Opened this the other night when the wife wasn't looking, 2005 nice fruit, soft and gentle the kind of wine one could get down right friendly with. A nice seafood wine, but not quite as sexy as
Pommery Champagne with a seafood risotto, but explosive bubble mousse infused mouthful of wine, might make me re think my allegiance to Taittinger.
"Joseph Coulter" wrote ......
Pinot Gris is currently the vogue variety among NZs ABC (anything but chardonnay) set.
My champagne of first choice has always been Veuve Clicquot, for no other reason than I love the stuff, although, over the years, I have noticed that occasionally the current NV offerings do vary, sometimes being a little green and harsh.
But, when it comes to premium bubbles, I have no preference whatsoever - just whatever someone wishes to give me!
;-))
First time I've come across the ABC term. I'll have to adopt that. :)
And are there any sites where good Pinot gris is being made in NZ? Last time I checked, some Chardonnay, a little Gewurz and a lot of Riesling (outstanding, and very unappreciated, but that's for another topic) were the only other white varietals being really grown there.
Salil
King Estate PG has long been our backup choice in restaurants in these parts: decent white wine, inoffensive, but nothing special. Good to hear that the 2005 perhaps offers something more.
Mark Lipton
The King Estate is one of the few PG's that I have really liked. While I choose the KE Reserve PG, when available, their regular bottling is nice, especailly with Pacific salmon. Every time that I find the Reserve PG, I put in a case, if possible.
Our country club has a King Estate tasting dinner most years, so I get to top
-off my cellar then.
OTOH, I favor their regular PN, over their single-vinyard offerings. Go figure.
Hunt
St H,
You must pay a visit to the Sonoran Desert area of AZ, USA. I keep the "Yellow Label," (though I find it more orange, than yellow) in the cellar, awaiting the likes of you. Plus, I have a few Grande Dames, some VC vintage, plus a few dozen Bollingers, plus my favorite bubbly, Tattingers, just waiting.
Heck, if you make the trek from Kiwi-land, I'll serve all that I have! Not sure if that's worth the effort and expense, but it's here for the taking.
Who knows, I might even pop the cap on some of my chili-beer. It's best consumed young, as the Jalapenos tend to really flavor the beer with a few years. I'd say that they are like some of the bottle-aged ales (Thomas Hardy, UK comes to mind, though in a different way).
I never thought to offer Dr Lipton an aged Cave Creek Chili Beer, when he, and family, traveled past these parts. Maybe he would have sold his auto in New Mexico, and caught the Greyhound (bus) to Phoenix, just to sample one... or, maybe not.
Hunt
[SNIP]
Did not see/read this part of your post, until I saw the followup from Salil. In the states, the term "ABC" can have double meaning. First, there is Alcohol Bureau of Control, and second, Jim Clendenin's Au Bon Climate. Though I know Mr Clendenin's wines, I was recently at a wine bar, that featured "ABC" and I learned something in that encounter. Now, if Mr Clendenin is doing something in the NZ wine industry, there might be some major confusion. Could one have ABC-ABC, or ABC [Squared, as my news reader balks at extended characters]?
I am glad to see that King Estate has gone international. If you can find the Reserve, please try it. They are not the same wines!
Hunt
"Salil" asked .......
My use of this expression is not original - The term has been around for a little while.
I have no idea how much NZ Pinot Gris finds its way into the export market - in saying that, there is twice as much PG planted as Gewurztraminer in NZ.
As a mater on interest, (obviously) Sauvignon Blanc dominates the white wine varieties planted (7,100 ha in 2005) followed by chardonnay (3,800ha) Riesling (800ha) PG (490ha) Semillon (mostly blended with SB! - 240 ha) Then smaller areas of Viognier, CHenin Blanc, Muscat varieties etc
snipped-for-privacy@hunt.com (Hunt) wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@news2.newsguy.com:
Sorry, Hunt, but last time I checked Fl where I live and OR where King is made are in the same country :-)
Oops, my mistake. I replied to part of one reply, and part of another. Note to self: go back and read the threads in order! Never mix replies.
Sorry, and thanks for the clarification, Hunt
huh? Maybe you forgot to mention Sauvignon Blanc?
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Ask the community — no account required