A man came into the shop during the week and said he'd bought two bottles of Cabernet from the supermarket for $8 each (screwcap) and the wine smelled of wet socks and tasted awful and he'd tipped the wine out, and now he wanted me to taste the remaining bottle to give an opinion. I looked at this man and thought to myself, "he's deranged." I have spent half my life avoiding bad wine from the supermarket and this madman comes in and wants me to evaluate it. But he wasn't actually kidding - totally serious! Politely I told him he'd just spent $16 on the most expensive wine he would ever buy and for that amount of money he could come to Hemingway and purchased a wine with finesse and elegance. This is the
'wine price pardox,'
which is: Cheap wine in supermarkets is often selected on price alone and
only appears inexpensive
but is often bad wine. Paying a few bucks more we can provide a wine that has been selected on quality and price gives far greater reward on the palate per dollar spent. I rest my case with a few recommendations below and a couple of tastings that will add weight to the claim. Happy drinking and remember, "The Wine You Drink Is The Wine You Deserve"
Dog Point Pinot Noir 2005
One of the best to come out of Marlborough displaying all the varietal character of a very well made pinot noir. Comes from vines off heavy clays and spends 18 months in French Oak before release; the result being a refined, elegant well-balanced wine that will cellar for 7-10 years. It has a lifted fragrance of complex fruits and on the palate shows plums, spice and herbs with good firm tannins and a long finish.
RRP is $39.90. Wonderful value for money at your price of $34.90btl
Camshorn Waipara Demett Clays Pinot Noir 2005
Personally, burgundy has been my preference but local pinots are coming on in leaps and bounds. And it's also hard to believe that Camshorn can make a wine so good from only 5 year old vines but they are doing it. Waipara has great potential for pinot noir with its clay-limetone soils and this wine clearly demonstrates it. The 2005 is relatively new out and this would be an excellent wine to cellar for a few years although it is very enjoyable right now.
RRP is $35.90. Our special price $31.90/btl
Tasting Exotic Cheeses of the World with Classic Wines
Leroy Fromage de Chevere Pyrenees, Bleau de Basque, Parmigiano Reggiano and Swiss Gruyere all have something in common. They are all exotic cheeses from the Canterbury Cheesemongers (some new imports) and all will be part of our coming wine and cheese matching evening where they have been carefully paired to to match such classic wine varieties as Pinot Noir, Italian Prosecco, Auslese Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon. About 9 cheeses and wines will reveal a variety of palate sensations that will titillate the taste buds in the extreme. This tasting will be presented by Martin & Sarah of the Canterbury Cheesemongers and yours truly (Brian).
To be held at the later time of
7.00PM
(to give Martin time to close and get there) at Eliza's Manor House, 82 Bealey Avenue. Cost $25pp. Booking your place is essential. Please phone Rachel or Brian at Hemingway on 374 3344 or email
hemingwayfinewines@xtra.co.nz
Frescobaldi Tasting on 2nd May at Eliza's Manor House at 6pm
The wines of the great Tuscany based Frescobaldi will be on show for this tasting including their 3 luxury $100 plus labels of Montesodi, Mormoreto and Castelgiocondo. This tasting will be presented by Pernod Ricard's Fine Wine Consultant Paul Williams and will include a short Power Point Presentation. Eight wines to taste with a value of over $500. We will be using Spiegelau glassware. Cheese and bread incl in the cost of $25pp.
Herzog Restaurant offers one of the great dining experiences
Want to have to wine-food experience of your life? You only have to go to Marlborough to experience it! There is nothing like it anywhere else in NZ - this is virtually a Micheline Star European Restaurant transplanted to Marlborough and guess what? It isn't expensive; it's actually inexpensive for the quality of cuisine and service. And there's more - I couldn't believe how good their winelist was and how inexpensive the wines are. They do not compromise on quality and everyone reading this should visit before they close for winter in mid-may. Click on the link below to find out more.
Win a delicious $50 Gift Basket - weekly draw for 4 weeks
Come in to the shop and buy any of the Pinot Noirs mentioned below and you will be in the draw to win the $50 Gift Basket from Delmaine Fine Foods. One entry per bottle purchased so the odds for winning are excellent. Entry vouchers at counter when you purchase one or more of:
Wither Hills Marlborough Pinot Noir 2004
Burnt Spur Martinborough Pinot Noir 2005
Margrain Martinborough Pinot Noir 2005
Te Whare Ra Marlborough Pinot Noir 2005
Russian Jack Martinborough Pinot Noir 2005
Last week's winner Mr Terry O'Rawe from Ohoka
Dancing Water Sauvignon Blanc 2006
This is the wine that won 'Blue-Gold' and the Trophy for the best Sauvignon Blanc at the Sydney International Wine Competition this year. Here what one of the judges said:
"A very expressive wine. Herbaceous and zesty. Great mouth feel and refreshing dry citrus finish. An excellent food match. Cleansed the palate, accentuated the flavours and finished beautifully." Very little made but we have some a little left.
RRP $21.90. Your special Price only $19.70/btl. Limit of 4 bottles p.p.
Kupe Pinot Noir 2005
Larry McKenna is one of the most respected winemakers and wine judges in NZ (although he is Australian) and pinot noir is his forte. And this is his best wine.
"This is the second release from The Escarpment Vineyard’s close planted vineyard on Te Muna Road, Martinborough. The spacing of 1.5m x 1m (6,600 vines/ha) is approaching the planting densities used in Burgundy from where the inspiration for this wine comes. Fermented in new wooden French cuvees, hand plunged and aged in 50% new French oak barriques the wine was given every priority during its elevation and now shows all the hallmarks of a grand young wine on release in 2007. The season was exemplary for this block creating fruit harvested in brilliant condition in May 2005. It is at the vanguard of Pinot noir style in the New World and should age gracefully for up to 10 years." - Escarpment
RRP is $88.00/btl. Your special offer price is $79.00/btl. Very limited stocks.
Leo Buring Clare Valley Reserve Riesling 1999 Vintage
There's something very special about Riesling from the Clare Valley. It's even more special if it's an aged museum release such as this one from Leo Buring who for years have consistently made some of the best Riesling in Oz; in fact Leo Buring only make Riesling and openly say they strive to make the very best. This one is stunning with multiple layers of flavours, a texture of velvet and a lovely acid balance that will see it cellar for more than a decade. Only 12 6-bottle cases came to the S.I. and we got 5 of them.
RRP is $32.50. Your price is $29/btl
Grant Burge Barossa Vines Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2004
The deep crimson colour indicates a youthful wine which is followed by aromas of sweet ripe berry fruits and hints of herbal mint and subtle tobacco and spices. On the palate black cherry, bramble and liquorice flavours are present with elegant oak and soft approachable tannins. The wine has a fresh yet complex finish with well integrated oak balanced with fruit flavours. This easy-drinking wine is ready to enjoy now, but will benefit from short term cellaring.
RRP is $15.50. Your special price only $13.90/btl
Normal Business Hours
Hemingway Fine Wines: Monday & Tuesday 11am to 7pm
Wednesday to Friday 10am to 8pm
Saturday 10am to 7pm
We freight wine all over NZ and the world.
Phone 374 3344. Fax 374 3343.
Ample parking at rear of building for use by HFWs after 5PM and on Saturdays.
(We are always closed during Crusaders Rugby matches)
