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Hi to all our valued cellar and selected premium wine customers,

Apologies we didn’t send you our weekly Cellar Journal on Tuesday as expected. When the news of the devastating earthquake in Christchurch began to emerge we decided to put our normal business on hold and focus the energies of our team on how we could best do something to assist.

Wednesday afternoon we released an auction of three rare Selection Series dozens from our wine cellar to help raise funds for the Red Cross Earthquake Appeal. The response has been sensational. As we send you this email the top three bids sit at $4,250, $4,010 and $4,000 guaranteeing a minimum of $12,260 to the cause and with final bidding not closing until 3pm today that figure will climb.

If you would like to bid on a dozen knowing that you’ll be enjoying some extraordinary aged wines of which 100% of your purchase price will make its way to the Red Cross Earthquake Fund the auction is live until 3pm today so there is still plenty of opportunity. Please notify as many people as possible to help maximise the funds raised for the Earthquake Appeal. For full details – see our previous blog post

Below is the Cellar Journal we were due to send you on Tuesday, Enjoy.
Cheers, Jeff

The theme of this week’s Cellar Journal is “families in the pursuit of excellence.”

All four wines are crafted by some of the most determined, quality-driven families in the wine world with the single-minded goal of making the greatest wines of their region. 

The ultimate collector’s Champagne has just hit our shores, from the legendary Rothschild family owners of Bordeaux First Growths Chateaux Lafite and Mouton. Three branches of the family recently joined forces to form Champagne Barons de Rothschild. They craft Champagne with the same extraordinary uncompromising attitude that they apply to two of the world’s greatest red wines, crafting a beautiful NV Brut of remarkable elegance, finesse and refinement. For the first time ever a tiny twenty six-pack allocation has arrived in New Zealand and we are the exclusive retailers. If you love, or even mildly like, Champagne, or simply appreciate the very best wine, make sure you are one of the twenty fortunate kiwis to have a six-pack of this in their cellar.

Marlborough’s finest luxury Chardonnay (alongside Fromm’s Clayvin) is made by John Forrest who, with his wife Brigid, for almost a quarter of a century has represented excellence in Marlborough and Hawkes Bay winegrowing, enjoying considerable success in New Zealand and international wine shows. He pours his greatest energy and passion into crafting small batches of the John Forrest Collection wines that bear his name. With Five Stars and rave reviews from both Bob Campbell MW and Michael Cooper, this fine, elegant wine is essential enjoyment from anyone who loves the very best New Zealand Chardonnay.

Arguably the world’s greatest Montepulciano and Italy’s greatest fine wine value is made by the Pizzolo family, who have painstakingly worked to set a new benchmark for Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. As Jancis Robinson MW says; “Montepulciano d’Abruzzo has become a cult wine: deep, dense, brooding and capable of becoming yet more interesting after many years in bottle.” Valle Reale’s iconic San Calisto is the very best you can buy and one of our perennial favourite Italian reds, particularly after visiting the remarkable mountain estate on our Italian wine tour in 2009. Our twelve six-pack allocation will go quickly to discerning lovers of fine wine – make sure you secure a six-pack for your cellar. 

Lastly, we have one of the best Syrahs yet made in New Zealand. The Spencer family have devoted their considerable energy and resources to making some of New Zealand’s greatest wines from their 90 individual hillside plots strategically placed across 4,500 acres of Waiheke Island. The island’s warm sunny climate is well suited to Syrah, so they dedicate the steepest north-facing slopes to it and the best of these are destined for their flagship wine, Dreadnought. The 2008 vintage effortlessly won Gold Medals in the UK’s two most important wine shows and Five Stars from New Zealand’s leading wine writers.

The Kidnappers Cliffs wines that we offered in the previous Cellar Journal almost sold out in a week. The few remaining six-packs will go this week. The wines below are equally impressive and available in even smaller quantities, so please respond as quickly as possible to ensure that you don’t miss out.   

