New Releases

2008 Craggy Range Aroha Martinborough Pinot Noir

Craggy's top limited release Pinot Noir from their Martinborough fruit. Tiny, tiny quantities are made from their best fruit and 2008 was a cracker in Martinborough. "Deep plumy red in colour. The aromatics reveal black cherry, bark, plum, dark spices and truffle with a hint of old, dark red rose petal. Rich, yet not heavy, the palate is densely wound and brooding with fine acidity and a core of quality suede like tannin. Flavours of dark berry fruit, ripe plums, fresh dug earth, spice, coffee, hints of fennel and liquorice unfurl on the palate. The wine finishes with length and grace. A wine of engagement rather than ebullience." Will cellar up to 10 years from vintage.

2009 Felton Rd Cornish Point Pinot Noir

"Yet again Cornish Point displays it characteristic exoticism: brooding dark fruit, spices, violets, cinnamon, even cedar on the nose confirm themselves in the rich, broad palate. A hint of oak as always in the young wine, which will disappear as the palate grows even more intense with age. Chewy chocolate richness helps build a sustained finish."

2009 Kalleske Pirathon Barossa Shiraz

The 2007 won Trophy for "Best Australian Shiraz" at the London International Wine Challege- a major, major achievment. Troy Kalleske is 'One of the Rising Stars of the Barossa as voted by Huon Hooke, Max Allen and Peter Forrestal in the Gourmet Traveller Magazine and Robert Parker in the Wine Advocate. The Pirathon is a full bodied wine encompassing the great flavour, texture and structure of the north-western Barossa. Pirathon is an ancient word meaning pinnacle. Higher altitude, gullies, hills, slopes, and undulations provide different topographies, microclimates and individualistic parcels of grapes with unique flavours and characters from their own site. Following careful selection from the highest quality growers and vineyards in the north-western Barossa, the grapes for Pirathon Shiraz were handcrafted in open top fermenters, basket pressed and then matured in barrel for two years. Each vineyard adds its own exclusive dimension to this wine and combined they produce the ultimate blend showcasing and celebrating the distinguished north-western Barossa region with a complex wine that will reward patient cellaring. It was made on site by Troy in the Kalleske winery and this is the second commercial release on this wine and its outstanding.

2009 Kalleske Clarrys Barossa Grenache/ Shiraz

Just rated 94/100 from James Halliday. A blend of Shiraz and Grenache from orgainic fruit. "Dark in colour, and complex in character, the fruit here blends seamlessly to offer red and black fruits, loads of spice, complex Provençal herbs and a little salty edge for freshness; lively, fresh and more than just a little bit fun; excellent value. Drink to 2016." The Kalleske family have been growing grapes in Greenock ( In Barossa ) for 100yrs and the average vine age is 50 years. No chemical fertilisers or pesticides are used and are certified organic. "One of my greatest revelations of my Australian tastings this year was Kalleske. From the Northern Section of the Barossa. He appears to have the talent for turning out magnificently concentrated, full throttle reds that are indigenous to the top echelon of Southern Australian producers. Readers should make every effort to get in on the ground floor as I predict increasing fame and fortune for Kalleske" Robert Parker. This wine is a blend of grenache ( 80% ) and shiraz from the Greenock Vineyard. Basket pressed aged in old oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered.

2002 Dom Perignon Vintage Champagne

Just arrived in NZ and being heralded as one of the great "Dom" vintages. Normally $260 this is a one off special with limited stocj available. The 2002 Dom Perignon is at first intensely floral, with perfumed jasmine that dominates the bouquet. With time in the glass the wine gains richness as the flavors turn decidedly riper and almost tropical. Ripe apricots, passion fruit and peaches emerge from this flashy, opulent Dom Perignon. The wine’s volume makes it approachable today, but readers in search of more complexity will want to cellar this for at least a few years to allow for some of the baby fat to drop off.Anticapated maturity 2012-2032. " 96/100 R.Parker

2009 Felton Rd Bannockburn Chardonnay

2007 Blake Family Vineyard Redd Gravels Merlot

Due end of October. Book now. Just released and the last wine that will ever be made under this cult label- a tragedy for New Zealand Wine. 95/100 from Bob Campbell who writes "Dense, complex Bordeaux-style red with a trademark seamless texture. A blend of Merlot (73%), Cabernet Sauvignon (13%) and Cabernet Franc (9%) with an array of berry, spice and savoury characters that linger long after the wine has been tasted. Accessible now but shows exciting potential."

2009 Dry River Martinborough Gewurztraminer

"This intensely perfumed and flavoured Martinborough Gewurzztraminer is one of the country's finest. Medium-dry or medium in most years, in top vintages it shows a power and richness comparable to Alsace's vendange tardive ( late harvest ) wines. Always rich in alcohol and exceptionally full-flavoured, it is also very deliccate, with a tight, concentrated, highly refined palate that is typically at its most seductive at two to four years old, although it can mature well for more than a decade." M.Cooper

2008 Dry River Lovat Syrah

"Top vintages ( which 2008 is ) of this rare red are among the country's best." M.Cooper. Dry River write The 2008 is a dense, dark red with hints of violet. The bouquet gives an immediate impression of sweet earthiness and lifted florals, blueberries, fresh tobacco and spice, with the white pepper found as a common thread in our Syrah. Pure florals, red berries and a silken texture all integrate on the palate to offer a firm and focused wine. This is cool climate Syrah, elegant and gracious rather than weighty, and with a clean finish. Its structure will allow it to blossom and soften with time and I believe this to be a long term wine that will show significant development in an appropriate cellar. Review in another 3–4 years."

2008 Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels Le Sol Syrah

Undisputedly one of N.Z''s finest syrahs. 100% hand harvested and 50% new French oak 97/100 from Bob Campbell who writes "This is a big, dense syrah with an almost chewy texture. While hard to read, as the wine is in its infancy, it is easy to recognise the power and complexity. Strong, sweet fruit is interwoven with ripe tannins. It coats the mouth and lingers long after it has been swallowed. I can identify an array of dark fruits, Oriental spices, vanilla, bitter chocolate and very classy oak but there are a myriad of other flavours yet to be released. This is a serious syrah and one of themost impressive vintages since 2001."