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"Blackenbrook is small ( 4 hectares ) and new ( first wine from 2004 ), so its hardly surprising it's little known outside Nelson. Swiss owners Daniel and Ursula Schwarzenbach have the meticulous approach to winemaking for which their countrymen are famous, while Daniel has some serious winemaking experience under his belt. He has worked for top producers in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and France, and has judged wine at competitions in Switzerland, France, Germany and China. Its greatest strengths are pinot gris, gewurztraminer, riesling, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay. Quality has crept up in recent years and if it continues, Blackenbrook has a very bright future." Bob Campbell
"Grown in the Tasman district, harvested by hand and lees-aged in stainless steel tanks, the 2009 vintage is a dry style.
Aromatic, it is fresh, vibrant and punchy, with good intensity of gooseberry and lime flavours, racy and long." 4 1/2 Stars M.Cooper
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Much in the style of the Pegasus Bay Aria ( but a lot cheaper! ) the 2007 Peregrine Charcoal Creek Riesling is made in a late harvest style and comes from John and Barbara Hosie's Charcoal Creek vineyard in the Lowburn Valley just north of Cromwell. This Riesling was left on the vines well past the traditional end of harvest and has produced some wonderful flavours developed through the combination of hang time and the influence of 15% botrytis infection at the time of harvest. The resulting wine is not an over the top cloying sticky monster but a melting pot of honey, apricot, grapefruit marmalade beautifully presented by its elegant structure. Charcoal Creek Riesling is a delicate sweet wine that has a perfect combination of flavour complexity, fruit sweetness and superbly balanced acidity. A snip for a full bottle of late harvest riesling.
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Here's a real find. The first vineyard in the Hakataramea Valley in South Canterbury. Grown on limestone soils and cropped at extraordinary low levels. This cool climate produces very fine aromatics and flavours including apple and pear with a hint of spice. Off dry in style and 12% alcohol this is a stunning wine for this tiny quality conscious producer. Its a blend of Pinot Gris/ Riesling/ Gewurztraminer.
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"Made by the highly regarded Ben Glaetzer and matured in French oak hogsheads (larger oak barrels than usual). It's been a highly successful brand since its launch a handful of
years ago ‐ and deservedly so. The 2008 release has a robust honesty about it. No tricks, just dark, rich, warm fruit.
Tastes of peppermint, sweet fruit (plums, cherries and raspberries), pipe tobacco, a touch of pepper and a whiff of vanilla. Excellent winter drinking. Will impress all comers. Drink 2010‐2013." 91/100 Campbell Mattinson, The Big Red Wine Book.
Vivid ruby. Dark berries, cherry, woodsmoke and a whiff of black pepper on the nose.Fairly rich and ripe, but with firm acidity giving juiciness and spine to the dark fruit flavors. Not a fleshy wine but quite energetic, finishing with firm, dusty tannins and good cling." 89/100 Tanzer
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Gold at the Bragato Wine Awards. Made by the ex chief winemaker of Seifreids and with many vintages at a very famous winery in Alsace, Blackenbrook wines have burst on the scene in Nelson. This is an excellently priced, quality pinot gris that got 4 1/2 Stars in Winestate Magazine "Powerful style based on estate-grown grapes, hand-picked at over 25 brix. Floral and very ripely scented, with concentrated peach, pear and spice flavours
in a distinctly late harvest style with apple strudel and honey notes." 4 1/2 Stars M.Cooper
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A sophisticated wine drinkers champagne presented in a lovely gift box. It is like drinking a fine wine because of the complexity of the blending from aged cuvees from top cru vineyards. Krug Grande Cuvee is the timelessly stylish signature of Krug, a breathtaking champagne that effortlessly balances richness and freshness, power and finesse. A gleaming gold colour, an extravagantly expansive bouquet, an almost creamy texture. Then, an explosion of flavours, at once mellow and mature, crisp and clean. Its a dream drop.
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A blend of Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz from Portugal, where some amazingly great reds are coming from their indigenous grape varieties. The world renowned Symington family ( owners of Grahams and Dows port ) produce this wine from their magnificant organically farmed vineyard sites along the Duoro River. This was a bit star last time we brought this in and bang for your buck its superb. From vineyards over 25 yrs old."Intensely aromatic,with powerful aromas of plums and raspberries,combined with layers of lifted floral scents,and finishing with a vanilla spice. Full bodied with an excellent fleshy palate packed with flavours of blackberry and hints of fresh herbssuch as mint and spicy cinnamon notes. The fine acidity and firm tannic backbone leads to a long finish." Charles Symington
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We've managed to hold of some more of the fabulous 2004 vintage- now with 6 yrs bottle age its a gem that will keep age magnificently.
"The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino presents a remarkable balance of ripe fruit, structure and freshness. Violets, dark cherries, new leather and spices are all woven together in an elegant fabric of notable class. The purity of the fruit is superb and the finish boasts tons of finesse, with silky tannins that frame the close." 93/100 Parker. "Blackberries and black cherries on the nose follow through to a full body,with soft and silky tannins.Long finish." 93/100 Wine Spectator
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"Riccardo Cotarella's wines at Falesco continue to deliver incredible value. The 2008 Sangiovese is a flashy, opulent wine packed with succulent plums, cherries and spices. The Sangiovese spends four months in French oak prior to being bottled. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2012."Parker . Sublime Sangiovese that is the perfect wine for the winter pasta meal.
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Made by Laurent Perrier and we would challenge you to say that the quality isnt exactly the same as all the big brands selling at $60-$90.The quality of Beaumet for which it is renown comes primarily from the grapes, sourced from the best crus of the Côte des Blancs, Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Bar. The grapes are then pressed in new state-of-the-art facilities in Oger. Beaumets Brut nv has less dosage than many non vintage champagnes. This gives it greater refinement and elegance than many of the big brand blends. "Fine mousse and an elegant nose and palate, with a subtle bready quality and green apple and citrus fruit. The acidity provides a
good structure and a fresh finish, balancing
the fruit character." Qality chamapgne for a song.
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