Jne 2023. New Zealand Wine by Mimi Avery

 

June’s meeting was presented by Mimi Avery, of Avery’s of Bristol.

Avery’s is a premium wine merchant, and the prices reflect it. But it does seem you get what you pay for.

Sparkling

Hunters Miru Miru Marlborough New Zealand. 12%, £18

A traditional method Sparking wine. Can hold its own against a “proper” Champagne. 

 

White

Invivo Specially selected Sauvignon Blanc 2022. 12.5%, £16.99

This is specially selected for Avery’s.A very good example of NZ S-B.

Rapaura Springs Marlborough Chardonnay Reserve 2021. 13.5%, £18.99

Personally, not convinced – a bit flabby? Hint of Oak, and malolactic fermentation

Hunter's Gewurztraminer 2021. 13.5%, £22

A soft style of Gewurz. Not the full “in your face” experience of an Alsace Gewurz.

Red

Big Sky Te Muna Road Pinot Noir Martinborough 2019. 14%, £23

A very good Pinot Noir. As I have written before, if NZ can make P-N this good, why do the French still bother?

Alpha Domus Merlot Cabernet 2017. 12.5%, £17.99

A bit ordinary, to be honest. Pretty light.

Trinity Hill Syrah 2019. 13%, £26

Peppery, with some tannin. Very good.

Dessert

Seifried Estate Sweet Agnes Riesling (half bottle) 2019. 10.5%, £16.99

The classic petrol nose of mature riesling. I like it. Not sticky at all, light and sweet.

Mimi is an excellent, humorous and entertaining speaker. A good evening.

May 2023. Pippa Hayward, Rioja.

 

Roija is mostly known for its red wines – 90% of production is red/rose wine. So only 3 whites here. A mix of new/old style wines, with a very new grape variety, Tempranillo blanc, identified a few decades ago as a natural mutation of Tempranillo.

All wines readily available.

An excellent evening, presented by Pippa Hayward. Pippa is a Wine Educator and Consultant to the Good Wine Shop in SW London.

Whites:

Rioja Blanco 2021. Bodegas Campo Viejo, Rioja Alta. 12.5%. £8. Tesco/Sainsburys

Viura and Tempranillo Blanco

7.5/10

The Society's White Rioja 2020. San Vincente de la Sonciera, Rioja Alavesa. 12.5%. £9.25. The Wine Society

Viura and Malvasia.- Modern style

7/10

Blanco Crianza 2018 Bodegas Navajas, Rioja Alta . 12.5%. £9.25. The Wine Society

Viura and Chardonnay - barrel aged classic style.

6.5/10

 

Rose:

Muga Rosado 2021. Bodegas Muga, Rioja Alta.. 13.5%. £10.99. Waitrose

A modern style of Rose ,Grenache based

8/10

Reds

Casa La Rad Solarce Tinto 2020. Rioja Cosecha. 14%. £8.75. The Wine Society

Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuela. Young modern style from the Rioja oriental

8/10. A very straightforward example.

Bodegas La Eralta. Vina Bombin Crianza 2018. Rioja Oriental. 13.5%. £9.99. The Wine Society

Tempranillo.

7/10. Quite a light example of rioja.

Bodegas Cosme Palacio, Glorioso Reserva 2017. 14%. £12.95. The Wine Society

Tempranillo

9/10 Classic, smooth, mature. Peppery. The popular favourite on the night.

Campo Viejo Gran Reserva 2015. Rioja Alta. 14%. £16. Sainsbury.

Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuela.

8/10. Very mature.