I just heard that the big man (Robert Parker of wine tasting fame) seems to have given everyone in Bordeaux 95 points or more. Well maybe not everyone but quite a lot. I’m glad I’m not selling futures anymore. This combined with the top chateaus releasing only small amounts of wine in their first tranche [...]
The law commissions Geoffrey Palmer has floated some initial ideas from the commissions review of the sale of liquor act. The main concepts are as follows. Increasing excise tax Increasing the purchase age Shortening the operation hours of off license and and on license sales Frankly I was hoping for something more inspired than a [...]
Last week I was asking for volunteers to form a tasting panel to try a few wines I’m experimenting with. Now when I say expirementing I mean really experimenting! These are not just another dry or off-dry varietal these will be a fusion of varietal and classic sparkling styles as well. The later part is [...]
I have just added a function that will allow you to subscribe to weekly email updates of the blog. Simply click on the Subscribe link above or use the space below. Fill in your email address and click subscribe. You will receive an email asking you to confirm. Click the link and your in. I’m [...]
Rod Easthorpe from Craggy Range has pulled off a nice piece of PR work for NZ wines in London with a blind tasting against some of Bordeaux’s finest. I thought this line excerpt was particularly amusing. According to The Daily Telegraph’s wine writer, Jonathan Ray, none of the 30 UK wine masters, including Jancis Robinson, [...]
I didn’t realise that the 22nd of April was the day you did a make over of your wine website but that seems to be the the case. Both Glengarry Wines and Man O’ War Vineyards have loaded some very nice upgrades. Glengarry, (who are are wine retailer), have produced a nice clean new look [...]
Just tried what is the first red wine made from Ponui Island grapes courtesy of the Man O’War team. Malbec grapes and pretty smart wine. Just finished ferment. Ponui Island is South East of Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Island. They already have a Pinot Gris from last vintage (2008). So if you want to [...]
When I changed sever hosts I managed to loose all my blog roll. If I haven’t linked to you and you think I should, let me know. Apologies to those I have deleted (it was an accident).
I just realised last week that for some bizarre reason the government is considering amendments to the sale of liquor act whilst at the same time conducting a major review of all liquor sale laws. I posted about the latter a week or so ago. This seems silly to rearrange these laws before the review [...]
If you like wine and would like to try some experimental wines for free, I need to hear from you! Currently I’m experimenting with some new wine styles with a couple of the countries leading winemakers. I need some feedback on what they are like so I’m assembling a tasting group to test them out. [...]
Opened a bottle of 1979 Chateau Lagrange (St Julien, 3rd growth) last night. A little bit rubbery on the nose initially but this is to be expected with old wines. It’s just reduction, oxygen soon reacts with the wine and this disappears as it did with this wine. Once the reduction blew off there was [...]
Just after I finished the website rebuild, I discovered that I was paying more that I needed to to get this site hosted. So over the Easter weekend I have moved from Orcon to Webdrive. The bg unexpected bonus is the flash backend admin tools that webdrive has. Hopefully everything should be back to normal [...]
I just heard that Chateau Latour has released their 2008 en primeur wines at 110 Euros per bottle from the chateau. Not only early but much reduced. After the Angelus release last week and the lackluster response this is starting to make en primeur very interesting this year
Just had 5mm diameter hail through where I live in central Auckland. It backed up 50mm deep against one door of my house. This is the second time I’ve seen hail today. This morning I was out in Henderson and the was a brief hail shower. Not exactly what you want if you trying to [...]
Just saw this bit of news on Beverage World. They are reporting a 0.8% drop, click through for more details.
The Law commission is currently undertaking a review of laws pertaining to the sale and supply of liquor which of course includes wine. The terms of reference can be found here. The review is timely as it’s been 20 years since the last major update (sale of Liquor act 1989) was passed and 10 years [...]
The region of high pressure that has moved over most of New Zealand about two weeks ago looks like it may be starting to weeken but what a run. Auckland grape growers have been blessed with an extraordinary run of dry weather since the 18th of March. Even that event was merely a few millimeters. [...]
Last night I opened a 1986 Guigal Cotes du Rhone that I had purchased at auction a month or so ago. I can’t say I was expecting much. After the swampy, reductive notes blew off it was very pleasant and smooth although perhaps not really worth cellaring for 23 years to achieve. Very difficult to [...]