Veuve Clicquot NV mid-winter special for one week only - $69.90/btl incl gift box

Purchase a dozen wines this week, plus select the winner from the last four countries in the World Cup - Spain, Uruguay, Germany and Holland - and you will win a bottle of Veuve Clicquot. Yes, you will still get your discount and you won't go into the draw, because there is no draw, you will just WIN the VC! So if you think you know the winner between those four countries - a free bottle of Veuve Clicquot is ready for the taking. Personally, my own view is that Spain will win because Albarino and Oloroso Sherry are a couple of great strikers while Rioja, Garnacha and Tempranillo are solid in defence. Germany only have Riesling while Holland and Uruguay - who knows! Make your wine and world cup selection and give me a call on 374 3344 to win! Remember, Veuve Clicquot tastes twice as good when it's FREE!

Cloudy Bay Chardonnay 1999 and 2000 magnums Hate to say it but some of the worse wine produced in NZ is chardonnay that has its poor quality fruit masked by a full secondary malolactic fermentation and loads of oak - often this type of wine is dead in the bottle in 3-4 years or less. This is not that type of wine! The vintage is 1999 and 2000 and the wine is not only alive and kicking but, as Dean said, "this is about as good as NZ chardonnay gets." We also have the 2000 vintage in 750ml bottles on special at just $24.90. It's not so surprising that a Cloudy Bay wine could last so long given that their commitment to quality over a long period of time is unquestioned. RRP is $69.90/1.5ltr btl. Our special price is only $49.90/1.5ltr btl.

Palacios Reales La Mancha Tempranillo 2009 Really good under $20 wine that boxes well above its price. Firstly, it has good, dark berry fruit characters, is medium weight and finishes dry on the palate with good length. It's a well-balanced wine that's in a style that you can keep drinking - and want to keep drinking. Best of all, you can keep drinking it because it has an alcohol level of 12.5% which is where we like it - too many wines are too alcoholic these days - the first thing I always check on the label is Alc/Vol and the preference is for something on low side of 13.5% rather than over it. RRP is $19.90. Our special price for you is $17.90

O:TU Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Two things have happened with Sav Blanc in recent years - they have become better and they have become cheaper - but they needed to. Marlborough Sav Blanc mainly used to 'all taste the same' but now we have a variance of styles and, I think, better quality savvys from which to choose. This  Awatere Valley version has lots of merit - dominated on the palate by refreshing, zingy lime and grapefruit flavours but underpinned by an attractive minerality. The O:tu pinot noir is also a very good value for money wine for little more than $20. Sav Blanc an excellent purchase on special for $19.90/btl

Torlesse Waipara Riesling 2009 Kym Rayner makes one of the best value-for-money rieslings you can buy. The Torlesse 09 is made in an off-dry style and is dominated by apple-lime flavours with really good acidity that balances what is no more than hint of residual sweetness - this is the perfect food wine that has a freshness and clean finish on the palate that would be equally at home with chicken at dinner or at 5pm with a block of the Cheesmongers Evansdale brie. Released only in April, this is also a wine that will keep well and develop some alluring honeyed characters in the bottle over a decade - that's if you have the patience to cellar instead of enjoying now. The alc/vol is a perfect 11%, making it also great for lunch. RRP $15.90/btl. Your price is just $14.30/btl - simply great value

Sierra Jalamena La Mancha Crianza 2007 Made from Spain's classiest red wine grape Tempranillo (70%), and Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), the grapes are hand-selected from low-yielding 32-year-old vines that grow in chalky soils that are 700 metres above sea level. It's an extreme climate of both hot and cold that produces this oak aged wine that displays intense fruit characters, complexity and structure. This is really another example of wine from intense viticultural practices that's available for a very modest cost. We think it's great, and again, it's only 12.5% alc/vol. RRP is $22.90/btl. Our special price is only $20.50/btl.

Dancing Water Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Ross Trowsdale from Waipara is the brains behind the Dancing Water brand which now also owns the old Floating Mountain vineyard site in Waipara. The 2008 vintage of this Awatere Valley wine displays lots of aromatics with the emphasis on lemongrass and passionfruit while the palate reveals a wealth of texture and layered flavours that include a balance of citrus and tropical fruit. Ross' commitment to quality comes through in the wine and it just keeps on improving with bottle age. You must try it. RRP $24.90, our special price only $21.90/btl

Muddy Water Deliverance 2008 While on the subject of wines that offer great value, here is one that was named after one of my favourite movies - Deliverance. This wine has extra dimension in that it's main grape contributor, Pinot Noir, is bolstered by both Syrah and Pinotage which is the secret of this wine's vibrance and character. In NZ winemakers are far too preoccupied with producing single varietal wines whereas this corny blend of three grapes works so well it is a revelation - why other winemakers haven't tried copying this blend is beyond me. If you haven't tried it, do yourself a favour! RRP is $20.50/btl. Our special price is only $17.90/btl.

Opening Hours Hemingway Fine Wines Mondays/Tuesdays          10.30am to 7.00pm Wednesday to Saturday   10.00am to 7.00pm Sunday                              Closed Metered and 30min Parking available in Chester Street West (turn right from Durham St Nth or left from Cramner Square) Shop: Corner Durham St North and Chester St West, Christchurch CBD   Phone: 03 374 3344.   Fax: 03 374 3343 Email: hemingwayfinewines@xtra.co.nz  www.hemingwayfinewines.co.nz   The wine you drink is the wine you deserve

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