Come January 31st, a stampede of the world’s wine media, trade and enthusiasts will charge through Wellington for three days of what’s been described as “the best Pinot Noir event on the planet”. The sold-out Pinot Noir NZ Celebration is like the pinot Olympics, the pinot X-Factor final, the pinot noir version of the annual Shortland Street cliffhanger if you will (except it only happens every three years). It’s an event that shines the spotlight on all that’s good and great (and not so great) in New Zealand pinot noir. It’s an event that attracts some of the greatest international minds on the subject and completely corrupts them with three days of what it means to be a kiwi in this business. We’re talking shedloads of incredible tastings from pretty much every pinot noir producer in the country. Over 300 pinots’ will be open for appreciation, that’s a 200% increase in wines since the inaugural event in 2001. They’ll be sipped alongside lunches and dinners showcasing the best New Zealand cuisine and all against a backdrop of New Zealand film, music and comedy. It’s not all hugs and backslaps though, there will be brutally honest, fight-club like fisticuffs, where some producers will be told what needs to improve in the quality and presentation stakes for them to succeed. Freestyle forums allow for uncensored opinions to be heard and thoughts will be challenged on everything from agricultural methods, natural winemaking, style preferences and the very future of the fastest growing wine story of the 21st century. That’s right, New Zealand’s enticing, enthralling, sexy, silky, succulent and sophisticated style of pinot noir is the fastest growing wine story of the 21st century. There will also be swimming, streaking, bad fashion, foul language, danger and intrigue, which is what the heavy hitters come for. Pinot Noir NZ is an event that captures the attention of the incredibly crowded international wine world and the crazy thing is, most New Zealander’s have no idea this event even exists.
But if you’re keen to immerse yourself in a smorgasbord of superb pinot noir, get yourself to Wellington the day before for Pinot Palooza. This world-famous, Australia-based event is finally coming to the capital on Monday Jan 30th at the Pinot Pavilion in Odlin’s Plaza on Wellington’s waterfront. With 117 wineries in attendance, it’ll officially rank as the largest Pinot Palooza event ever. Tickets are just $69 and include all your tastings and a groovy Riedel wine glass worth $35. VIP tickets are available for $105 and that gets you exclusive pre-event access, a food voucher and time with your own sommelier who will curate your event experience. Ooh la la! Info and tickets are at www.pinotpalooza.nz
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Decibel Martinborough Pinot Noir 2015 $40 (3.5stars)
Daniel Brennan is serious talent where winemaking is concerned, a young up-and-comer from the US carving a kiwi living creating wine in Hawke’s Bay and Martinborough. It’s his background in the rock n roll business that’s responsible for the name Decibel, but this pinot noir is cool and calm in the background as opposed to being a mosh pit in your mouth. With earthy spice and mushroom notes edged with baked cherry, raspberry and gentle juicy tannins – it’s a really interesting style.
www.decibelwines.com
Jules Taylor OTQ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $32.95 (4 stars)
Sourced from Jules’ Plunkett Vineyard, this is quite unlike most Marlborough sauvignon blanc out there, in that the acidity is softer, just the faintest pinprick like texture around the gumline, creamy layers of citrus, basil, passionfruit sorbet and fleshed out with white pepper and a lemongrassy note on the finish. It’s a complex, sexy sauvignon blanc that really shines with pan-seared gurnard drizzled with lemon and caper butter
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All you need during the mid-January hump is a couple of cracker wines and a crunchy-crisp new brew to get you through…
Spade Oak Heart of Gold Gisborne Albarino 2015 $23 (3.5 stars)
Spade Oak were one of New Zealand’s early Albarino adopters, with owners Steve and Eileen Voysey opting to aim towards a lean, lemony, elegantly European-styled example from their Gisborne vineyards. I like the subtle citrus blossom aromas and the quartz dust minerality on the palate. Consume super-chilled with prawn, pork and coriander dumplings – yummo!
Pa Road Marlborough Chardonnay 2016 $14.99 (4 stars)
If you’re keen for a smoky, struck match, toasty, roasty chardonnay that’s redolent (did I just say ‘redolent’? of grilled grapefruit, charred pineapple and all manner of caramelized complexity – then this is your poison. Darn yummy, and will appeal to old-school chardonnay lovers who love that nutty, creamy character on the finish.
Widely available in supermarkets.
Moa Southern Alps White IPA 330ml $22.99x6pk
Brand new from Moa, this IPA is part of their ‘Living Beer’ series of bottle conditioned beers, meaning the beer is still brewing inside the bottle. It’s a technique along the lines of traditional winemaking, hardly surprising seeing as brewer Josh Scott is also a winemaker. Brewed with Vienna pale wheat malts, dry-hopped with Nelson Sauvin and Citra hops and fermented with Belgian ale yeasts, it’s a crisp brew with lemongrass and white pepper aromatics, with fruity, wheaty, nutty notes on the palate and excellent length of flavour.
Available at good supermarkets and liquor outlets.
