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Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
 | | 11/26/2002 1:17 AM |
| I tried a bottle of this last night to check if it was as good as I remember it to be. As I am having dinner with LrNw tonight I thought this maybe a good opportunity for him to try some decent NZ cab merlot.
After tasting this we will definately be drinking this tonight.
Davorin Ozich worked at Chateau Margaux and this wine is a fine example of his wine making ability.
Paul Pontallier (Ch Margaux) described the 1993 wine as the closest thing to a French First Growth he had tried outside of Bordeaux. High praise indeed. He hadn't tried Stonyridge during his short time here but I would be willing to say it would also be a contestant for that title.
The grapes come off twenty year old vines which although considered young by most countries are of considerable age amongst NZ vineyards. They were amongst the first Bordeaux clones to be planted in NZ (1981) with Goldwater, Te Mata and Stonyridge following suit over the next couple of years.
The wine retails for about $50 NZD and is a stunner.
I decanted this two hours before consuming.
My notes as follows
Colour: Nice ruby red although not fully clear (unfiltered wine I guess causing the slight clouding) but with only th ebearest of lightening at the edge.
Nose: Beautiful oppulant savoury chracters dominated by star anise, cedar, and strong leather notes. Great intensity and complexity of nose, the aromas were very well intergrated.
Palate: Beautiful balanced fruit notes, the acids and tannins intergrated to roll around the palate leaving an elegant full mouthfeel. The length was impressive with flavours remaining many moments after tasting the wine.
Overall: Very old world style, reminiscent of Bordeaux (which lines up with the commentary from Paul) strong age worthy wine. 93 on the Jeremy scale. | | | |
| stemor
Collierville, TN
Wine Thief
Posts:2810
| | 11/26/2002 1:19 AM |
| Jeremy,
The quality of the recent releases down there should help you convince LRNW to change his name.
Good luck!
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Cheers, y'all | |
| ojeffso
warren, new jersey
Wine Lover
Posts:4877
| | 11/26/2002 2:40 AM |
| | jeremy-what does $50nzd mean to this american? also price wise how does this compare to other new zealand wines? | | | |
| Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 11/26/2002 2:59 AM |
| Ojeffso,
$50 NZD translates to $25 USD approx.
It is excellent value full stop. In comparison to other outstanding NZ reds this one measures up very well.
These are recent vintage prices so you can compare
Stonyridge 2000 -$150 NZD
Antipodean Cab Merlot 1999- $160 NZD
Goldwater 2000 Cab Merlot- $85 NZD
Esk Valley Reserve 2000- $55 NZD
Te Mata Coleraine 2001- $65 NZD
So in terms of QPR it is at the top of NZ reds-however most NZ wines are very good QPR in comparison to US or French alternatives. | | | |
| Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 11/26/2002 3:08 AM |
| | Davorin Ozich-the winemaker just walked in right now. He said his 1998 is even better. He also says his chardonnay is worthy of note. Personally I feel this may be a little biased- you know how wine makers are. Eh Vitis? |
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| stemor
Collierville, TN
Wine Thief
Posts:2810
| | 11/26/2002 4:11 AM |
| I love the internet. From Brown's Seriously Fine Wines to cyberspace ... like THAT!
Jeremy, who else are you hinding in that shop of yours? Please, feed my head.
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Cheers, y'all | |
| Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 11/26/2002 4:33 AM |
| I guess my situation is quite unique. Due to my "time" within the industry and my importance when I was the Sommelier at the VBG ,a Cult restaurant that was made famous in the early 90's by being the restaurant that could claim the most Bollinger sold in one night in the Southern hemisphere (658 bottles!!!!), I'm fairly well known within NZ's wine industry.
I know most of the important wine industry people around the country and often have people dropping in to sell me wine directly. This is due to the fact I tend to ask questions that reps simply don't have the answers for. Oak time, yields, residual sugar, fermentation practices, drinking windows, ideal temperatures, when the budset was etc....Often the wine makers just pop in instead. Often I have a bottle of something differant open and we spend time chatting and drinking. I'm known for that.
Also the way my shop is layed out, and the fact that I specialise in wines I like and not every wine available it's quite unique. It's more of a wine library than a wine shop. | | | |
| stemor
Collierville, TN
Wine Thief
Posts:2810
| | 11/26/2002 4:43 AM |
| Jeremy,
Other NZ/AUS shops seem to be set up to export to the US, for the right price.
Can you do this? If so, I'll send a bunch of orders your way.
Steve
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Cheers, y'all | |
| Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 11/26/2002 5:10 AM |
| I sure can, the problem is the duties. Also the cost adds about another $20 NZD a bottle, to top it off the delivery company Fedex or DHL refuse to accept liability for dammaged or confiscated good.
Having said that I'm trading with both Vino Me and GMT , although Japan is considerably harder than the US. | | | |
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