It can seem like the only constant in wine is change.
Following reports earlier this year that Mt Difficulty had been sold to the Foley Group comes recent news that Archangel Wines in Queensberry, near Wanaka, has been sold to the Joval Wine Group from Australia.
Founded in 1963 and owned by the Valmorbida family, Joval owns Catalina Sounds in Marlborough and Nanny Goat in Central Otago, while in Australia it is grapegrower, winemaker and involved in the import and distribution of food and wines.
Further vineyard plantings are in the pipeline, along with extending the existing buildings to create a new barrel hall.
Bayer Central Otago young viticulturist competition
The sixth and final regional competition of the Bayer Young Viticulturist competition was held on July 18.
The contestants (in no particular order) were Katrina Jackson, from Chard Farm, Jenna MacKenzie, from Viticultura Contracting, Annabel Angland, from Peregrine Wines, Hannah van Velthoven, from Prophets Rock, Jordan Moores, from Felton Road, Simon Gourley, from Domaine-Thomson, Ben Holt, from Akarua, and Tyler Oliver, from Vinewise Viticulture.
The top three were:
1 - Gourley (Domaine-Thomson)
2 - Holt (Akarua)
3 - Jackson (Chard Farm)
Congratulations to Gourley, who will represent Otago at the national finals in Hawke's Bay next month.
New film for wine buffs
Wine buffs will be lining up at the International Film Festival for the release of the newest Kiwi wine documentary A Seat at the Table.
Wine enthusiasts and film producers David Nash and Simon Mark-Brown have spent several years interviewing luminaries far and wide, exploring, comparing and contrasting the wines and winemakers from the hallowed regions in France with those of New Zealand, posing the question ''Do New Zealand wines really deserve a seat at the top table of world wines''?
The festival starts in Dunedin on August 1, and the film screens on Friday, August 16, and Sunday, August 18.
Price: $37
Rating: Excellent
Powerful raspberry and red fruits, sweet oak scents, a sense of power held in check. The red fruits and raspberry play off one another on the palate with a crunchy chewiness adding a gently mouth-puckering element. Power and intent here, the tannins are evident yet have good balance.
The amalgam of sweet fruit on the close is lifted by a touch of cranberry.
Price: $49.99
Rating: Excellent
Tilled earth, rich stewed fruits with hints of boiled sweets. Intensely fruited front palate with raspberry berry compote and oak spices, a little waft of wild thyme adding lift. A boldness to the fruit gives immediate appeal, yet there’s good underlying structure with earthy, savoury notes.
This creeps up on you, the texture, richness and complexity building nicely.
Price: $85
Rating: Excellent
Smoke, wild herbs, perfumed florals, dark cherry; a dark & brooding element, coffee & chocolate with time. Powerfully mouthfilling and rich, raspberry and dark berries, graphite and generous oak notes the sweet fruit finding an ally in wild herbs and some licorice on the long, brooding close.
Structured, fresh, the intent and quality obvious, yet the ‘Estate’ version is my fave.
