The best snow on Mt Hutt in a decade if a fair barometer for the harshness of the winter but with an exciting array of red wines that warm you from the inside out it's hardly been noticeable. We've been busy tasting reds with the attitude of not caring where the wine comes from as long as it's good enough and offering the best value for money.

The best way is to taste wine blind, not knowing the grape or the origin - that way all prejudices are removed and you only need to know whether it's good, bad or indifferent. We've selected the wines below based on that philosphy. If you buy them they are guaranteed on our recommendation otherwise your money back, no questions asked. Check them out and see you soon.

Casa de Calcar Merlot 1995

One of the best drinking, best value Bordeaux style wines we have ever seen, and it's from Romania. Blind tasted on one customer they thought it was an $80 Bordeaux and it seems very youthful and bright despite being from the 1995 vintage. This astounding wine for the price was made by a NZ winemaker in Romania and it has everything - complex bouquet of forest floor, mushrooms while on the palate it evolves in the mouth delivering, elegance, concentration of layers of black fruit characters with a firm, fine tannin structure and length forever. Ageing beautifully, drinking now but also has years left for the cellar. You will not buy a better value red.

Our Price $22.90 but to you it's just $20.60/btl or $245/case

Andre Brunel Cuvee Sommelongue Cotes-du-Rhone 2006

No one else stocks this wine in the S.I. and it's an absolute beauty from one of the Rhone's best vintages for years. In fact, 2006 has been rated a 5 Star vintage and Andre Brunel is certainly one of the best producers. This is a full-bodied Rhone red that has hints of cherries and spice, red and black current characters on the palate, good acidity and balance and very good length - this wine is certainly a Hemingway favourite and is one of the best C-d-R's we have seen in recent times.

RRP $27.90. Your special price $25.50/btl or $299/case

Joseph Drouhin Larforet Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2005

Here's an inexpensive entry burgundy that's really starting to drink beautifully after a bit of bottle ageing - when we first got this more than a year ago it was too new and 'lanky' but now it's integrated and drinking superbly for such a low price - we blind tasted this one with several astute customers against a $43/btl Central Otago pinot noir and the result was a unanimous 'no-contest.' This wine has good structure, raspberry and red current lifted aromas, restrained fruit, good mid-palate and firm, fine-tannined finish. Hard to go past for pinot noir value.

RRP only $25.90. Our low price to you just $23.30/btl or $274/cs

Rolly Gassman Reserve Pinot Gris 2004

When it comes to pinot gris so many fall short but this is one that certainly deliveres the 'wow factor.' This grape variety relies heavily on texture and fruit concentration because of it's only semi-aromatic characters. Not this one, it's quite lifted on the nose with peaches and pears and then is texturally sublime with good weight and length forever. As well, it gives you that indefineable 'finesse' experience that all really good wines deliver. Rolly Gassman is one of the best producers in the Alsace and this worth the cost for the experience.

RRP $59.90. Our special price to you $53.90

Villa Caffagio Chianti Classico 2006

The first thing you should know about this wine is that Villa Caffagio is one of the best producers in Tuscany, and then, 2006 was a top vintage, arguably the best since 1999. Indeed, Jancis Robinson MW described it as "exceptional, near perfect at harvest time." The combination of these two factors makes this a highly desirable wine despite the fact it is up a few bucks in price on the previous vintage. The Sangiovese grape is even harder to get right than fickle pinot noir but it is a magnificent result in a vintage like this. You be the judge!

RRP is $36.90. Our special price is only $33.20/btl

To order these wines CLICK HERE or phone Dean or Brian on 03 374 3344 or fax your order to 374 3343.

Hemingway Fine Wines
Cnr Durham St North & Chester St West
Christchurch
Ph 374 3344. Fax 374 3343
Email: hemingwayfinewines@xtra.co.nz

www.hemingwayfinewines.co.nz

Hrs: Monday/Tuesday      11.00AM - 7.00PM
       Wednesday/Sat        10.00AM - 7.00PM