To order email wine@finewinedelivery.co.nz

Champagne Barons de Rothschild Brut NV

From the owners of Chateaux Lafite-Rothschild and Mouton-Rothschild

When we discovered that the most famous family in Bordeaux, the Barons de Rothschild responsible of two of Bordeaux’s prestigious First Growth Chateaux Château Lafite and Château Mouton, joined forces to produce the ultimate in Champagne we made sure that we secured New Zealand’s entire retail allocation, so that we can offer it to you, our premium customers.

Family members Baron Eric de Rothschild, Monsieur Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, Baronne Philippine de Rothschild, Baronne Ariane de Rothschild and Baron Benjamin de Rothschild. have united to establish this new house of excellence within Champagne, endorsing it with the coat of arms of their family.
Champagne Barons de Rothschild Brut is made from only the finest Grand and Premier Cru grapes in the heart of the renowned Grands Blancs vineyards in the Champagne region, where Chardonnay has pride of place. It’s a blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot with a very high forty percent reserve wine (aged wine) contributing to its remarkable depth and complexity. It was aged in deep, underground cellars for three years before disgorging, light and subtle dosage followed by a long period of rest gives the wine a rare elegance, finesse and refinement.

The painstaking care lavished on this Champagne reflects an exceptional commitment to quality that will result in this being the most sought after Champagne to hit our shores this year.  

John Forrest Collection Wairau Chardonnay 2006

5 Stars – Bob Campbell MW “excellent potential for development despite being four years old…”
5 Stars – Michael Cooper’s Buyers Guide 2011 

“Seamless Chardonnay. Beautifully handled oak that’s encased by fine fruit flavours. Shows excellent potential for development despite being four years old already.” Bob Campbell MW 

This is one of New Zealand’s very finest, small-production luxury Chardonnay’s, in the league of legendary peers Neudorf Moutere, Mountford, Te Whau, Sacred Hill Rifleman’s, Felton Road Block 2, Craggy Range Les Beaux Cailloux, Pegasus Bay Virtuoso, Fromm Clayvin, Escarpment Kupe, Dry River and Kumeu River Mate’s.

John and Brigid Forrest established their now 130 hectare estate almost a quarter of a century ago, and craft some of New Zealand’s finest wines; including the higest scoring Kiwi sweet wine in Wine Spectator, Air New Zealand Wine Awards Trophy-winning ‘The Doctor’s’ Riesling 2009 and one of Hawke’s Bay’s greatest reds, Newton Forrest Cornerstone, the 2006 of which was one of the top 6 wines in the famous Bordeaux vs. Gimblett Gravels tasting in London, along with Château Lafite-Rothschild 2005, Château Mouton-Rothschild 2005, Château Angélus 2005, Sacred Hill Helmsman 2006, and Château Haut-Brion 2005.

John extends that ambition to his eponymous ‘John Forrest Collection’ wines, capturing the best the land, the vines and the vintage have to offer.  This is only the second vintage of this remarkable Chardonnay, following the Decanter Magazine Five Star-awarded 2004, as he only makes it in the very best years (there was no 2005), and he releases the wine at 5 years old Everything in its craftsmanship is geared towards making truly outstanding Chardonnay. Hand-harvested from the estates lowest-yielding, mature Chardonnay vines, gently whole-bunch-pressed, then wild fermented in the finest French oak, where it matures for fifteen months. 

This fine, elegant Chardonnay with layers of ripe citrus and complex nutty oak is drinking superbly at five years old, yet will improve for at least another five.

