spiciness. The palate has warmth and smooth open fruit. Quite
sweet with nice purity and a bit of spicy evolution. Stylish stuff.
92/100
Quartz
Reef Pinot Noir 2003 Central Otago
Some herbs and spice here on the nose. Nice sweet, slightly
herbal fruit, with a bit of plumy savouriness. 90/100
Quartz
Reef Pinot Noir 2004 Central Otago
Lovely liqueur-like cherry sweetness to the nose. Open and
perfumed with some subtle herbiness. The palate has a warm spiciness
and nice structure. Evolving nicely with a savoury edge to the sweet
fruit. 92/100
Quartz
Reef Pinot Noir 2005 Central Otago
Lovely dense warm spicy nose with dark cherry fruit and nice
density. The palate has notes of ginger, spice and herbs. Really
stylish with nice density to the dark fruits. Apealing savoury spicy
notes. 93/100
Quartz
Reef Pinot Noir 2006 Central Otago
Warm spicy nose. Palate is herby and quite dense with some
spiciness. Real structure here under the fruit. Potential for
development. 94/100
Quartz
Reef Pinot Noir 2007 Central Otago
Superbly elegant nose is pure, smooth and has sweet cherry fruit
notes, as well as nice spiciness. The palate is fresh and pure with
a lovely structural dimension to the fruit. Good combination of
weight and elegance. 93/100
Quartz
Reef Méthode Traditionelle NV Central Otago
A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Toasty and focused on the
nose with some crisp lemony notes. The palate is bright and fresh
with taut, linear character and a bit of toasty richness. 91/100
Quartz
Reef Pinot Gris 2008 Central Otago
Nicely textured with with pure, bright, subtly grapey fruit.
Pure, simple but attractive. 88/100
CENTRAL
OTAGO SERIES
Felton
Road
Mount
Difficulty
Pisa
Range
Carrick
Rippon
Amisfield
Peregrine
Gibbston
Valley
Quartz
Reef
Wines
tasted 02/10
Find these wines with wine-searcher.com
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