The largest international wine competition in the country has wrapped, the judging has been done and all the gold medal winners can be ogled at on www.nziws.co.nz/awards/2016. What you’ll also see when you click onto the NZ International Wine Show site is a spot where you can purchase tickets for their “Pick The Trophies Challenge”. I love this idea. It’s where you, the public can taste your way through the gold medal winning wines and then have a crack at choosing which ones in each class will walk away with the top gongs on awards night on October 1st. The “Challenge” is being held on Thursday 29th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Albert St in Auckland.
Everyone who can pick at least four Trophy wines, will go into the draw to win a $1000 gift voucher to spend at First Glass Wines & Spirits Ltd – how brilliant would that be!
On a decidedly less classy note, I’ve been invited to a big party this week. A ‘bogan’ party. A party where it’s ok to wear Ugg boots and leggings so scruffy that it’s only the stubborn understains holding them together. A party where it’s totally cool to turn up with a Woodstock Bourbon & Cola can or Stoli Ruski in your pocket. A party where tshirts saying things like “We eat meat & We drink beer” are absolutely acceptable. I’ve also been trying all week to locate two old ten-speed bikes for my husband and I to ride to this party with the handlebars turned up like in the old days (how did that even become a thing?). But I’m having no luck.
You’d think they’d be easy to find right? A couple of years ago every garage sale was littered with them. Every Cash Converters/Salvation Army/Habitat for Humanity store was a tangle of spokes and gears, but not any more. I even called the local police station to see if they still kept a stash of stolen/recovered bikes that I could possibly pick from. “We can’t even give them away,” the constable grumbled. “The new Health and Safety rules mean if anyone got hurt on one of our bikes we’d be liable. So we have to dispose all the unclaimed bikes”. Sigh. Time for a wine.
Cypress Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2014 $22 ★★★½
Violets? Check. Peppercorns of all colours? Check. Blueberry? Check. Soft, meaty, gamey flavours make this a rather seductive and savoury syrah to be shared with all of your friends. Preferably the ones that don’t arrive empty handed and instead arrive with armloads of cheese, pate and chocolate. They are the people you should be sharing this smooth, earthy wine with. Then if someone offers to bring along five-spice, pulled pork wontons, you must write them into your will.
www.cypresswines.co.nz
Churton Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $27 ★★★★½
Sauvignon blanc from Marlborough’s Waihopai Valley has its own personality, and when it’s given Sam Weaver’s organic, biodynamic treatment at Churton, you can expect something seriously special. Soft basil, lime leaf, sweet pea and elderflower all jostle for attention on the nose, while the palate has an almost creamy, tropical character which comes from the 10 months it spends on lees before bottling. It’s absolutely gorgeous and I recommend you immediately whip up some asparagus and mint risotto.
www.churtonwines.co.nz
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Here’s a real smorgasbord of choice for you this week. The aromatic, the earthy and the fruity. Have fun!
Dunstan Road Central Otago Gewurztraminer 2015 $25 ★★★★
What you’re holding in your hand came from just one single row of 184 vines which winemaker Marc Hatfield had crafted into a lovely, lychee, ginger and musky pot pourri-packed gewürztraminer that has masses of natural fruit sweetness and a smooth, velvety mouthfeel. Peach, persimmon and punchy roast pear flavours make this one of those little sweeties that’ll make everyone sit upright and demand some this super spicy to nibble on. Phone order a Thai green chicken curry right now!
Email: sales@drw.co.nz
Graham Beck The Game Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 $18 ★★★½
Designed in homage to the super-shy, South African Cape Leopard, one of Africa’s big 5 (but rarely seen) predators. The fruit for this tobacco, berry and cedar-driven cabernet is sourced from vineyard sites in Robertson, Firgrove, and Stellenbosch and in Groenekloof; vineyards that incorporate a Beck property game reserve on the slopes of Rooiberg Mountain. I love the gamey, dusty mouthfeel and smoky finish of this wine, which works beautifully with caramelized onion, blue cheese and venison pizza.
For stockists email: sales@kudu.co.nz
Squawking Magpie ‘Pink’ Hawke’s Bay Merlot Rosé 2016 $23 ★★★½
How great is it when producers of some of this country’s biggest, boldest reds decides to tread softly-softly and purpose-build a rosé to see you through the Spring and Summer. Wafts of cherry, raspberry and creaming soda on the nose lead to a burst of banging red fruit, soft herbaceousness and acidity that tingles your gum line like a new toothbrush. Sip with satisfaction whilst popping paper-thin slivers of salty prosciutto into your mouth.
For stockists phone: 06 878 1800