Valle Reale San Calisto Montepulciano 2007

99/100 – Gambero Rosso “top scorer in its class for its refined elegance and stylish aromatics.”
3 Glasses ‘Plus’ – Gambero Rosso   “a series of truly remarkable wines”
Top 10 Wines in Italy – Class Editori
5 Stars Italian Sommeliers Association

“The Montepulciano San Calisto was the top scorer in its class for its refined elegance and stylish aromatics… a series of truly remarkable wines…”  Gambero Rosso (Italy’s wine bible)

“With intensity, wonderful balance and vivacity, Valle Reale’s San Calisto could be the Super-Abruzzo wine producers are looking for.” Dr. Michael Apstein, San Francisco Chronicle

“Valle Reale is one my favorite producers in Abruzzo. The estate occupies a spectacular position between two national parks. The unique micro-climate of these hills and the relatively high altitude of the vineyards means grapes mature gradually, as the growing season is long…. San Calisto is already one of the best examples of the wine on the market.” Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

2007 San Calisto has just been named number seven in the Top 10 Wines in Italy in Class Editori’s prestigious ranking of Top 100 Italian Wines. This placed it ahead of wines like Gaja’s Sori Tildin & San Lorenzo 2007, both retailing over $500 per bottle.

The ranking is based on ratings from the main national and international wine guides (including Gambero Rosso, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator) and compiled by Class Editori, Italy’s leading publication for financial news, lifestyle and luxury goods.

Additionally, Gambero Rosso, Italy’s wine bible, has rated the wine 99/100 and awarded it 3 glasses ‘plus’ – the most prestigious accolade possible for an Italian wine. Only 31 out of 18,000 wines earn this award! 

This is “Grand Cru” Montepulciano. A single-vineyard, old vine selection that is the pinnacle of Valle Reale’s outstanding range of wines. San Calisto is the estate’s oldest vineyard, in the highest area with the steepest, due south facing slope. Hand harvested and aged for sixteen months in new French oak barriques, the wine explores the full potential of Montepulciano, with deep colour, layers of perfume, and great structure, perfectly in harmony with silky tannins and a persistent finish.

2007 San Calisto is undoubtedly the best value Italian fine wine available in New Zealand right now! There are only 12 six-packs available so unfortunately we must limit this sensational fine wine buy to one six-pack per customer to the first 12 customers that respond.

Man O’ War Dreadnought Syrah 2008

GOLD MEDAL – Decanter World Wine Awards
GOLD MEDAL – International Wine Challenge
5 Stars Decanter Magazine  “Wonderful nose…the palate has dense, firm fruit”
5 Stars Bob Campbell MW  “It has a great texture and extraordinary power.”
5 Stars Jane Skilton MW  “Powerful dense wine that is surprisingly silk and generous”
5 Stars Michael Cooper   “Built for the long haul”

“One of the most exciting wines I have tasted in the past 12 months.”  Oz Clarke, UK.

“Stunning wine with a heady perfume that includes lovely floral notes. Very elegant red with ripe berryfruit flavours interwoven with Oriental spices. It has a great texture and extraordinary power.” Bob Campbell MW

This is one of the best Syrah’s produced in New Zealand, thanks to a combination of the Spencer family’s single-minded determination to make iconic New Zealand wines, their exceptional hillside vineyards, the winemaking talents of Duncan McTavish and an excellent vintage.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate describes them perfectly; “Located on the picturesque Waiheke Island, Man O’ War is located on the eastern side of the island on a choice parcel of land on the 4,500 acres farm owned by the Spencer family. With such expansive land, it is akin to a Burgundy vigneron gifted the choice of plots in the Cote de Nuits, and they have focused upon their steepest land, up to 45 degrees and their unique, volcanic Stony Batter Clay Loam soil. Their reds were very impressive.”

Dreadnought Syrah is sourced from their steepest hillside vineyards. Fruit is hand harvested, and fermented in small open top fermenters, hand-plunged twice per day. Following an average of 3 weeks on skins the wines were gently pressed to oak barrels where the wine matured for fifteen months.

With power from the Madmans and Asylum vineyards, and finesse from the Lunatis and North3 plots, this is midway between the ‘bold’ Le Sol style and the ‘beautiful’ La Collina in style. Dark, dense and layered, with a lovely balance between rich black fruits and spicy perfume.  For such a concentrated wine it’s remarkably supple, delicious drinking now, but will continue to improve through to 2017.   

