Here is a list of the latest tastings I have attended this year – More detail on the New Brighton Club Website at:

http://newbrightonwineclub.wordpress.com/

Tuesday 1 December: Sirens Wines from Waipara

Tuesday 3 November: Koura Bay Estate Wines

Tuesday 6th October 2009:  Sherwood Estate Wine, Waipara

Tuesday 1st September 2009:  Muddy Water – Waipara

Tuesday 4th August 2009: Allan Scott – Blenheim

Tuesday 7 July 2009: Torlesse Estate from Waipara, North Canterbury

Postponed – Tuesday 7th July 2009: Sherwood Estate Wines, Waipara

Tuesday 2nd June 2009: Ager Sectus Wine Estates – Hawkes Bay.  The Crossing and  Crossroads.

Tuesday 5th May 2009: Bishops Head Wines – Waipara. Labels are Bishops Head and Mairehau.

Tuesday 7th April 2009: Mount Cass from Waipara

Tuesday 3rd March 2009: Gort Vinters – Blenheim & Rimu Grove – Mapua

Tuesday 3 February 2009: Robin Mundy from St Helena Winery.

Headed off to Blenheim for a mate’s 50th recently – great weekend with a few wineries visited (When in Rome…!) Tastings at Wither Hills, Highfield Estate, Lunch and tastings at Drylands and Bouldevines, dinner at Bacchus.

Visited Peter Yealands new $25 Million winery nestled in 1000 hectares of vines east of Seddon and tasted the first vintage (2008) excellent wines and prices. Fantastic venue and heading towards full sustainability. You have to visit this winery – my hat’s off to them for an outstanding acomplishment.

New Brighton Wine Club recently hosted  Peter Saunders from Bishops Head who presented the range of Bishops Head and Rock Face wines from their Waipara Vineyard. For more details click here

Had 5 days in Central Otago over the Easter Weekend – fantastic weather  the whole time we were away. Stayed over in Omarama, Wanaka and Bannockburn and as far as wineries went visited Rippon in Wanaka, Peregrine in Otago, Olssens in Bannockburn and Wooing Tree in Cromwell.

Stayed at Jan and Tim Hawkins’ Place in Bannockburn – highly recommended Bed and Breakfast if you are heading down that way.

Finished up with a BBQ and sleepover at our friends’ place in Kakanui.

Yes – we have moved – now in more of a blog format than a static website

www.nzwinelinks.co.nz will be getting a revamp over the next few weeks – keep coming back to see developments as all the information on NZwinelinks moves here…..

Cheers, JB

Our very special thanks to Greg Hay for venturing to Canterbury to spend an evening presenting the Wines of Peregrine Wines in Central Otago.

“Greg has been involved in the Central Otago wine industry for 21 years now, starting back in 1986. Many things have changed during this time other than the passion to produce the best value for money wines coming from this region.

Whilst it was more likely to find Greg in the vineyard a few years ago, the most likely place to track him down now is either on a plane or on the phone making sure the Peregrine wines are getting out to those who deserve them most.” source: http://www.peregrinewines.co.nz/winery/people

Greg is a great presenter and very passionate about what he does. Not only did we get to taste some of the the wines, but Greg shared with us a great deal of background about Peregrine, the brands Peregrine and Saddleback and the conservation support provided, we also got a little insight into the stunning new winery building. http://www.peregrinewines.co.nz/building

Wines tasted on the night were:

Peregrine Riesling 2006 (dry), Peregrine Rastasburn Riesling 2006 (off dry) and Peregrine Charcoal Creek Riesling 2007 (lucious and sweet), three completely different Rieslings each with it’s own unique character.

We followed these with the Peregrine Pinot Gris 2007 (stunning wine Air NZ serves this in Business class) and Peregrine Chardonnay 2006 (a blend of old and new world styles) which I really liked.

Lastly we tasted the Peregrine Pinot Noir 2006 and the Saddleback Pinot Noir 2007 – the quality of Peregrine’s pinots are as always exceptional and both these pinot’s showed that.

Tasting notes for all the wines are at http://www.peregrinewines.co.nz/cellardoor/wines – Click on each wine to see detailed notes etc.

Thanks again to Greg for taking the time to come and speak to us – we would certainly welcome him back again in the future.

http://www.peregrinewines.co.nz/

Ross Moloughney provided us with a great range of interesting wines form the Hancock portfolio.. and very generously a magnum of red and a couple of other bottles as raffle prizes which were very much appreciated as were the great discounts provided on the night.

Ross is also a great teller of tales and had some great ones about people he had met in the industry and some of his personal stories of his wine experiences in Australia and New Zealand.

Wines on the night were:

Lake Chalice Rosie 2007
Waipara Hills Riesling 2007
Ti Point Riesling 2007
Fallen Angel Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Jules Taylor Pinot Noir 2007
Kim Crawford SP Rise-n-Shine Pinot Noir 2006
Cable Bay Five Hills Merlot 2005
Lake Chalice Sticky Beak Late Harvest Riesling 2006

My fave was the Jules Taylor Pinot Noir – I had the 06 at the Casino recently and loved it even at $9.50 a glass. Don’t forget to post a comment on your favourites or anything else you might like to note….

Thanks Ross for a great night and we would welcome you back to do more from your portfolio anytime.

Websites to visit:

http://www.lakechalice.co.nz/
http://www.fallenangelwines.com/
http://www.tipoint.co.nz/
http://www.julestaylor.com/
http://www.waiparahills.co.nz/
http://www.kimcrawfordwines.co.nz/
http://www.cablebayvineyards.co.nz/

Cheers, JB

Tasting on Tues 5 Feb with Bruce from Eurowines. Interesting mix of N.Z. European and Spanish wines with a Seresin Olive oil taste in between the whites and reds.

Simonnet-Febvre Cremant de Bourgogne Brut NV from Chablis in France – non descript methode 80% Chardonnay / 20 Pinot Noir – lost the bubbles in a few seconds – could have been the glasses though.

Willm Reserve Riesling 2006 from the French Alsace – dryish (7gms/l RS) Apricot / limes / apples but I think this is too young – needs another couple of years.

Wairau River Marlborough Riesling 2006 – nice Riesling – typical stone fruit and citrus, clean mineral acidity – again needs more time – preferred this over the Willm.

Torres Gran Vina Sol 2006 from Pendes in Spain – 80% Chardonnay and 20% Parellada, a variety I’ve never heard of – fermented separately and 6 mths lees aging then into Limousin oak. A bit flowery in the nose, but the fruit flavours (peach?) and oak balance well. Not my kind of Chardonnay though!

Te Mata Estate Woodthorpe Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2006 – nice wine as usual – great fruit concentration and oak balanced well, hint of Malolactic from barrel fermentation and lees – elegant finish, nice weight in the mouth.

Stonecroft Serine Hawkes Bay Syrah 2005 – lovely dense colour, almost ruby but lighter it’s Aussie cousins. Black berries and plums – velvety tannins – ncely balanced wine.

Torres Nerola Syrah 2005 again from Penedes in Spain – 80% Syrah / 20% Monastrell (Mouvedre) more raspberries and cherry in this one – mix of oak barrels contributing toast, mocha and vanilla. Nice wine….

Finished off with a Lustau Pedro Ximenez Sherry – licorice / black / raisins / sweet as…. Delicious.

Olive Oils from Seresin were Organic Extra Virgin: Plain, lemon and lime infused – wonder if the pepper finish and sharp flavours hadn’t dulled the palate for the reds though.

Just added a page with a list of the wine currently residing in the cellar.