Published NZME Regional Newspapers Tue 12 Jan 2016
By now so many of you will be back at work, watching the clock and making little sculptures out of blu-tac at your desk. You’ll be shuffling paper, sticking PostIt notes to things and walking purposefully from your desk to the staff loos every 30 minutes as if to say “Sheesh! My bladder is seriously getting in the way of the fun and productivity I’m experiencing at work today” (when you’re actually just looking for some quiet time to play Angry Birds, Candy Crush or Clash of Clans whilst on the can).
It’s a weird, floaty, in-between period where one part of your brain is thinking “I will be making use of this quiet time to create my new strategic plan, save all those loose word documents into proper folders, learn more about how to use those formula-thingies in Microsoft Excel and actually, finally, send all those doctors receipts off to Southern Cross because they expire in 18 months or something. The other half of your brain however, is pushing you to fake a sickie, take really long lunches or quietly sabotage that project that you know your workmate (who’s off work until the 20th because she was ‘sensible’ and opted to work through the standard stat holidays) was working on for ages to impress the boss. Time on your hands and no discipline can be a dangerous thing.
So I’m happy be a guiding hand in this ball of confusion and help you keep things on an even keel by at least. First rule is, if you know you’ve got a clean, fruity, spicy pinot noir in the pantry, then you will always have something to look forward to at the end of the day. It’ll also ensure you don’t do anything criminal because who wants to be in jail when there’s good wine to be sipped?
Amisfield RKV Reserve Pinot Noir 2012 $120 ★★★★★
This is one of those wines that I want to get all Spinal Tap on it by saying “but this one goes up to eleven”. If I could give it eleven stars I would. RKV stands for Rocky Knoll Vineyard, the jewel in Amisfield’s crown and vineyard manager Andre Lategan and winemaker Dr Stephanie Lambert treat the fruit for this flagship wine like a precious newborn. The result is a supremely silky wine with exotic, choco-cherry-cola aromas and hedgerow fruits and florals on the nose, followed by warm, plush, inviting red fruits, red liquorice, lifted spice and a cloud-like finish. Yes it’s pricey, but for pinot lovers this is a must-sip, in fact for wine lovers it’s a must-sip because it’s absolutely beautiful. www.amisfield.co.nz
Big Sky Te Muna Road Pinot Noir 2012 $40 ★★★★
Katherine Jacobs and Jeremy Corban are the couple behind this rising star Martinborough brand. The ancient Te Muna terraces provide deep, mineral-driven texture to the pinots which grown on its soils and this is no exception. A dusty, musky mouthfeel cloaks earthy cherry and cocoa flavours to leave a long, warming, easy and spicy finish. www.bigskywines.co.nz
Bladen Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 $33 ★★★½
A very light coloured pinot, that has a soft raspberry and cherry lift, tannins with powdery grip in the mouth and a long, medicinally-spicy finish. If you like your pinot smooth, easy, light and juicy, then this is for you. www.bladen.co.nz
Light, lush, spicy red wines from the far corners of the globe make the world go round. Luckily you don’t have to travel far from your computer or phone to find these babies…
Banfi Col Di Sasso Toscana Sangiovese Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 $16 ★★★
The words ‘Col Di Sasso’ translate to ‘Stony Hill’, which describes the site of the steep, rocky slope in which the fruit for this wine grows in the Montalcino region of Italy. It’s like someone took a handful of ripe, squishy raspberries, rubbed them into an old polo pony saddle and let it age for a year or seven. Earthy, spicy and peppery. www.blackmarket.co.nz
Orlandi Contucci Rubiolo Montepulciano D’Abruzzo 2013 $24 ★★★½
I LOVE that this Italian wine smells like Christmas cake, all cloves, mixed peel, allspice and cranberry. In the mouth it is savoury, smooth, juicy and ultra-earthy, with hints of leather and pepper. Light & fleshy.
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