“I also managed to taste a selection of currently released wines and was impressed by most. The highlight was an absolutely stunning Dreadnought 2008 Syrah $45.99 from the vineyard depicted below.” Bob Campbell MW

Exclusive FWDC customer offer – free bottle per dozen, see ordering section below for details

Cellar Tasting Notes

Champagne Barons de Rothschild Brut NV

From the family famous for producing Lafite and Mouton, the Rothschilds have joined forces to produce one of the world’s most collectable Champagnes.  The first release of the flagship ‘Brut’ from is 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay.  The quality is immediately apparent from the fine and long-lasting bubbles.   The chardonnay component gives fresh, delicate white floral aromas while the Pinot adds depth. Captivatingly smooth and harmonious, beautifully structured and very fine with an intense lingering finish. FWDC Review

$120.00 – Single bottle price
$115.00 – 6 bottles or more

John Forrest Collection Wairau Chardonnay 2006

5 Stars – Bob Campbell MW “excellent potential for development despite being four years old…”
5 Stars – Michael Cooper’s Buyers Guide 2011

Crafted only in special vintages John Forrest collection wines are of cutting edge quality, expressing remarkable depth, flavour and feel. At five years of age this stunning effort is drinking superbly but is so masterfully made that you immediately get the impression it will improve for another five years. Notes of pineapple, lemon butter on cold toast, honey nut and golden peach excite on the nose while the palate exhibits an abundance of creamy layers imbued with flavours of honeycomb, lemon meringue and toasty nutty oak towards the finish. Enjoy this awesome Burgundy alternative with confidence now and through 2015+. FWDC Review

$38.99  – Single bottle price
$ 36.99– 6 bottle price
 

Valle Reale San Calisto Montepulciano 2007

99/100 – Gambero Rosso  “Top scorer in its class for its refined elegance and stylish aromatics.”
3 Glasses ‘Plus’ – Gambero Rosso   “A series of truly remarkable wines’
Top 10 Wines in Italy – Class Editori
5 Stars Italian Sommeliers Association

“Sensational, single vineyard, old vine selection Montepulciano at an equally sensational price. Hand harvested and aged in new French oak for 16 months. Thirty eight year old vines and tiny fruit yields have resulted in a richly aromatic and seriously concentrated red. Layers of lifted damson, dark chocolate and cherry fruitcake waft from the dark and spicy core of wine. Black plum, blueberry, currant, spicy sausage, thyme, oregano and a hint of after dinner mint marry together harmoniously in a complex wave of flavour embraced by silky tannins and a lavish textural body. Pure opulence and sophistication, able to be enjoyed now but has plenty more to offer in cellared through 2015+. It should come with a warning; share it with others and its contents will rapidly disappear before your eyes!” Jeff Poole.
$69.99  – Single bottle price
$66.99– 6 bottle price

Man O’ War Dreadnought Syrah 2008

GOLD MEDAL – Decanter World Wine Awards
GOLD MEDAL – International Wine Challenge
5 Stars Decanter Magazine  “Wonderful nose…the palate has dense, firm fruit”
5 Stars Bob Campbell MW  “It has a great texture and extraordinary power.”
5 Stars Jane Skilton MW “Powerful dense wine that is surprisingly silk and generous”
5 Stars Michael Cooper  “Built for the long haul”

It was only 10 years ago when Kiwis would walk past a bottle of NZ wine labelled “Syrah” and ask themselves, what’s that? Now our best examples from young vines are being compared with the finest old vine examples on the Planet. Made in tiny quantities the Dreadnought is fast putting NZ on the map having amassed a huge following in the UK and US markets. Open a bottle and become engulfed by its haunting aromas of blue berry, black pepper, lavender and tar before indulging in the sveltely layered body that exudes tastes of blackberry, black cherry, soy, dark chocolate and a touch of liquorice. All and all it’s a superbly structured and balance wine that would happily sit on the table with international examples at twice the price! FWDC Review

$41.99  – Single bottle price
FWDC Exclusive – FREE bottle per dozen (limited to the first 28 dozen)
 

To order email wine@finewinedelivery.co.nz