We are really fortunate in New Zealand to have a great number of wine distributors and importers, who do an excellent job of selecting interesting and groovy wines from around the world for us to enjoy in our restaurants and choose at retail. Kiwis are naturally curious, we love experiencing the wild and wonderful stuff outside of our normal, garden-variety supermarket wines. But even when you’re in the trade (as I am), it’s difficult to keep up with just how many new wines are released each week. It’s a constant effort to keep up! Which is why I get a bit of a fizz on, whenever I hear that one of these distribution companies is putting on a roadshow. It means that I can turn up to one venue and taste my way through a smorgasbord of new stuff and then tell you about my favourites. Next month, Negociants NZ, will be hosting their 2017 Fine Wine tour, highlighting a selection of highly regarded, award winning wines from New Zealand and Australia. The event also introduces some of the personalities that craft and stand behind the wines and you can ask them all the curly questions you want. There will be 22 wineries at this event with over 100 wines available to sample and it’s totally worth a trip out of town. The first event is in Wellington on Tuesday july 25th at the Intercontinental Hotel, the second is on Wednesday 26th July at Hagley Pavilion in Christchurch and the third is on Thursday July 27 at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin. They’ll be held between 6-8pm and there’s a small fee for tastings and nibbles. Eventbrite.co.nz will be your go-to for tickets to the Wellington and Christchurch shindigs, while Ticketmaster are sorting Dunedin. So gather your nearest and dearest, grab tickets and slither along to a superb and excellent wine tasting experience.
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Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Albarino 2016 $22 (3.5 stars)
Guillaume Thomas & Esther Smith are two of the nicest new wine growers I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. They’re young, ultra-industrious and always gun for the best. They’ve planted a tiny little vineyard high up on the Waimarama Road and turn out stunning examples of wine like this local incarnation of the spanish classic. Lemon, wild flowers, flinty minerality all combine to create a snappy-dry, summer-in-a-bottle drink that will sing with orange and herb crusted terakihi.
For info on how to buy email maisonnoire1286@gmail.com
VIGNERONS DE BUZET BARON D’ ALBRET ROUGE 2010 $35 (4 star)
Immediate aromas of coffee grinds, cocoa and ripe plum all osmose onto the palate in a wave of vanilla-soaked red fruits, medicinal spices, velvety tannins and a woolly, wonderfully dry mouthfeel. A cracker of a Bordeaux blend where Vignerons de Buzet is the union of winegrowers and employees who decided to take their future in hand and give their terroir and its wine a powerful identity. In 1953, they founded the cooperative winery Vignerons de Buzet
For stockists email Michael@macvine.co.nz
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Here are three super-sippable options for your week ahead…
Yering Station Little Yering Yarra Valley Shiraz Viognier 2012 $23 (4 stars)
I just love it when shiraz is tizzied up with a splash of viognier. Just a tiny amount of viognier can elevate the dark fruit and spice aromatics of shiraz into floral realms of freshness that you’ve got to experience. I also love that this wine presents in a slimline, elegant bottle – which just emphasises how different it is to so many of those yawn-ducing, jammy, flabby, faff-inducing examples you see in supermarkets.
Lifted, bright, vibrant and value for money for sure.
www.advintage.co.nz
Liberty Wines Les Vignes de L’eglise Merlot Grenache IGP Pays D‘OC 2014 $23 (3.5 stars)
IGP means ‘indication géographique protégée’ which is one of the new French classification terms. It indicates some of the best value for money brands in the land, and I’ll tell you what, this is indeed a lithe little lovely from the Languedoc. It’s not often you get a blend of merlot and grenache in your glass and this has classic plum and blueberry notes stitched together with black olive, pepper and hints of gravy and cocoa on the finish. Light but loaded with flavour.
For stockists email Michael@macvine.co.nz
Pask Declaration Hawke’s Bay Methode Traditionelle 2009 $40 (4.5 stars)
One of things I love about Kate Radburnd and her team at Pask, is that they are great keepers of secrets. Who knew they’d been sitting on an absolutely stunning sparkling wine for 8 years! Just released, this classically crafted blend of chardonnay and pinot noir has a deliciously finely-tuned texture in the mouth, soft lemon and creamy macadamia notes on the nose and palate, ultra-delicate beading, a lovely, biscuity body and silky, sultry length of flavour.
