New Taste: all the latest product launches

New Taste: Keep your finger on the pulse of what's new out on the market

Amorim pops coated cork
Amorim has launched a specially-coated bottle closure to target the high-volume sector.
Acquamark takes its name from a water-resistant coating that keeps all the cork particles in place and provides maximum elasticity for the bottle-neck seal.
Said to retain the benefits of natural cork, Acquamark is made from renewable resources, is recyclable and biodegradable and is available in various qualities to meet different price points.
Described as cost effective, premium, aiding wine preservation and with environmental benefits, Amorin reckons they can also undercut producers of leading plastic stoppers by up to 50% in certain markets.
Basics: prices vary, Amorin

Demijohn always plays Goosberry
There's a new addition to the growing boutique gin repertoire, but with a quirk: it's a liqueur.
Launched by Demijohn of Edinburgh and Glasgow, the merchant says Gooseberry Gin has a delicate sweetness which makes the drink more palatable than traditional gin.
Produced in Cheshire by ex-hospital pharmacist Rosie Sedgewick, the 17% abv tipple is recommended as an aperitif served long with tonic.
The basics: £3.80 per 100ml at Demijohn's delis in Glasgow and Edinburgh, or online at www.demijohn.co.uk.

Arniston Bay targets indies
South African producer, the company of wine people, has launched a new range aimed at extending the Arniston Bay portfolio into the independent and on-trade sector.
Cape Reflections is a collection of entry-level red and white blends, which is part of the Arniston Bay portfolio, but has been specifically developed with clear differentiators for the on-trade.
The wines, which are light and fruit driven in style, are aimed at the value end of the market and have secured a listing with HB Clark.
The basics: £4.99, www.thecompanyofwinepeople.co.za

Glenglassaugh in the pink
It's name may be a bit of a mouthful, but Glenglassaugh Distillery is convinced its new pink spirit will be coming up roses.
The 50% abv "The Spirit Drink that dare not speak its name" (try saying that after a couple) has been matured for six months in old Californian wine casks and is part of an experiment by the distillery, which re-opened six months ago after being closed for 22 years.
As the distillery was pleased with the results, it decided to release part of the stock as a pink spirit before waiting the full three years in order to class it as a whisky.
Managing director Stuart Nickerson said the results had exceeded expectations, with the spirit taking in a rich fruit nose and taste and dramatic rosy hue.
The basics: £30 (50cl), specialists

Power Pinot from Otago
From the heart of Central Otago, Wooing Tree Pinot Noir 2007 is made from hand-picked fruit given whole bunch fermentation and 12 months maturation in French oak.
The wine is a hefty 14.5% abv, with a string of international accolades to its name.
Steve Farquharson, owner of the family owned, single vineyard estate, says his Pinot is complex and powerful, with aromas of ripe cherries, raspberries and plums following through on the silky palate of fine-grained tannins.
Basics: RRP £21, New Zealand Wine Distribution Company Ltd

Growth for Vavasour
From virgin plantings in the Awatare Valley, Peter and Anna Vavasour have gone from strength to strength and now count a number of brands under their cockerel's wing, including Dashwood, Redwood Pass and Clifford Bay.
From the well-drained gravels of the Awatere Valley - now recognised as a distinct sub-district of Marlborough - Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc 2008 is clean and linear in style, with mild asparagus notes and a lovely, grassy edge on the fresh palate.
The basics: RRP £9.99, Barwell & Jones

Clifford Bay triumphs at IWC
An estate under the wing of Vavasour, the 2008 Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc won three Trophy awards at the 2009 International Wine Challenge.
Producing its first vintage in 1997, the vines benefit from the Awatere Valley's long, slow, ripening period, with cool nights and dry sunny days encouraging aromatics and intense flavour.
A surprisingly reserved nose, the palate is more typically New Zealand, with a sprightly mineral and passionfruit finish.
The basics: RRP £8.99, Barwell & Jones

• Sommeliers