Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
 | | 01/08/2003 1:21 AM |
| Dry River is NZ's most sort after label. They are the only vineyard in NZ which scores five stars (95 or higher) for all of their wines.
Dry River was founded by Dr Neil McCallum, a interesting and humerous filled person who's ability with vines and grapes is quite exceptional. Dry Rivers fame was based around its Pinot Noir and aromatics (Pinot Gris, Gewurzt and Riesling) but also produces a Syrah, a sav blanc and chard along with a Noble Chardonnay and Riesling of awesome depth and concentration.
According to many Dry River is NZ's top pinot noir and although a reasonable amount is produced (around 1500 Cases) it is snapped up in two days from release, making it almost impossible to get if you receive your mail late. Sadly this happened to me last year and I have recieved no Dry River wines.
This wine comes from my cellar and is one of the few wines I will not sell to anyone ever (that goes for all my Dry River wines). I have been a stalwart collector for some six years but I think 1998 was the best vintage for all of Neil's wines. It retails for around $80 NZD (which it never does because you can never find it.)
Colour: Dark plum with red edges.
Nose: Concentrated cherry with strong spiced mushroomn notes.
Palate: Silky texture with good but well rounded acids intergrating the flavours and the textures very well. the length is excellent with beautiful full developement of flavour leading to a "drifting" away of the flavours leaving a silky coating on the palate.
Overall: Yeah I agree with the judges, critics and anyone else who has tried this wine-geez its good. 98 on the Jeremy Scale. | | | |
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gus fleener
gilroy
Barrel Filler
Posts:1365
| | 01/08/2003 1:59 AM |
| you're bringing a case of this in november, right?  | | | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10801
| | 01/08/2003 2:14 AM |
| | A 98 on the Jeremy scale is good, good, good. Do you think any of this ever gets to the US? | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12501
| | 01/08/2003 2:18 AM |
| | WOW. Interesting. So that is about $45.00 USA. If I was interested in getting this, you could Not get it for me? Do you Sell this Wine (@ all)? In the future, can you put my name on the List (if you ever have it)? Just asking. | | | |
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Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 01/08/2003 2:21 AM |
| Gus,
I may bring a bottle or two over.
Winetex,
It could. Its actually easier to get over seas than in NZ because it isn't well known outside of NZ. Aussie the forumite bought some in SIngapore, and Bob Campbell got some in Hong Kong. I'm lucky because I signed on when there had been a stock market crash and many people were signing themselves off the mailing list and so I got moved up.
Whether or not its available I could gaurantee it will be very very hard to find. | | | |
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gus fleener
gilroy
Barrel Filler
Posts:1365
| | 01/08/2003 2:22 AM |
| winetex,
my post was only half in jest, no, make that less than half. i believe jeremy still plans on coming to napa in november as part of an extended u. s. holiday. much wine will be drunk then.  | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Fermenter
Posts:672
| | 01/08/2003 2:23 AM |
| Great notes, Jeremy! Now I have a "side project" for my upcoming business trip to Sydney in February.
Memo to self: "Find and Purchase Dry River!"
Cheers,
Otis | | | |
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Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 01/08/2003 2:30 AM |
| LCC,
Next year I will be getting some more so I could possibly send you a bottle. However I never sell it. It is one wine I refuse to put on my shelves, you'll just have to make sure you are in the Napa in November (or I could meet you some where else-my itenary includes Kentucky, Texas, New York, Vancouver and San Fransisco and Napa.), but believe me I will be bringing some stunners over. I've got Stonyridge, Felton Rd Block 3 and Block 5, Akarua, Esslin, Martinborough, Ata Rangi and a whole heap of wines ready to go out in September. | | | |
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gus fleener
gilroy
Barrel Filler
Posts:1365
| | 01/08/2003 2:32 AM |
| jeremy,
you hereby have free accomadations in beautiful fresno, ca. we are located in the center of california near yosemite national park(very big rocks), seqouia national park (very big trees) & king's canyon national park (we have bigger canyons). we are 3 hours from san francisco & 3-4 hours from la. i have a spare bedroom & a swimming pool &, most importantly, a weber grill & i'm not afraid to use it. anything in my cellar is available to be opened at the least provocation. | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12501
| | 01/08/2003 2:36 AM |
| No. After reading these Posts, it is asking tooooo much, my friend. I am sure that ALL of us would want that from you. So, thank you but no thank you.
