A look at less well-known, new and intriguing wine types14FreixenetBrut Rosé NVwas $13.90 now$10.50 85016BUY A CASE OF 6 FOR ONLY $10.00 A BOTTLESporting a profusion of tiny bubbles,the Brut Rosé is a beautifully freshcava, with strawberry aromas andflavours and nice mealy hints. It is amystery how Freixenet can cram inso much flavour for so little money.Keep a case handy; your guests willlove it as much as you.Coto de HayasCampo de Borja Crianza 2003was $18.90 now$15 81016BUY A CASE OF 12 FOR ONLY $14.00 A BOTTLEThis consists of Garnacha and Tempranillo grapes selectedfrom vineyards in the Campo de Borja denomination. TheGarnacha vines are over 30 years old and the Tempranilloover 20 years. With a spicy, aromatic bouquet hinting atblackcurrant, almond and vanilla, the palate has a fleshyfeel that complements the ripe fruit flavours. Great value.CastañoPozuelo Crianza 2003was $23.90 now$17.50 81039BUY A CASE OF 12 FOR ONLY $16.50 A BOTTLEFrom the outstanding wine-producingCastaño family, this is exceptional value.The blend is dominated by Monastrell,with support from Syrah, Cabernet andTempranillo adding greater dimensionand complexity. The bouquet has warmberryfruit and plum aromas and toasty oaknuances. The flavour-packed palate isa triumph of smartly integrated components.CodiceTempranillo 2004was $22.50 now$18.90 81032BUY A CASE OF 12 FOR ONLY $18.00 A BOTTLEThe native Spanish grape Tempranillo, more than any othervariety, dominates the country’s quality wines. Aged forsix months in tank and a further six months in Frenchand American oak, Codice displays spicy strawberry andvanilla aromas, and is loaded with ripe berry flavourssupported by subtle oak enhanced by a silky mouthfeeland mellow tannins.Asti‘Anyone who thinks Asti is an innocuous frothy Þzz to keep the troublesomemaiden aunt quiet should buy a bo!le from a good producer, or perhaps a bo!le ofthe semi-sparkling Moscato d’Asti, search out a shaded bower on a blisteringly hota"ernoon, pour themselves a cool glass of this lovely wine and quietly contemplatehow lucky they are to be alive.’ Oz ClarkeThere you go, take it from one who knows. Oz is an internationallyrenowned wine writer, and also one of the most down-to-earth of his ilkthat you are ever likely to come across. And the key to what he says here isabout context. Asti has been largely misconstrued in this country, and it’snot Asti’s fault, it’s ours. As he says, it’s been the lolly water to keep Gertiequite, or, it’s been used by Tracey and Shona to heat things up of a Fridayevening before they ‘hit the bars’. And yet, it is in fact a style of wine thatis just perfect when drunk in the right surroundings.As with so many Italian wines, Asti is named after the town aroundwhich it was originally grown, in this case the town of Asti, in Piedmont,in Italy’s north-west. The grape used to suffuse this delicate little gem withall its seductive ßavours is Moscato Bianco. Now you observant ones downthe back would have noticed that we promote, and sell a lot of, Moscatod’Asti; and then there’s Asti Spumante… so how does it all work?Spumante is the Italian word for sparkling wine, and comes from theverb spumare, to foam or froth. Like so many European wines, the Astiname has been degraded by poor, locally-produced imitations. Legislationhas caught up: if it’s Asti, it must come from Italy. Bernadino Spumantecomes from Newmarket. A small point, perhaps, but a worthwhile one.Asti Spumante, then, is simply the more commercial wine whencompared to Moscato d’Asti, and is higher in alcohol, more Þzzy and usuallytastes a touch sweeter. Moscato d’Asti is, conversely, no higher (bylaw) than 5.5% alcohol, tends to be frizzante rather than ragingly bubbly,and is more of a food wine than its popular cousin. And make no mistake,Asti is hugely popular. The DOC-deÞned region of