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Lake ChaliceMarlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll, as AC/DC once shouted,and few know this better than Chris ‘Gambo’ Gambitsis, winemaker andambassador at Lake Chalice wines. The brand’s unstoppable arc of progresshas largely been down to Gambo’s unquenchable enthusiasm for his wines(and quite often other people’s, if you leave them lying around) and the qualityof the wines themselves.Having worked in, and then owned, his father’s restaurant, Gambo gainedan early appreciation of all things vinous, and the notion of making wineniggled enough for him to sell that restaurant to set up Lake Chalice. Hiscurrent role is an ever-shifting concoction of duties, done with typical vigourand all-out blind belief.Gambo’s energy, which makes the Energizer bunny seem torpid incomparison, has seen him spend down-time during the vineyard calendarstamping his curlicued cowboy boots across the dusty roads of the USA andbeyond, opening up export markets for the brand where markets never evenexisted.Having gotten Lake Chalice onto some of the finest winelists acrossthe world, Gambo continues to ambassador-ise and wine-make in equalproportion. If you think you’ve heard every story there ever was in the fieldof wine, hook up with him this month; he’ll tell you a million you’ve neverheard, over a glass of some of the best wine to come out of Marlborough.Lake Chalice Eyrie VineyardMarlborough Pinot Gris 2007Chris Gambitsis: Winemaker, Lake Chalicewas $19.90 now$16.90 13561BUY A CASE OF 12 FOR ONLY $15.90 A BOTTLEGOLD MEDAL★★★★★ DECANTER JUNE 2008Pristine fruit that’s from three prime Marlboroughsub-regions, each delivering distinctly differentcharacters to the final blend. Whatever its genesis,the fruit arrived at the winery plumply ripe; there isa richness and depth to this that many of the moreangular, aggressive Marlborough Sauvignons lack.Enervating and fresh, the flavours punch throughimmediately, with intense aromas and charactersthat lean towards the passionfruit/gooseberry end ofthe spectrum. The Awatere fruit makes its presencefelt as an appealing core of minerality, while the finishis long, flavoursome and refreshing.Lake ChaliceMarlborough Riesling 2007was $19.90 now$16.90 13572BUY A CASE OF 12 FOR ONLY $15.90 A BOTTLEWith 6.5 grams/litre residual sugar, this delightfulexpression falls into the off-dry stylistic category,although the sugar seems to add richness ratherthan sweetness due to the wine’s vibrant acidity.With the fruit coming from the stony, home FalconVineyard and the block of well-known Marlboroughgrower Tim Fairhall, the quality is flawless and theflavours clean and precise, yet full of richness andintensity. The lime and lemon wash of flavours istickled with honeysuckle on a well-balanced, ripeand generous palate. Grab some, drink some, cellarsome.was $19.90 now$16.90 13562BUY A CASE OF 12 FOR ONLY $15.90 A BOTTLEThe bulk of the fruit for this PG pearler came offthe company’s own Eyrie Vineyard in the WaihopaiValley, a Marlborough sub-region that seems tofavour aromatic varieties such as Pinot Gris andRiesling. The region also recently attracted muchattention from a few concerned citizens convincedthat the government is hiding the Taliban at the spystation there, but that’s a whole other story. Nothingclandestine here though, with this a very precise,balanced style, the charming varietal ginger andpear notes spread across a palate with good weight(14% alcohol) and plenty of depth. Classy andapproachable, this is great drinking and a ludicrousbargain at this price.13569 Lake Chalice Cracklin’ Rosie Marlborough Pinot Rosé 2007 $13.9013573 Lake Chalice Flight 42 Unoaked Marlborough Chardonnay 2007 $16.9013567 Lake Chalice Marlborough Chardonnay 2007 $16.9013570 Lake Chalice Marlborough Merlot 2007 $16.90Lake ChaliceMarlborough Pinot Noir 2007was $22.50 now$19.90 13575BUY A CASE OF 12 FOR ONLY $18.90 A BOTTLEThis is the sort of wine that fills a need perfectlyfor the Pinot enthusiast who wants to sup the greatgrape regularly, but doesn’t happen to possess amerchant banker’s or an All Black’s salary. Smallyields of concentrated fruit came off the company’sown vineyards, delivering a Pinot Noir that packsa punch without pillaging your payslip. Warm, ripecherry and plum characters are well supported bysavoury, spicy oak, on a palate that hints at earthinessand finishes round and complete. Charmingand smart without being lippy.15