Tag Archives: Pool Room

Straight to the Pool Room – April 2018


Pool Room April 2018

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.

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Straight to the Pool Room – March 2018


Pool Room March 2018

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.

Straight to the Pool Room – February 2018


Pool Room Feb 2018

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.

Straight to the Pool Room – January 2018


Pool Room Jan 2018

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.

Straight to the Pool Room – December 2017


Pool Room Dec 2017

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.

Straight to the Pool Room – November 2017


Pool Room Nov 2017

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.

Straight to the Pool Room – October 2017


Pool Room October 2017

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!

Straight to the Pool Room – September 2017


Tin Pot Hut Sav Blanc 2016

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.

Pool Room August September 2017

Straight to the Pool Room – May 2017


Pool Room May 2017

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.

Straight to the Pool Room – April 2017


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A trio of new additions for the Land of Nod:

Giles Robin ‘Alberic Bouvet’ Crozes-Hermitage 2014 – $$$ – drink 2021-2024. This was the standout (affordable) wine from the recent Giles Robin Tasting I attended.

Lamont Riesling Central Otago 2014 – $$ – drink 2021-2024. I remember drinking an earlier vintage from this producer at La Boca Loca with L and Mum and Dad a couple of years ago. I loved the super-dry and austere mineral character of the wine. Quite foreboding, and unlike any Riesling I have tried before. Very interested to see how these two behave!