Tri-nations win
Claudine Earley23/09/2009 12:00:00 a.m.
NEW Zealand’s won the tri-nations… wine competition, that is.
A couple of weeks ago, wines chosen to represent NZ, Australia and South Africa (SA) took the field. The competition was stiff, but we came out on top, bringing home 11 double golds to Australia’s meagre seven, and SA’s paltry one.
I have to admit to having reservations about the significance of the results though. Entry was by invitation only and not open to all wineries. Still, the results make for interesting reading.
Nelson wine Neudorf Moutere Chardonnay 2007 won White Wine of the Show. The most impressive syrahs/shirazs were from SA and NZ (Vidal Reserve Syrah 2006), not from Aussie as you’d expect.
Naturally, NZ pinot noirs cleaned up, but surprisingly the awards were spread over three regions. The trophy went to Martinborough Vineyard 2007, and double golds to Nautilus in Marlborough and Rockburn in Central Otago.
Our savs from Saint Clair and Clos Marguerite in Marlborough took out the top two spots in their class, while Bordeaux blends from Hawkes Bay wineries Craggy Range and Squawking Magpie dominated theirs. And for dessert, who can beat noble riesling from Marlborough? Forrest and Framingham won two each of the four prizes in this category.
Now I just have to work out how to get to Hong Kong next month to attend the tasting of the 78 winners at the Jockey Club.
Meanwhile, I’ll be satisfying my sunny day wine appetite with Rockburn “Stolen Kiss” Rosé 2008 ($18.90). It’s made from juice stolen from the pinot noir. Like all stolen kisses, it tastes amazing: strawberries and raspberries with the slightest off-dry touch of icing sugar.
A couple of weeks ago, wines chosen to represent NZ, Australia and South Africa (SA) took the field. The competition was stiff, but we came out on top, bringing home 11 double golds to Australia’s meagre seven, and SA’s paltry one.
I have to admit to having reservations about the significance of the results though. Entry was by invitation only and not open to all wineries. Still, the results make for interesting reading.
Nelson wine Neudorf Moutere Chardonnay 2007 won White Wine of the Show. The most impressive syrahs/shirazs were from SA and NZ (Vidal Reserve Syrah 2006), not from Aussie as you’d expect.
Naturally, NZ pinot noirs cleaned up, but surprisingly the awards were spread over three regions. The trophy went to Martinborough Vineyard 2007, and double golds to Nautilus in Marlborough and Rockburn in Central Otago.
Our savs from Saint Clair and Clos Marguerite in Marlborough took out the top two spots in their class, while Bordeaux blends from Hawkes Bay wineries Craggy Range and Squawking Magpie dominated theirs. And for dessert, who can beat noble riesling from Marlborough? Forrest and Framingham won two each of the four prizes in this category.
Now I just have to work out how to get to Hong Kong next month to attend the tasting of the 78 winners at the Jockey Club.
Meanwhile, I’ll be satisfying my sunny day wine appetite with Rockburn “Stolen Kiss” Rosé 2008 ($18.90). It’s made from juice stolen from the pinot noir. Like all stolen kisses, it tastes amazing: strawberries and raspberries with the slightest off-dry touch of icing sugar.
