Proof of a fine season
Today's Pinot Noir were assembled over a number of tasting flights, but are compiled together for clarity, and reinforce my belief that 2017 will be ranked as one of the great vintages.
Food & Wine
Chardonnay in mind
Chardonnay in mind
At the recent New Zealand International Film Festival, I watched a screening of the Kiwi wine doco A Seat at the Table, which (as a wine obsessive) I thoroughly enjoyed.
`Tis the season to... get stuck in to some hearty reds
`Tis the season to... get stuck in to some hearty reds
Spring is is a great season to enjoy hearty reds.
Gourley's win keeps trophy in Otago
Gourley's win keeps trophy in Otago
Simon Gourley, of Domaine Thomson wines in Central Otago, recently won the Bayer Young viticulturist of the year competition, ensuring that the trophy remains in Central Otago following last year's...
Change of season
Change of season
It's that time of year when you'll become aware of the very first wines from 2019 trickling on to the shelves as sun-warmed grapes on the vine in February and March find themselves transformed into...
The road less travelled
The road less travelled
Recently, I was reading Wines of the French Alps, which focuses on some very much lesser-known regions and grape varieties.
Industry talent getting into it
Industry talent getting into it
The Mercurey Young Winemaker competition is open to under-30s working in all aspects of wine production. The Otago regional competition was held last week at Vinpro in Cromwell.
Power to the pinot
Power to the pinot
As land planted to pinot noir in Central Otago has surged, the volumes of fruit and wine produced have led to a corresponding increase in lower-priced offerings.
Singularly different
Singularly different
As time goes along and vineyards, wine-makers and the industry mature, there is growing understanding and confidence as to what each vineyard will express.
Long, slow ripening helps to build up the flavours
Long, slow ripening helps to build up the flavours
There can be a perception that great vintages are always the hot, sun-kissed years but this isn't necessarily the case, particularly when it comes to pinot noir.
Archangel Wines sold to Australian group
Archangel Wines sold to Australian group
It can seem like the only constant in wine is change.
I see red, I see red, I see red
I see red, I see red, I see red
The changing of the seasons marks a changing of the guard for wines too, as reds overtake whites and roses in popularity.
No 1 in syrah aim shows how emphasis has shifted
No 1 in syrah aim shows how emphasis has shifted
Many years ago, I attended a trade tasting hosted by John Hancock, then chief winemaker for Trinity Hill in Hawke's Bay.
Embracing the blend
Embracing the blend
Today's assortment eschews the concept of single variety wines in favour of embracing the blend.
NZ's 'hero' variety
NZ's 'hero' variety
After a string of pinot noir tastings, the dynamic duo of Collins and McLaren sat down with me for a tasting of sauvignon blanc, highlighting a number of value offerings.
Sublime toast to oysters
Sublime toast to oysters
Some love their oysters cooked, others insist on them raw: whichever your preference, there are several sublime wine pairings to take the experience to another level.
Weather cuts crop levels markedly
Weather cuts crop levels markedly
The 2017 vintage reports I received from Misha's Vineyard, Grasshopper Rock and others provided sobering reading: a warm early spring shifted to a cold, wet December and very cool January,...
Sizing up Otago's 2017 pinot noirs
Sizing up Otago's 2017 pinot noirs
I've recently had the opportunity to taste my way through a swathe of 2017 pinot noirs from Otago.
Grape harvest a chance to deepen knowledge
Grape harvest a chance to deepen knowledge
Having some understanding of where and how a glass of wine is grown and made adds another layer of interest to the total experience, writes Mark Henderson.
Geology lesson reward for climb up to vineyard
Geology lesson reward for climb up to vineyard
During the recent grape harvest, a small window of opportunity allowed me to scamper up the hill to the Prophet's Rock Vineyard in Bendigo, where I met Paul Pujol and Francois Millet.
