Photo: Getty ImagesFriday, March 28 marked Methode Marlborough Day which I celebrated in appropriate fashion with the three wines above, initially sitting down with them at the tasting bench and then continued to follow for three days. No, I didn’t put teaspoons in the bottles to retain the fizz - that old howler is complete and utter tosh, but Champagne stoppers worked admirably. Actually, I can see how the teaspoon old wives' tale may have formed, as an opened bottle of methode traditionelle bubbly left unsealed in the fridge overnight will still have fizz the next day. The bubbles, which are carbon dioxide gas formed from the secondary fermentation in the bottle, and which is dissolved in solution, don’t just go pfffft and dissipate all at once when the bottle is opened, but continue to nucleate on imperfections in the glass for a considerable period. I suppose some bright spark in the distant past (perhaps after too much of the fizzy stuff?) stuck a teaspoon in an open bottle overnight and hey presto, discovered it was still bubbly. Myth formed. You can find out more about Methode Marlborough and the 12 wineries that make up the group at their website, while their own mission statement says it more succinctly than I. "Steeped in tradition, crafted in excellence. Methode Marlborough is a grower-led society committed to the production of world-class sparkling wine. Through collaboration, communication, and education, Methode Marlborough aims to build recognition and respect for the heritage and quality of Marlborough traditional method wines." Waitaki Valley On a family road trip earlier in the year, I managed a wee detour through the Waitaki Valley, home to New Zealand’s smallest wine region, and now visited by the more than 5000 people a year who are cycling the Alps to Ocean bike trail. There are now two options for wine tasting in and around Kurow. River-T Estate has long had a tasting room just a couple of kilometres outside Kurow, which opens from spring through to autumn. It has now been joined by Valli Wines, which has taken over the old Ostler site in the centre of Kurow, refurbishing it as a tasting room and jewellery gallery. I caught up with Grant Taylor at the Valli tasting room and he said the A2O cyclists (whose numbers are only forecast to grow) gave them the confidence to open their cellar door, which showcases not only their Waitaki Valley wines, but also all the Central Otago wines in their portfolio. Another string to the tourism bow in the Waitaki. 2018 Daniel Le Brun Blanc de Blancs Methode Traditionnelle Price RRP $45 Rating Excellent to Outstanding Lovely toasty, brioche character leads, citrus, a fascinating top note that has a stony/earthy nuance. Fine, elegant, umami influences underpinning things, lemon zest citrus and again those attractive bready notes. With aeration a sea salt/salt crystals-like note on the nose as the wine flows to a long, long, salivatory finish. www.lionco.com/our-brands/new-zealand/wine/ Esses Essential Kaikoura Methode Traditionelle Price RRP $49 Rating Outstanding Umami, marmitey yeast autolysis notes on the nose, toasted baguette, nectarine, a lightly honeyed note. Complex and full of interest. An explosion of flavour, carrying the characters from the nose through the palate, a honeyed, savoury finish, initially subtle but builds. Incredible umami feel, wonderful depth and intensity. This has interest in spades. www.esseswine.com 2020 Hunter’s Miru Miru Methode Traditionelle Price RRP $42.90 Rating Excellent Fresh, bright, the bready, tasty notes interwoven with fruit and a flinty aspect. Very engaging. A lightness of touch to this, a sense of elegance, citrus, bread dough yeasty qualities, delightfully fresh and balanced. So easy to top up a glass of this. With air, that yeasty umami quality grows on the nose, the mousse filling the mouth. Yum. www.hunters.co.nz
