New Zealand Wines
Lawson's Dry Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2010/2011, Marlborough
A fresh, dry, crisp Sauvignon sourced only from premium vineyards throughout Marlborough's Wairau Valley. Displaying gooseberry on the nose and palate, this wine has gained structure from the partial barrel fermentation it has undergone. Quality conscious New Zealand producers are leading the field in promoting the benefit of screwcaps, which eliminate potential cork taint.
Cloudy Bay 2010 Mixed Case
Compare and contrast our favourite New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc's for the Autumn. The iconic Cloudy Bay has just released its new 2010 vintage. Bursting with fresh, zesty fruit and simply stunning. We have just shipped Forrest Sauvignon Blanc. Why? Well John creates a long-lived wines that always evolves slowly. Lively with vibrant green fruit, great acidity and balance. Finally Pask Sauvignon 2009 from Hawkes Bay shows greater minerality and subtle fruits giving it a Sancerre-like appeal.
Summer Sensations 12 x 75cl Bottles
Get the BBQ out, it's Summer come rain or shine! This mix of new and old world wines has some exciting additions including a refreshing New Zealand Sauvignon and ever popular McGuigan Shiraz. This case is also ideal for a summer gift - add the stylish gift carton for just £5 and you'll score some serious brownie points!
MUD HOUSE - Central Otago, Red Label Pinot Noir 2010 75cl Bottle
Colour: Bright ruby red. Nose: Subtle aromas of berry fruit compote and sweet spice. Palate: A soft palate with fresh bright red fruit and subtle spice flavours. The palate lingers with delicate acidity. Comments: After arriving at the winery the grapes were gently destemed to open fermenters. After a five day cold soak the fermentation was started with a mix of wild and cultured yeast. The grapes were hand plunged or pumped over twice a day to extract the colour, flavour and tannin structure. After pressing, each parcel was kept separate for maturation. At the Mud House, they craft wines using a combination of technology and traditional winemaking methods with the courage to do things their way. Mud House nurture their vineyards throughout New Zealand so that our grapes reach optimum ripeness, ensuring varietal character and flavour.
MUD HOUSE - South Island, Pinot Gris 2009 75cl Bottle
At the Mud House, they craft wines using a combination of technology and traditional winemaking methods with the courage to do things their way. Mud House nurture their vineyards throughout New Zealand so that our grapes reach optimum ripeness, ensuring varietal character and flavour. Colour: Straw yellow. Nose: Classic flavours of white peach and cut pear combine with gentle spicy notes. Palate: The lovely oily texture and bright fruit leads to a seamless finish. The flavours of nectarine and cut pear carry right through. Food Matching: Seared NZ Tuna & Asian Greens Grapes: 100% Pinot Gris (50% Marlborough, 35% Waipara and 15% Nelson) Marlborough experienced an unusually wet February and early March which had them a little worried. However the weather gods shone and seven weeks of near perfect weather followed through to harvest. The warm days and cool nights in April presented ideal ripening conditions giving fantastic acid structure and plenty of vibrant flavours. In Waipara the season started with some unusual frosts, and a freak isolated hail storm which luckily did not impact on the crop. The summer was glorious with hot temperatures during the day and cool evenings resulting in even ripening and great flavour accumulation. Nelson saw great flowering and bud break and ideal ripening through the season. Nelson's fruit was in excellent condition and has added another dimension to this wine. A South Island blend from 3 distinct regions; Marlborough, Waipara and Nelson. The gravelly soils in Waipara offer minerality and elegant structure, while the heavier soil sites in Marlborough provide stone fruit characters and a lovely oiliness. After picking and pressing the individual parcels were tank fermented at warm temperatures. At the end of fermentation the wines were aged on full fermentation lees for three months.
