A quartet of French wines for le grand sommeil:
Domaine des Espiers Gigondas 2014 – $$ – drink 2019-2024. Preferred and bought following the GK Rhône tasting.
Domaine Les Aphillanthes Rasteau 2015 2014 – $$ – drink 2020-2025. Similarly.
A bunch of great wines for the Little Sleep:
Kumeu River Village Chardonnay Kumeu 2016 – $ – drink 2019-2021. A review of NZ Chardonnay in Decanter Feb 2018 gave this wine a score range of 88-92. I reviewed it similarly myself, and enjoyed the acidity and poise of this superb value Chardy.
Wairau River Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016 – $$ – drink 2019-2026. A Decanter review of NZ Sauvignon Blanc by Bob Campbell late last year gave this wine a score of 93. I tracked down a bottle on special, and under the house it goes!
Coal Pit Tiwha Pinot Noir Central Otago 2016 – $$$ – drink 2020-2026. A Decanter Feb 2018 review of New World Wines under GDP30 gave this wine a score of 94. The author wrote, “sexy Pinot – a rare thing”. I first tried this wine at a restaurant in Queenstown and really loved it. Enough said.
A brace of Chardonnays from Kumeu River for the Cinderella treatment:
Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay Kumeu 2016 – $$$ – drink 2020-2022.
I may squeeze a KR Hunting Hill Chardonnay in there too if I can afford it.
A trio of top wines from Mercury Bay Estate for the cellar, bought from the winery:
Mercury Bay Estate Chardonnay Coromandel 2016 – $$ – drink now-2021.
Mercury Bay Estate Red Merc Coromandel 2014 – $$$ – drink now-2019. A Pinot Noir/Syrah blend.
Mercury Bay Estate Pinot Noir Coromandel 2014 – $$$ – drink now-2019.
A trio of some favourite wines for laying down to sleep:
Elephant Hill Viognier Hawkes Bay 2016 – $$ – drink 2019-2021. A great producer.
Elephant Hill Syrah Hawkes Bay 2015 – $$$ – drink 2018-2020. A favourite Syrah for me. Delivers.
Palliser Estate Pinot Noir Martinborough 2016 – $$$ – drink 2019-2022. This shone at a recent cellar door tasting.
A brace of top Chardonnays kept for a sleep-in:
Ata Rangi Craighall Chardonnay Martinborough 2016 – $$$ – drink now-2021. I thought this was luminous at a recent tasting
Neudorf Moutere Chardonnay Nelson 2016 – $$$+ – drink now-2021. I have ridden past the vineyard where the grapes are grown when I completed in the Abel Tasman Cycle Challenge, but I am yet to try this wine. It is reputedly one of NZs finest of the variety. Guess I will find out in a couple of years time, then.
A trio of notable Sauvignon Blanc wines for the cellar:
Grove Mill Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016 – $ – drink now-2021. Rated as Outstanding in the Decanter 2017 review of NZ Savs.
Ata Rangi Sauvignon Blanc Martinborough 2016 – $ – drink now-2021. Bought at a recent tasting of Ata Rangi wines. Outstanding.
A couple of wines liberated from Sydney Airport Duty-Free, and a golden drop from FNQ.
Guigal Côte-Rôtie Northern Rhône 2007 – $$$+ – drink now-2022. This should be a generous and delicious Rhône rouge.
Louis Jadot Meursault Côte-d’Or 2012 – $$$+ – drink now -2019. I still recall the profound impact a glass of Meursault had on my palate when I ate lunch at Ramsay’s Hospital Road restaurant with my sister. I hope this lives up to that.
Golden Drop Mango Wine Semi-Dry – $$ – drink now – 2022. Tasted and bought at the winery on the drive from Mossman to the Atherton Tablelands. A novel and fun sticky for later!
A brace of 98 point wines this month:
Tinpot Hut Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016 – $$ – drink 2020-2024. Decanter rated this Exceptional / 98 points in their review of NZ Sauvignon Blanc in the August 2017 issue! My new fav wine shop sold out of this wine almost immediately, but I managed to get a couple from their repeat order.
I also read of a couple of others I’ll buy separately – Grove Mill Sauvignon Blanc 2016 at 95 points and Wairau Valley Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2016 at 95 points also.
I also managed to collect a couple of Rhones – a bottle of 2003 Yann Chave Hermitage, and a 2003 Delas Hermitage Les Bessards, which I am looking forward to opening in due course.
Three additions for slumberland under the watchful gaze of KellerMäusefänger Mimi.
Wynns Michael Ltd Release Shiraz Coonawarra 2012- $$$ – drink 2020-2027. A gift from lovely L. High hopes for this classy Aussie.
Man O’War Ironclad Cabernet Waiheke 2012 – $$$ – drink 2020-2022. Odd to think that despite me having enjoyed wines from this producer for a few years now, there isn’t any in the Pool Room. There is now – this great cab!
Man O’War Valhalla Chardonnay Waiheke 2016 – $$$ – drink 2021-2024. And this one too.
