New Comers Series [Part ii]: Urlar

The healthy buzz, which tends to accompany all trade fairs, seems to have little effect on the laid back composure of Urlar owner and Scotsman, Angus Thompson. Although this air of relaxation Thompson exhales around him is no doubt much easier maintained given the astounding quality of the offerings of his rather startlingly young vines brought with him to Wine New Zealand's annual trade fair in Dublin this February.

Ara: A Pathway to Marlborough

While New Zealand is a toddler in the world of viticulture, Marlborough is younger still and yet despite this, it has managed its fair share of veterans. None more noted that the creator of the Marlborough's first "Grand Cru" estate, ARA, Jeff Clarke. Despite, Marlborough's haphazard discovery as a terroirist dream as recently as the late sixties, Jeff has a long history of involvement in the budding Kiwi wine industry, punching in well over 50 vintages with the Kiwi wine industry. To boot, he's ex-Penfolds and has been at the helm of Brancott during what could be called it's quality peak. Think you'll agree this guy doesn't submit to the term green.

Reasoned Riesling Reactionaries

Nothing is beyond the  repertoire of armchair activists such as ourselves here at Empty. That's right, we said it, armchair activists.  Bugger that, while Germany, is and always will be one of leaders  for propagating the quality of the wino's favourite grape we have to all dust ourselves off and realise, the Aussies really have led the charge on getting Riesling noticed. Not mentioning them, is by our books, rather uncool. So we did what any self respecting wino aficionado would do. We answered the four questions we shouted at our computers in the wee hours of this morning. Where's Australia? Where's Austria? Where's Alsace? Where's the Kiwi's? (Also watch out for some of the Riesling that sadly doesn't make the Irish market; USA, Chilean etc.)

Quick chat with Maria O'Riordan from Seifrieds

Having recently encountered Maria O'Riordan from Seifried's of Nelson Bay I reflected on how much had passed through our brief discussion. The oldest of the South Islands family owned wineries, Seifried's best known for their Sweet Anges Riesling which has gobbled up awards left right and centre. What is undoubtedly more interesting about this family range is the quality and variety of whites they present. Playing with three levels, the Rabbit Island, Old Coach  Road, and flagship range "Seifried"

NZ Riesling, an Appraisal & Rant

First thing is first, I am a Riesling nut, and it is one of the grapes that when someone has the ability to do the thing justice softens the very hammerings of the world and I realise that, things aren't actually all that bad, so long as there is this glass of wine in it. However, this is a two way street, cock that up, and I'll be upset, I will be very very upset. Now to the point of this, on Monday I was subjected to a Riesling tasting of 12 Rieslings from the same vineyard, same harvest, the only difference? The winemaker.

(PhotoBlog) The Bordeaux Blends Of New Zealand

Very Rustic Bordeaux style, farmyard notes
http://coevintners.com/     

fair showing, out done really
Liberty Wines

LIVE BLOG: New Zealand Wine Fair Radisson Blu Hotel Dublin 30-Jan-2012

Rob and Shane will be reporting live via the tweet machine on the New Zealand Wine Fair. Rob will be tweeting via @EmptyGlassIE and Shane will be on @thobiasinkblot. We have our HQ working on compling all the tweets here and updating with anything we have from the day. So watch this spot. #NZWINE

The Blueberries (Empty Awards for 2011)

Here at team empty we have decided that we could kick off the new year by having ourselves a little bout of awards just to mention some of the best wines, people, producers, regions and wine businesses that we've come across over the 2011. Our format is very simple, there is a first, second and third place, see simple. That in mind, here are our Blueberry awards for 2011.

Red Creek 2008 Merlot

New Zealand? Merlot? "That's not Pinot Noir!" I hear you scream. Well your powers of observation clearly do not fail you now at this pivotal moment. It is not a Pinot Noir and it is in fact from New Zealand. If I may dare to scare you further, New Zealand actually produces many different wines beyond Sauv Blanc and Pinot Noir. Now that said it's not always that good at producing the others. Merlot in my past experience from them has been "sinked" a whole lot more than a student budget can afford. Big question, did I sink this one? No, I tasted it in a shop- that'd be rude, but also no because it was nice. It may have needed another year in the bottle to kill the last of the tannins and open the fruit a little more, but it was below a tenner. €8.99. I complained not. You had a lovely mesh of wild berry and of chocolate on the palate. complemented quite well by the very same on the nose. Simple but rather effective. At a guess I would say that berry will be opening up a little more soon. Still all in all a rather nice treat if you want it. It is also a major improvement on other models of NZ Merlot, this one at it's price is great, be warned with NZ Merlot however, I have "sinked" bottles that just were not drinkable at over €10. So, be smart with this and realise that the Red Creek model is worth a shot, but other NZ Merlots, well, maybe they ought to just stay on the shelf and make the place look pretty.

Rabbit Island Sauvignon Blanc 2010

When people say terroir in reference to a wine, one might think of the French telling you why their wines are unique and more importantly the most expensive wines in the world. Now, while France does produce some excellent wines the price unfortunately stops most of us mere mortals from every affording them.

As for Sauvignon Blanc, the most famous from France being Sancerre. This region was deemed to be the best producer of Sauvignon in the world ... that is until New Zealand stepped in with the likes of Cloudy Bay and reinvented the grape. This is why New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has become and will be for a long time yet one of the most popular wines and for good reasons too. They are fruit driven and very moreish, like the much more boisterous cousin of the restrained and subtle Sancerre, which tends to be sedate and full of minerality,  a wine to really think about. So in summary it is immediately pleasing vs. complexity.

So, now on to the Rabbit Island and where it fits in between Old and New World, or restraint and power. Well the Rabbit Island fits happily between the two. It has the fruit driven qualities that have made New Zealand famous, but with elements of complexity that give away the gravelly soils of the Nelson region (not dissimilar from Sancerre), this is illustrated by some minerality and herbaceous qualities lurking in the background.

Colour - Pale Straw/Gold

Nose - Lime and Gooseberry, hint of passion fruit and nettle

Palate - Medium bodied with a refreshing lime quality and a passion-fruit filled finish, with a hint of minerality. Delicious.

What impressed me most about this wine is the length of finish, I was still tasting it almost a minute later and this is all for only 9.99 at the minute in The Mill Wine Cellar http://www.facebook.com/THE.MILL.WINE.CELLAR

Definitely worth a try at this price. Try it on its own or if adventurous with a slightly spicy dish.