The 2008 has arrived and again its a superb buy- we try a huge number of pinot noirs and for the money their is nothing that we've tasted that comes close to it. Made by Carol Bunn, Charcoal Gully Estate is a family owned vineyard situated on land adjacent to Mount Pisa Station, which lies between Cromwell and Wanaka in Central Otago. They take an organic stance in their wine prodction. "An elegant young wine with silky tannins and earthy complexity. Showing flavours of dark cherry, Turkish delight, red licorice and hints of clove and spice." The grapes are hand-picked single vineyard with100% destemmed prior to batch pre-fermentation in open-top tanks. Hand plunged until fermentation was complete. Settled in stainless tanks prior to malolactic fermentation and aging in French oak barrels for 10 months. Unbelievable buying when the cost of production for pinot noir is so huge. Enjoy this steal we have unearthed!
Western Australia - Other, Western Australia, Australia
Normally $22. 95/100 from James Halliday in the Australian Wine Companion 2010, Trophy and Gold at the Sydney Wine Show 2009. Superb buying for a Margaret River Cabernet. "A poised bouquet of cassis and cedar and a lovely note of violets; equally as attractive on the palate, the balance between fruit, acid, oak and tannin is impeccable; very long and varietal, with refreshing tannin and fruit." James Halliday
Wairarapa/Wellington - Other, Wairarapa/Wellington, New Zealand
This wine is supposed to sell at $32! With the pressure on wineries holding big stocks of wine its a wine drinkers paradise. This is the last small parcel left of this wine so dont dally."Grown at Martinborough and Masterton, the 2008 vintage is mouthfilling, with crisp, citrusy, appley, slightly spicy flavours, showing cool climate vigour, and a dryish finish." M.Cooper. Enjoy
Gold and Trophy at the Air NZ Wine Awards and 93/100 from Bob Campbell who writes- "The Doctors'" refers to owners John and Brigid Forrest (he a PhD, she a GP) and the therapeutic value of drinking lower alcohol wine. Made in the so-called "German-style" with fermentation stopped early to produce an alcohol level of only 8.5% and a residual sugar level of 40g/l. Delicately luscious Riesling in a moderately sweet style that's balanced by fine, tangy acidity that builds tension while producing a dry-ish finish. Great aperitif wine offering value at this price." Normally $22
Normally $22. Bodegas Valdemar is a family company whose roots date back to 1889. Its modern facilities and innovative winemaking methods have been its trademark features from the outset. The wines of this winery are exclusively made from grapes from their own vineyards, allowing them to oversee the whole process from the vine itself and make a prior selection of the best grapes for each type of wine.
"Light strawberry red/pink in colour. Fresh aromas of raspberry, cherry and apricot with a touch of almond.
Dry and refreshing on the palate, good weight for a rose with plenty of red fruit flavours and a crisp clean finish." Classic European rose
From 20 year old, low cropped, hand picked vines and cropped at a miserly 6 tonnes per hectre. 100% Mendoza clone, barrel fermented and aged in French oak with regular lees stirring. In other words - the Rolls Royce treatment. "The nose is youthful and fragrant displaying white peach, cream and subtle vanillin oak characters. It's concentrated on the palate with superbly fine texture, well balanced acidity and a beautifully expanding finish. A beautifully crafted Chardonnay with lovely detail and precision. At its best now- 2013." 91/100 Wine Orbit Magazine.
Peregrine's back to their best after now sourcing all their sauvignon fruit from Central Otago. Grown in the Cromwell Basin and Gibbston districts. "This Peregrine wine captures the intensity of Central Otago's mid-summer rays- vivid green gooseberry and tropical fruit flavours come with a weighty, upright, edgy texture. Salmon steaks with green salsa would do nicely." Cuisine
"93/100 A blend of Chardonnay (60%)and Pinot Noir (40%) grapes were fermented in a mix of stainless steel tanks, large oak vats and small French oak barriques before being held for nine months on the yeast lees prior to blending. The wine spent three years en tirage before being disgorged. A rich and moderately complex wine with integrated apple, citrus, toast, nut and bready autolysis characters. Creamy-textured wine with impressive weight and length."Bob Campbell
Gold at the Sydney Top 100. New packaging, new owners and a new winemaker ( Nick Brown who is the hot young gun in Waipara and has done many vintages around the globe ) but from the same 18 year old Waipara pinot vines. This is serious stuff from a region that boasts exquiste pinots. "Intense and elegant wine with powerful dark cherry, spice and ripe plum flvaours. There's also a suggestion of mineral character amongst the pure fruit flavours. Stylish Pinot with bags of charm." Bob Campbell
