Brave New World

Description

“Somewhere is a place” In a wine world of increasing uniformity to know that what we taste & drink,smells of, tastes of, & is,of, where it is from … is ‘somewhere’. Some fave New World producers & winemakers whose wines embody this.”

2 bottles each of three great white & red wines that as well as providing great pleasure to drink ,will give you plenty of opportunity to debate the French notion of ‘Terroir’(Somewhere).

Stoneburn

Grape variety: Sauvignon
Country of origin:New Zealand
Region:Marlborough
Vintage: 2020
ABV: 12%
If you like your Sav Blanc as green & grassy as a vergers verge then this maybe is for you, … no cats pee though!
From pioneering Wairau river producer & NZ’s first lady of wine, Jane Hunter OBE. Goats cheese deffo or asparagus maybe?

Cline

Grape variety: Viognier
Country of origin: USA
Region: California North Coast
Vintage: 2020
ABV: 14.5%
Vee- On- Y –Ay as they say in the golden state. From one of the original Rhone Rangers, this has consistently been a fine example of this variety & always over delivers at this level. Aromas of apricot & peachstone ,unctuous certainly ,but with enough balancing acidity to carry to a long textured finish, a rather fine Goan prawn curry proved the perfect foil.

Darling Cellars

Grape variety: Chenin Blanc
Country of origin: South Africa
Region: Darling
Vintage: 2018
ABV: 14%
Swartland is the South African wild west where hirsute gunslinger winemakers roam.A parcel of gnarly old bush vines planted in 1980 is the key to this limited production hand crafted Chenin.Yonks on the lees before a sojourn in old barrels to round out its natural electric acidity ,rich & spicy with notes of apple skin , honey cinnamon & quince & mouthcoating beewaxy fruit complete the picture .

Casa Freschi Ragazzi

Grape variety: Nebbiolo
Country of origin: Australia
Region: Langhorn Creek
Vintage: 2016
ABV: 13%
Monprivato it maynot be, but this is no nebulous Nebbiolo,indeed one of the best examples of the notoriously truculent variety you will find outside of the fabled Langhe hills in North East Italy to which it is a paean.Natural unforced aromas of wild strawberry, red cherry & yes some rose, no tar granted but theres probably no fog in Langhorne Creek either, well balanced texture with notes of dried fruit, try a spaghetti vongole with it & you wont be disappointed.

Ridgeback

Grape variety: Cabernet Franc
Country of origin: South Africa
Region: Paarl
Vintage: 2014
ABV: 14.5%
We love Cabernet Franc !so look no further than this classy Bordeaux inspired beauty from talented winemaker Toit Wessels.
The 2014 (now a library release at the winery) is justifiably littered with Platter stars & Veritas gold medals.Spice, incense sticks blackcurrant leaf & cigar box(i’m beginning to sound like Robert Parker ….sorry !) anyway you get the picture , smooth textured for sure, but with the requisite zesty balancing acidity, that is the very essence of Cab Franc.
Drink with a Duck..could be vegan Duck.?

Nga Waka

Grape variety: Pinot Noir
Country of origin: New Zealand
Region: Martinborough
Vintage: 2015
ABV: 14%
Pronounced NA WAKA ..
The Parkinson family chose this special place on NZ ‘S North Island to plant Pinot Noir in the late eighties.Lying in the eastern rain shadow & from the small but excellent quality 2015 vintage, at 5 years age this is showing good maturity now but will continue to develop, all the while perfectly straddling the preferable fine line between plumminess & earthy burgundian character which we love .
ps Bob Campbell loves it.
Cheers Bob.