Our wine and cheese tastings with Martin and Sarah from the Canterbury Cheesemongers were so popular we are likely at do these matching on a more regular basis. Over two nights we had 114 attend and still had a waiting list for the second night. About October we may hold something similar. In the meantime we have two great tastings coming up and you should not miss them. Mike and Claudia Weering will present a tasting of their outstanding Pyramid Valley wines on June 14 and then Stephen Bennett will present a range of high quality new imports from mainly Latin countries. See you at the tastings - details below with what's drinking well now.

Fonseca Bin 27 Reserve Port

Absolutely perfect when matched with Stilton blue cheese, this combination at our recent Wine and Cheese Matching night was one of the most popular from the nine matches. The Port was created over a century ago for family consumption only and released commercially only since 1972. Of exceptional quality and blended from reserve wines selected for their intense fruit character and depth of colour, it spends 4 years in large wood vats prior to bottling. It shows fresh, rich blackberry and cassis aromas. On the palate it is velvety with luscious black fruit and chocolate flavours and an intense lingering finish. Get your stilton from the CC right now and come in to get your bottle of Bin 27 - the two will cause a state of delirious happiness.

RRP $49.90. Our special price only $43.90

Ingoldby McLarenvale Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Another major success at the Wine-Cheese night when matched with Quicke's Cheddar (UK). Several other Cab Savs were tried without success but this well structured, elegant yet restrained wine from the cooler climate McLaren Vale showed excellent varietal characters of mint, leaf and fruit richness that blended so well with the cheese. The benefit of some bottle age (2003) were evident and highlighted a wine that offers outstanding value-for-money.

RRP $22.50. Our special price to you only $19.90

Two great tastings coming up in June

Pyramid Valley Vineyard Tasting
Thursday 14th June at 6.00pm at Watson's Auction Rooms (upstairs) 273 Cashel Street

Mike and Claudia Weersing are already carving out a huge reputation for their Pyramid Valley Vineyard after just one vintage release (read the latest North and South article). Now a second vintage is due for release - we will taste nine wines including four pinot noirs, semillion, riesling, pinot blanc and a botrytised savvy. This will be an a high quality tasting with wines to be accompanied by some antipasta taste sensations prepared by Nick - chef at Mediterranean Foods. Price $25pp. To book your place please phone Rachel or Dean on 374 3344 or email hemingwayfinewines@xtra.co.nz

Vino Latino - wines that will make your blood run hot
Thursday 28th June at 6.00pm at Eliza's on Bealey, 82 Bealey Ave. Price $30pp incl cheese. Presented by Master Of Wine Stephen Bennett. To book please phone or email.

Ravishing reds from Italy, Portugal, Spain, Southern France and South America

And now for something completely different? here’s your chance to engage in some serious “vinous promiscuity” and try an unparalleled range of exceptional red wine from alternative grape varieties grown in some of the most exotic wine locations around the world.

Discover the decadent delights of Aglianico, Carignan, Grenache, Malbec, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Torrontes, and Touriga Nacional. Taste wines from the foot of the Andes across to the sun-baked slopes of Portugal’s Douro valley, through northern Spain and southern France down to the coast of Mediterranean Puglia with self-confessed lover of all things Latin, Steve Bennett, Master of Wine.  Most of these wines have never been tasted in Christchurch before.One night only. Don’t miss out.

Pretaster: Lurton Flor de Torrontes 2006 $30 - Argentina

1. Bi-anka Aglianico 2004 $20 - Italy
2. Pilheiros Douro 2004 $30 - Portugal
3. Ornellaia Le Volte 2005 $40 - Italy
4. San Calisto Montepulciano D’Abruzzo 2004 - Italy
5. Chateau des Erles Fitou $90 - France
6. Campo Elisio Toro 2003 $120 - Spain
7. Lurton ‘Chacayes’ Malbec $120 - Argentina
8. Contino Rioja Gran Reserva 1996 $100 - Spain
   

Terravin Sauvignon Blanc 2005

This wine was good value at it original price of $24.50/btl. It's a superior savvy, one of a dozen or so at this quality level, amongst a horde of overpriced, mediore and lesser quaffers that attempt to destroy your palate with an over-abundance of acid and not much fruit. Consequently, it is with some derision that I can offer the last remaining cases of this wine at a fraction of it's true value.

RRP $24.50. Our stupid, once only price $14.90/btl

Nga Waka Pinot Noir 2003

Went to a trade tasting the other day and this stood out like the proverbials. The 2003 vintage from Martinborough produced excellent quality but not much quantity and it's surprising this is still available. Then blind tasted it on two winemakers who thought it was burgundy - it has a lifted bouquet that evolves an earthy savouriness, spice and cherry. At the same time it is refined and not over-oaked. Think it's very good drinking at the price.

RRP $35.90. Your price only $31.90

Camshorn Classic Riesling 2006

Waipara is an exciting region, particularly for pinot noir and riesling and one of the best new labels is Camshorn. All their wines have merit and in particular the Classic Riesling 2006 is a gem. This is a beautifully balanced wine that delivers layered flavours of nectarine, honeysuckle and hints of peach - 26g/l of residual is camouflaged by the silky acidity which makes this a wine that will age beautifully. Real wine drinkers may think about buying a case of this and burying it for five years.

RRP is $26.50. Our brilliant price is $23.50             

Normal Business Hours May/June
Hemingway Fine Wines:          Monday to Tuesday 11am to 7pm 
                                                Wednesday to Sat 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.

The wine you drink is the wine you deserve