And whilst there is absolutely no question we should pay a realistic price for wines made from carefully farmed vineyards by thoughtful winemakers, one has to wonder if it might be an uphill battle to convince pinot gris drinkers.
Burn Cottage : new releases
We eagerly anticipate the annual arrival of the new releases from Burn Cottage, a producer who has, in a relatively short period of time, mananged to produce some of New Zealand’s most thoughtful pinot noirs.
Two Paddocks : new releases
The evolution of Central Otago pinot noir has been a fascinating journey to watch. The 2002s, arguably the first vintage to really attract attention, were highly acclaimed.
2018 New Zealand Syrah
In mid-December, I was invited by Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers to join a tasting of 2018 Syrah put on for jancisrobinson.com’s Richard Hemming MW, who was visiting New Zealand after attending the Master of Wine Education Seminar in Adelaide.
The future…it’s organic.
While organic and biodynamic wine by volume makes up about 6% of the total wine made in New Zealand, it seems to make up 100% of the marketing material NZ Winegrowers pumps out.
Beating the Aussies again…mostly.
Trans-Tasman rivalry is an enduring feature of Australia and New Zealand’s relationship, a (mostly) friendly tug-of war played out in sports, politics and bad jokes.
Church Road Tom
Church Road’s flagship white has had an evolution in style, moving away from the bolder expressions of earlier vintages towards a wine that is more taut, linear and textural.
Te Mata Alma Pinot Noir
Anyone who spent time with Peter Cowley, Te Mata’s recently retired Technical Director, would have been left in little doubt where his loyalties lay.
It’s all Greek to me
Mention Greek wine and most people think Retsina. While in some respects this distinctive pine-infused white represents much of Greek wine (history, individuality, rusticity) it is also a very narrow lens through which to view a fascinating and dynamic wine industry.
Element Wines
Element Wines is a (relatively) new venture from Dominic and Rachelle Smith.
The Doctor Is In
I am happy to state that I am one of those people who grimaced and rolled eyes at the substantial investment made by the MPI and NZ Winegrowers into the ‘lighter wines’ category (even typing this brings on minor clenching of body parts)
Fromm : 2015 Pinot Noir
There can’t have been a single delegate at Pinot17 who wasn’t charmed by Hatsch Kalberer’s gentle speech praising Central Otago’s wines and its winemakers. But though he mentioned being envious of his more southerly brethren, surely there is no better advocate for Marlborough than this talented Swiss born winemaker who has steered the ship at Fromm for over 25 years.