I will Note the name & keep looking. THANK YOU for the Great tip. Hope that we can locate it here in good 'ol USA.
Very nice. Keep your Posts coming. These NZ-gems, only you can tell us about. I read them all. Trust me. As many of us do... | | | |
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Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 01/08/2003 2:43 AM |
| Gus,
I may just take you up on a day or two-we could go bottle for bottle. One US , one kiwi, one US, one Kiwi. Until we fell over at least.
One of the big things I do want to do is have a look at some of the US National parks, I'm into the out doors, I used to hunt, but now I prefer photography. You've seen NZ in LOTR well what little US scenary I've seen has been through the discovery chanel and it looks awesome.
LCC,
Okay but we still have to get together.
I think I will be comming back from the US three kilo heavier at least-right into Christmas down here. | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12501
| | 01/08/2003 2:46 AM |
| That's for sure. When you are in the NY-area, you have to tell us. No ifs, ands, or buts about it...
I may still make Napa-trip. Just cannot say now. You know, those 1 year old kids... | | | |
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gus fleener
gilroy
Barrel Filler
Posts:1365
| | 01/08/2003 2:58 AM |
| you just let me know when you have your itinerary & we'll plan for it. katy & i were married in yosemite this past november. i posted a link to the wedding photos on the ws forums, you can see quite a bit of the scenery in some of them. (here's a link to that post with instructions for viewing) pictures
lcc, you definitely need to come to napa in november, as do you all for that matter. (i hope brent still lets me come.)
by the way, jeremy, where do you intend to go in texas? my sister & her family have 80 acres i fondly call "the compound" outside of new braunfels which is between san antonio & austin (& not too far, coincidentally, from fredricksburg, where miss lilacwine resides). i could easily set you up with free accomadations there as well.  | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12501
| | 01/08/2003 3:02 AM |
| | I will try my best. Believe me. | | | |
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gus fleener
gilroy
Barrel Filler
Posts:1365
| | 01/08/2003 3:06 AM |
| lcc,
i understand the constraints of a 1 year old. my youngest will be 1 on the 19th of this month. pictures are available by clicking on the link in my profile. (all you used to have to worry about were wallet photos ) | | | |
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Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 01/08/2003 3:06 AM |
| Gus,
Apart from Vinophiles I have a friend I met on line two years ago in Texas. She wants to come back to NZ for a year before she goes to college so I suggested she come back with me because I will be able to help with jobs, accomadation etc... Her family understandably want to meet me and spend some time with me, its not a romantic thing as much a sercurity check to make sure I'm not psycho. So texas will be mostly spenbt with them although I will be definately making time to meet Lilac, Tex and any other forumites I can get together with. Thank you for the generous help, I may yet have to take you up on the offer, depending how things work out. That will most likely be near the end of the trip.
Also I checked out your photos on the WS site, they're great and you're right you only get to see a little of the scenary due to that big grin you were wearing in all the photos you starred in. | | | |
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gus fleener
gilroy
Barrel Filler
Posts:1365
| | 01/08/2003 3:08 AM |
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wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts:12265
| | 01/08/2003 3:11 AM |
| Jeremy, I would definitely like to get together with you when you head to Texas. LilacWine and WineDrinkerOfTexas both have my email so they can get in touch. I'll be heading your way in the next 2-3 years as well. Would love to get together and visit.
Now back on subject ... | |
Joe
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Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
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Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 01/08/2003 4:57 AM |
| | You're on!! | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12501
| | 06/22/2004 12:19 AM |
| Son of a gun, son of a gun! My only bottle of this & it was an off bottle. I don't believe this. I purchased this from GMTinJapan, most rated it very high. I cannot believe my luck lately.
It was still drinkable but nowhere near what I hear about it. I knew this bottle was flawed as soon as I tasted it. DAMN! | | | |
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