May 10 - New Zealand Wine Fair at Design Exchange

The Date and Time:  Thursday, May 10, 2012   1PM to 5:30PM

The Event: New Zealand Wine Fair; New Zealand in a glass.

The Venue: Design Exchange

The Target Audience: wine trade

The Availability/Catalogue: all wines are available through the LCBO distribution channels, although some would be private orders. The catalogue was the usual masterpiece from Robert Ketchin, with full data o wineries, agents, grape varieties, prices, distribution channel,  etc. It suffered from the usual problems to all catalogues: some wines did not make it on time, others had appeared as if by magic and were not listed. C'est la vie…

The Quote/Background: There was a tutored tasting of exceptional Pinot Noir wines arranged by region. These have been folded into the categories below.

The Wines: I did not taste every wine.

 

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

 

Ostler Carline's Pinot Noir Waitaki 2010, $45.95

Escarpment Pinot Noir Martinborough 2009, $80 est.

Coopers Creek Viognier Gisborne 2010, $19.95

Fairhall Downs Hugo Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2009, $28

Giesen The August Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2010, $39.95

Lawson's Dry Hills Sauvignon Blanc The Pioneer Marlborough 2010, $24.95

Rock Ferry Chardonnay Rapaura Marlborough 2008 Organic, $29.95

Spy Valley Gewurztraminer Marlborough 2011, $19.95

 

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

 

Villa Maria Single vineyard Southern Clays Pinot Noir Marlborough 2009, $64.95

Muddy Water Slowhand Pinot Noir Waipara 2009, $50

Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir Waipara 2009, $64.95

John Forrest Collection Pinot Noir Waitaki 2009, $59.95

Akarua Pinot Noir Central Otago 2010, $36.95

Mt. Difficulty Target Gully Pinot Noir Central Otago 2009, $89.95

Gladstone Pinot Noir Wairarapa 2009, $32.50

Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2011, $21.95

Babich Family Estates Fernhill Viognier Hawke's Bay 2010, $16.95

Babich Family Estates Headwaters Organic Block Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough  2011, $19.95

Churton Hillside Viognier Marlborough 2010, $36.95

Nobilo Icon Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2011, $24.95

Fairhall Downs Chardonnay Marlborough 2009, $28

Hunter's Chardonnay Marlborough 2009, $19.95

Jackson Estate Vintage Widow Pinot Noir Marlborough 2010, $32.95

Marisco The King's Bastard Chardonnay Wairau Valley Marlborough 2011, $19.99

Mt. Difficulty Roaring Meg Sauvignon Blanc 2011, $19.95 licensee

Oyster Bay Cuvee Rose NV, $21.95

Sacred Hill Riflemans Chardonnay Hawke's Bay 2010, $32

Seresin Chardonnay Marlborough 2008, $24.95

Seresin Chardonnay Marlborough 2009, $24.95

Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2011, $19.95

Spy Valley Pinot Gris Marlborough 2011, $19.95

Ata Mara Pinot Gris Mt. Pisa Central Otago 2011, $19.95

Ata Mara Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2011, $18.95

 

*** GOOD -- Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

 

Te Mania Pinot Noir Nelson 2009, $23.95

Waimea Barrel Selection Pinot Noir Nelson 2008, $19.95

Marisco The King's Wrath Pinot Noir Marlborough 2010, $25.99

Marisco The King's Wrath Pinot Noir Marlborough 2011, $29.99

Astrolabe Chardonnay Marlborough 2009, $21.95

Babich Black Label Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough  2011, $17.95

Coopers Creek SV Chalk Ridge Syrah Hawke's Bay 2009, $23.95

Fairhall Downs Single Vineyard Pinot Gris Marlborough 2011, $25

Lawson's Dry Hills Pinot Gris The Pioneer Marlborough 2010, $24.95

Brancott Estate Letter Series "B" Brancott Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2011, $19.99

Rock Ferry Pinot Noir Bendigo Central Otago 2009 Organic, $32.95

Rock Ferry Tempranillo Bendigo Central Otago 2009 Organic, $32.95

Sileni Cellar Selection Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc Hawke's Bay NV, $16.95

Spy Valley Riesling Marlborough 2011, $21.95

Stonecrop Sauvignon Blanc Wairarapa 2011, $23.95

Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2011, $19.95

Yealands Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2011, $15.95

 

The Food: sandwiches were provided by Daniel et Daniel to the seminarians; Dairy Farmers contributed cheeses. There were breads and fresh fruits. I have no idea why there were desserts. I can see this at 5PM when closing, along with coffee (which was also provided), but at 2:30, while still tasting wines? There were only two or three sweet wines in the show.

The Downside: money expended on the desserts?

The Upside: great seminar, and the lighting on the exchange floor has improved.

The Contact Person: nzwine@ketchin.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 89.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com