NZ wines

I'm a big fan of New Zealand wines, and I've been trying some new 'local' wines while I am back in NZ. Here's a few basic impressions that might be of interest:

• 2012 Riverby Estate Riesling Eliza - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough (11/12/2013)
  Very light gold/yellow in colour. A light nose with some faint pear, pineapple and honey notes. Just barely off dry on the medium bodied palate. It's a very crisp, refreshing style, very light on its feet, with honeyed lime, stone, pineapple and mango notes. The back label says they were going for a spatlese style for this single vineyard wine, but it drinks like a halbtrocken or feinherb at most. The acidity gives it nice intensity, and the solid concentration also helps. This would be outstanding on a hot summer's day! Still very young, but quite tasty now. NZ rieslings don't get a lot of press outside the country (nor inside for that matter), but this is a great example of the great strides they are making with this grape in Marlborough and Central Otago. (A-)
• NV Nautilus Estate Cuvée Marlborough Brut - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough (11/11/2013)
  My impressions are very similar to the 2004 Morton Estate Black Label I had a few days ago. Hazy notes on both wines, but this had a very similar profile. They both improved with air and warmer temperatures, when they showed a nice richness without a lot of yeasty notes. Fairly simple and clean, but quite well done for what it is. This wine has won lots of awards over the last few years, but I had hoped for more complexity and depth (but I didn't write down the lot number). Still a very solid sparkling (B+/A-). (B+/A-)
• 2004 Morton Estate Black Label - New Zealand, North Island, Hawkes Bay (11/9/2013)
  Hazy notes from last night. Light gold in colour, not too much on the nose (although only a pretty basic glass was available). This started out a little bland, but definitely improved as it got some air and warmed up a bit. The last 2 glasses were the best, and it showed nice elegance with reasonable finesse and power. A bit more depth of flavour and complexity would take the wine to the next level, but it's still a very nice NZ sparkling (B+/A-). (B+/A-)