42 BELOW - Manuka Honey 70cl Bottle
42 Below's manuka honey vodka is made with the purest ingredients. The honey is taken from special beehives placed in New Zealand's manuka tree plantations. Unlike most honeys, manuka is darker and more savoury with oaky flavours and a hint of caramel. To make the premium vodka, the raw manuka honey is vapourised by applying direct heat, driving off steam, that condenses into a rich essence. 42 Below Vodka is then infused with the honey essence. The complex flavours are easily absorbed and create a unique spirit that is drinkable either over ice or as part of a premium cocktail like 'honey on the rocks' or 'manuka mule'. 42 Below Vodkas have already won a series of awards and are capturing the imagination of leading bartenders, mixologists and sommeliers around the world. In December 2003, 42 Below Vodka was judged first equal in a professional blind tasting of 18 of the world's best vodkas for The Independent Newspaper and scored 90-95/100 with Wine Enthusiast Magazine, USA. Pure wheat grain with no genetic modification and no genetic engineering, 4 distillations, 35 filtrations and volcanic spring water welled from thousands of feet underground make 42 Below vodkas as pure as you can get. 42 Below pure vodka blends the smoothness of Polish vodkas with the cleanness of Scandinavian vodkas to achieve a smooth, full-bodied spirit with generous grain flavours and a nice peppery finish.
Jackson Estate Grey Ghost Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Marlborough
Since its inaugural vintage in 2007, Jackson's Grey Ghost has been wowing lovers of New Zealand Sauvignon with its unique style. The unusual addition of subtle oak influence has lifted the fresh and aromatic Sauvignon into another dimension, with nutty, vanilla-like notes adding huge complexity to the Sauvignon's steely, nettle and gooseberry backbone.
Ata Rangi Sauvignon Blanc 2010/2011, Martinborough
Clive Paton first planted vines in his 12 acre paddock in 1980, making him one of Martinborough's winemaking pioneers. His estate now includes plots throughout the Wairarapa area. Ata Rangi has been frequently awarded and is ranked as one of New Zealand's best wineries. 10% of this wine is fermented in 3-year-old oak, which adds an intriguing layer of complexity. A gooseberry and grapefruit backbone, with passionfruit, pear and honeysuckle notes, and a fine texture. Pair with oysters, either fresh or grilled, or with a creamy chêvre.
Villa Maria Private Bin Riesling 2010/2011, Marlborough
Showing enticing aromas of lime, apple and passion fruit, this is a fresh, zesty wine from New Zealand's most famous winemaking region. An intriguing aperitif, this wine can also be paired well with cold meats and lightly spiced, aromatic Thai food.
Oyster Bay Six, Bottle Gift in Wood 6 x 75cl Bottles
New Zealand's Oyster Bay has consistently produced fantastic wines for many years, and now we've paired three bottles each of their Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc to create this extremely attractive 6 bottle gift pack, presented in wood.
Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Marlborough
Made from Sauvignon grapes that are cool fermented in stainless steel vats to retain the delicate fruit aromas and flavours. Showing pronounced aromas of gooseberry and tropical fruits, alongside a subtle herbaceousness. Crisp, elegant and refreshing, this is a classic aperitif wine from New Zealand's famous Marlborough region.
Wine - Woodthorpe Gamay Noir, Te Mata - 3
Delightful freshness with juicy fruit made from superior Gamay Noir cuttings imported from France in New Zealand’s North Island. Lovely red cherry and raspberry fruit violet notes a touch of earthiness.*Silver Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards 2009*
Mt Difficulty Pinot Noir 'Roaring Meg'
This wine exhibits a lovely mix of red and black berry fruits with further complexity gained from oak spice. The wine has a sweet berry entry which displays these same characters in abundance. Tannins rise gracefully out of the mid-palate to finish the wine; these are balanced by the wine's natural acidity and fruit, to produce a long fruit-driven finish.
Mt Difficulty 'Target Gully' Riesling
Awarded Best in Class and Trophy at the Royal Easter Show, Auckland, this fantastic wine shows why Central Otago excels with lower alcohol, moderately sweet examples, fashioned after the German style. With startling purity, a fine lime acidity and sense of alpine flowers, this medium dry wine delivers harmonious balance and fruit intensity right through the palate. Leading the way to the long awaited Riesling revival.
Mt Difficulty Chardonnay
This Chardonnay was a combination of grapes from three of their vineyards; Long Gully, Mansons Farm and Templars Hill. It is all about complexity, with vanilla, citrus and tropical fruit components. The palate explodes with ripe citrus characters and an excellent creamy texture followed by weight from extended lees contact and barrel ageing. A good grapefruit dominated finish compliments the wine's natural acidity.
Astrolabe Pinot Noir
Astrolabe's award winning Simon Waghorn makes this Pinot Noir to produce a red wine in contrast to his award winning Sauvignon Blanc. Specially selected and hand picked fruit from vineyards at Comeleybank, acclaimed winemaker Simon Waghorn scores again with this medium bodied rich fruited red wine. Full to medium bodied with round, mouth filling flavours of plum and cherry, pleasing weight and a long elegant finish with good acidity. Classy, top notch Pinot with integrated smooth silky tannins.