Asti produces one anda half times as much wine as Soave, the next biggest in line, with nearly100 million bottles produced annually, the majority of them exported.So chill it, and have it with dessert or as an aperitif, or, as Oz wouldsuggest, in the hammock as the sun dips and sways at day’s end: you willbe pleasantly surprised.MartiniAsti NVwas $18.40 now$15 64632BUY A CASE OF 12 FOR ONLY $14.00 A BOTTLEThis is such an enjoyable wine, showing distinctive juicyMuscat characters, most notably in the celebratoryperfume that is such a hallmark of the grape. Floraland fragrant, the scents haunt your nose while thebubbles tickle it. It’s frothy, mouthfilling and slightlysweet, as it’s meant to be, making it irresistibly easyto drink (I’ve seen it described as ‘gulpable’), while the7.5% alcohol level ensures you won’t feel blindsidedby a charming glass or two. Being European, it partnerswonderfully with food; mid-morning with pastriesit’s just a treat; early evening with a not-too-cloyingdessert is also a divine match.62644 Fontanafredda Le Fronde Moscato d’Asti 2005 $29.0062699 Fontanafredda Moncucco d’Asti 2003 $35.00
april1Each month, from the hundreds of wines submitted to us, the <strong>Glengarry</strong> Tasting Panel selects our top ten winesPasqua SagramosoValpolicella Superiore 20032Mount Riley Seventeen ValleyMarlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2005was $21.90 now$16 66045was $23.50 now$19.90 14983A beautiful wine with sumptuous black cherryaromas underscored by hints of toast andpervasive ripe fruit flavours that linger on in thepalate. Superb value.A moderately complex Marlborough wine withoutstanding varietal characters supported bysmoky mineral nuances on the nose. Richlyflavoured, it finishes on a fresh, vibrant note.3Sacred Hill Gimblett GravelsHawkes Bay Syrah 20064Henry’s DrivePillar Box Red 2005was $21.90 now$19 18365was $16.90 now$14.50 21564The bouquet is full of ripe plum, berry and spicypeppery nuances that splash on to the palate.Well structured and harmonious, it is greatvalue, and bound to develop further.This is a Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot blend fromthe family’s Padthaway vineyards. Rich andgenerously flavoured, it is opulently structuredand smoothly textured. Outstanding value.5Boundary VineyardsKings Road Waipara Pinot Noir 20066Russian JackPinot Noir 2006was $21.50 now$18.90 18347was $19.40 now$17.50 18959Wairarapa Pinot Noir with upfront spicy plumand cherry flavours wound around a weightystructure that’s supported by integrated oakand complemented by a silky mouthfeel.The spice-edged raspberry and plum aromasmakes this a particularly attractive Pinot Noir.The palate has a pleasant textured feel thatcomplements the forward fruit flavours7Chapel HillIl Vescovo Sangiovese Cabernet 20048Les Vins de VienneLes Cranilles Côtes du Rhône 2004was $28 now$19.50 21240was $30 now$24 41274A terrific food wine with a lifted violet-plumblackberrybouquet supported by understatedoak. Rich, deep and integrated, it has a rusticedge and a long, flavoursome finish.Blended from selected vineyards, this is aclassy wine, well balanced and built around acore of ripe fruit complemented by spice notes,toasty oak and finely judged tannins.9Wild SouthReserve Marlborough Pinot Gris 200610Ti PointSauvignon Blanc 2006was $25 now$22.50 11147was $19.90 now$16 19023A most enticing wine with a perfumed bouquetthat evokes nashi pear, apricot and spice. Theweighty palate is packed with ripe fruit that’sbalanced by a long, fresh finish.A Gold Medal-winner at the Air NZ Wine Awards.Mineral-edged gooseberry, passionfruit andcapsicum aromas ooze onto the palate and fillthe mouth with a cascade of flavours.15THE APRIL TOP10 PACK 690021 BOTTLE OF EACH WINE FOR $160save $68.00 off retail
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