WanderCurtis Wine

Wine tastings, corporate events, reviews and recommendations

Tag Archives: Pinot noir. New zealand


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Leah Seresin from Seresin Estate, Marlborough, New Zealand on June 21st at Frederick’s.

 

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New Zealander Michael Seresin is a well-known cinematographer. In 1992 he set up Seresin Estate on the Wairau river terraces of Marlborough, which has New Zealand’s longest sunshine hours. Their wines are some of the first to be farmed organically and biodynamically.

‘This is pinot noir at its best. Incredibly expressive, pretty but also savoury, a smell that leaps out of the glass and wraps itself around you, blooming like a peony.’ Victoria Moore, Wine Correspondent.

Michael’s daughter Leah Seresin presented the following fantastic wines with dinner at Frederick’s on June 21st.

Aperitif- Seresin Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Starter- Seresin Estate Marama 2014

Mains-  Seresin Estate Leah Pinot Noir 2016

 Rachel Pinot Noir 2016

Dessert-Seresin Estate Chiaroscuro 2013

 

 

 


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Felton Road Wine Dinner with Nigel Greening – October 1st 2015

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Ever dreamt of leaving the big City, moving to New Zealand and creating your perfect wine ?

Nigel did exactly this. A fellow  North Londoner, he  left his job in advertising and set up Felton Road wines.

Felton Road are generally regarded as producing some of the finest wines in the world. Their Pinot Noirs  rival the best from Burgundy.

Nigel entertained us with his enthusiasm and wicked sense of humour.

From Pedogenic limestone to playing jazz to the maturing wine a packed house of 35 were entertained until the early hours.

The wines danced and sung , the brilliant food at Season Kitchen perfectly played in tune.

Felton Road Dry Riesling

Starter :  Duo of Salted Cod Brandade with fresh Grilled Cornish Sardines and Sourdough bread

Felton Road Bannockburn Chardonnay

Felton Road Block 2 Chardonnay 

Main Course- :  Pan Fried Wood pigeon breast with berry reduction,Hispi cabbage and wild mushroom Polenta

Felton Road Bannockburn- 2014
Felton Road Cornish Point, 2014
Felton Road Calvert 2014

Dessert: Rosemary infused chocolate pot  Black Pepper Biscotti
Ben’s Rhubarb & Custard Donuts

Felton Road Block 1 Riesling  

Nigel is passionate about biodynamic viticulture and the wines purity and elegance reflected the minimal intervention.

 

Chef Ben talks to Kiran about Season’s philosophy and the amazing menu he has put together for the Felton Road tasting.

 


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Ten Years of Craggy Range Te Muna Road Pinot Noir

The line up

The line up

What a privilege to be invited to this vertical tasting of the very first ten vintages of the Te Muna vineyard Pinots.  Located in Martinborough on the southern tip of the North island Steve Smith MW feels that this is the home of pinot in NZ with its unique terroir of old cracked and fissured stones.

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The great Smithy in action

A fascinating tasting on several levels. One doesn’t often get to taste older vintages of New World wines party as this vertical demonstrates because often only a limited number of vintages exist, (although having recently tasted Aussie Shiraz from 100 year old wines this is not always the case)  and partly because older vintages are simply not available in the market.

This vertical told a story of a new vineyard developing over time, as the vines mature the vineyard’s character is revealed.  From 2002 to 2005 the wines showed more evolved vegetal and earthy characteristics the 05 particularly tasty.  I liked the 07 but this was from a tough year with low yield so perhaps uncharacteristic.  08 to 11 showed more consistent purity of fruit, mineral back bone and an increasingly perfumed characteristic.

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Amongst the great & the good of the wine world

 

I loved these wines which have to be some of the best value fine Pinots in the world.


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Felton Road Bannockburn 2011

Lovely nose of cherries and burn’t toast. On the palate luscious fruit, with nice backbone, baked fruit pie and long spicey savoury notes. Totally delicious this will no doubt develop over time but it will be hard job not to polish off the whole case long before that!

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