42 BELOW - Feijoa (Pineapple Guava) 70cl Bottle
The distinctive fruit has been picked by the bucket-load, to obtain the purest fruit essence, pure enough to match the sanctity of ingredients in 42 Below vodka. 42 Below do not just add feijoa juice or synthesize the flavour. They collect the flesh of the fruit. They gather the heady, fruity steam produced when it is heated. They turn that into a liquid which is the very essence of the feijoa, and they infuse that into the vodka. The result is a crystal-pure vodka infused with the intense flavours and aromas of this slightly citrus, slightly sweet, very fresh and almost strange fruit. A fruit well known by New Zealanders and South Americans, but little known elsewhere. A real backyard fruit - and that is where you find the ingredients to go with it such as fresh mint, local apple and pear juices or citruses. It is a world first from 42 Below and there are more unique flavours up their sleeves yet!
Astrolabe Pinot Gris
Champion Trophy winner at the recent Air New Zealand Awards, this comes in the wake of winning 5 stars in Decanter magazine. This is a dry Alsace-like wine that shows rich and exotic flavours. Minerally and full bodied, with delicate flavours of quince, white peach, passionfruit and guava. Long lasting on the palate with youthful acidity.
MUD HOUSE - Hawkes Bay, Merlot 2009 75cl Bottle
At the Mud House, they craft wines using a combination of technology and traditional winemaking methods with the courage to do things their way. They nurture their vineyards throughout New Zealand so that our grapes reach optimum ripeness, ensuring varietal character and flavour. Colour: Deep red. Nose: Fruit characters of plums and bramble, with secondary notes of earth and leather. Hints of sweet spice, chocolate and toasty oak completes the aroma profile. Palate: A medium bodied wine with a richness and weight typical of Merlot. The palate structure aims for softness of tannin and acidity which accentuates the weight and finish of this wine while showing flavours of plums, anise and mocha. Comments: The winemaking focused on good varietal expression coupled with suppleness and hence drinkability. Food Matching: New Zealand lamb shank. Serve at room temperature. 92% of the Hawkes Bay fruit was sourced from the Te Awa Vineyard on the Gimblett Gravels and Corner 50 Vineyard in the Ngatarawa sub-region. The remaining fruit was sourced from the Kimble Vineyard in Waipara. Grape: 90% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Franc.
Vin Alto Ritorno
This distinctive wine showcases Vin Alto's unique use of the Ripasso wine style, using dried Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes. This is an intense and savoury wine with concentrated flavours of dried fruit, Christmas spice and leather. Powerful, yet showing restrained elegance.
JACKSON ESTATE - Shelter Belt Chardonnay 2006 75cl Bottle
Bright citrus fruit and spice together with waves of savoury aromatics flow to a generously fruited and finely textured palate. A lovely core of ripe acidity lends the wine balance and length, and frames the wonderful fruit purity. Jackson Estate embodies the very best of Marlborough, New Zealand, and is a testament to the vision and determination of the Stichbury and Jackson Families who have farmed the land on the Wairau River plain at Jacksons road for more than 160 years. This wine is an expression of a single site, and is named after a large shelterbelt of trees separating the grounds of the Jackson Estate homestead from the vineyard.
Schubert Pinot Noir 'Block B'
Located within the Wairarapa Valley of Martinborough, the region is cooler and drier than any other on the North Island, and like Marlborough across the Cook Strait, it is exposed to cold winds that funnel in from the southern ocean. Intense aromas of blackcurrant and cherry along with smole and tobacco notes. Aged in both old and new French oak barriques for 16 months, the wine is full bodied with rich and elegant textures.
Oyster Bay Merlot, Six Bottle Gift in Wood 6 x 75cl Bottles
An excellent value gift from popular New Zealand winery Oyster Bay. Lively aromas of summer berry fruits reminiscent of raspberry and strawberry lead to a zesty, flavourful and refreshing palate with a lingering finish of crunchy red apple. Now available in a very stylish wooden case.
Forrest Estate Sauvignon Blanc, 12-bottle unmixed case
Drs Bridget and John Forrest make a range of superb New Zealand wines, but they are probably most famous for their stunning Sauvignon Blanc. It stands out for its purity and cleanliness of flavours, a benchmark style.
Wine - Lively Loire 1
Domaine des Clairneaux and Domaine Couly-Dutheil Chinon France Domaine des Clairneaux Sancerre FranceJean-Marie Berthier created this domaine from scratch in 1980 in the north of the appellation. He grows the two classic grape varieties of the Sancerre appellation Sauvignon Blanc for the whites and Pinot Noir for the rosé and reds on the slopes above Sainte-Gemme-en-Sancerre. He aims for delicate refreshing wines that reflect their origins in this classic Loire valley region. His 8 or so hectares are fifty-fifty chalky clay and flint and are exposed to long hours of sunlight so his wines have a combination of ripe fruit flavours as well as expressing the lovely natural flintiness of Sancerre.2008 Sancerre BlancA delicious stylish balanced Sancerre that drinks beautifully early on and develops well with age. Quite a ripe style for Sancerre with almost New Zealand like gooseberry fruit along with pear and apple. Zesty but ripe acidity lovely minerality (anchoring it firmly in Sancerre!) and a clean long finish.2008 Sancerre RoséA beautiful glass of wine – it even looks gorgeous. 100% Pinot Noir rosé of delicacy and elegance. Medium bodied with fabulous summer pudding fruit; strawberry redcurrant and raspberry. Stunning. Domaine Couly-Dutheil Chinon FranceWhilst many people associate the Loire valley exclusively with white wine (Sancerre Pouilly Fumé etc.) much of the Touraine region on the banks of this river are planted to red varieties such as Cabernet Franc and Gamay. Amongst the best of these wines come from Chinon and this well established domaine in the heart of the appellation has been given a new lease of life by the younger generation. Jacques Bertrand and Arnaud Couly have recently closed down the negociant side of the business (thank goodness!) to concentrate on making wines exclusively from their own grapes and the change has been immediate dramatic and impressive.2006 Chinon La Gravières The Chinon La Gravières is from a vineyard next to the River Vienne (a tributary of the Loire) and is a perfect summer red packed with juicy dark fruits blackcurrant leaf and capsicum. It provides instant pleasure the moment the cork is drawn.
Astrolabe Chardonnay Oaked
Grown at Astrolabe Farm and Two Ponds Vineyard, the grapes from this harvest were of unusual high quality with a great intensity of flavour and moderate acid levels. The resultant wine is straw gold in colour and displays ripe melon and dried stone fruits aromas, followed by a buttery, honeyed lift. A textured palate with an abundance of stone fruit, it has a pleasing weight and a long dry finish.
2008 Pinot Noir, Felton Road, Central Otago
Felton Road wines is located in Bannockburn, Central Otago in New Zealand, the most southerly wine growing region in the World. Here, vineyards are nestled into small macroclimates totally surrounded by high mountains, many of which are snowcapped all year round. Though the location is on the edge of sustainable viticulture these macroclimates consistently combine hot days, cool nights and long dry autumns: perfect for the creation of fine Pinot Noir.
Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc
Classic expression of the dry, gooseberry, grass and passion fruit style of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Clean and crisp it is bursting with minerality and white stone fruit flavours. Expressive on the palate, finishing with great length. This fashionable white wine is a benchmark by which New World Sauvignons are judged. Awarded a Gold Medal at the prestigious Royal Hobart Show.
Dancing Bull Sauvignon Blanc
The wine is crisp and clean with bright citrus tanginess balanced with a hint of cut grass herbaceousness usually found in New Zealand wine. The nose is packed with aromas of lime and kiwi, with subtle notes of fresh cut grass and boxwood. The mouth has a crisp acidity and focused grapefruit and lime freshness balanced by tropical flavors of guava and mango. This wine was crafted to be an easy wine to enjoy on its own or paired with just about anything from pasta to Chinese take out.
Ata Rangi Craighall Chardonnay 2007, Martinborough
A wonderful Chardonnay produced predominantly from very low-yielding Mendoza clone vines planted over 20 years ago. Natural fermentation due to 'wild' yeasts slows both the onset and duration of fermentation, resulting in a very textural, multi-faceted wine. With hints of peach and orange blossom and underlying notes of fig and clover honey, plus a light touch of superbly integrated French oak. Winner of the Top New Zealand Chardonnay Trophy at the 2009 London International Wine Challenge.
