Glengarry's Sunday ramblings of all things vinous, grain and glorious. The Sunday Sediment. Issue Ninety-One Sarah, Welcome to the Ninety-First edition of The Sunday Sediment, a collection of what’s new, what’s on and what’s happening instore at Glengarry and within the world of wine. Sip away.
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LEANING TO GREEN - BIODYNAMIC COUSINS NZ'S MILLTON AND AUSTRALIA'S CASTAGNA LEAD THE WAY
From opposite sides of the Tasman, James and Annie Millton and Julian and Carol Ann Castagna go back many years, linked by their collective and long-held determination to make their wines in ways that don’t impact negatively on the environment or the human body, using organic and biodynamic methods. They are our pioneering trend-setters. From the start, they were foundation members of the Renaissances des Appellations, representing their respective The Milltons and the Castagnas have
countries.
instigated events in our own backyard, events that were formative and head-turning for many winemakers in Australia and New Zealand, and almost the turnkey for many of our wellrespected producers. James Millton puts it thus: ‘Now, in 2019, I feel confident that we are all considered normal within the trade and out in the paddock, and that we all have a great degree of providence there.’ And the wines? They’re brilliant, of course. 2
Since 2004, from Bordeaux to New York, James and Julian have flown the biodynamic
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flag, at times in the face of considerable scepticism and derision. However, as is so often the case, over time comes change, and what was once seen as fringe behaviour is now not only accepted, but embraced as legitimate and important practice. In these challenging times for our planet and humanity’s future, it all makes a great deal of sense.
PINOT NOIR | MARTINBOROUGH
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One of our most significant pioneering regions for Pinot Noir, the combination of Martinborough’s variety-friendly terroir (not dissimilar to Burgundy’s, its cool climate resulting in lower yields of highly concentrated fruit) and its winemakers’ well-honed experience delivers an exciting array of boutique wines that are held in high esteem across the globe. Read More...
PINOT NOIR | BURGUNDY
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Ask the world’s finest Pinot Noir producers where they draw their inspiration from, and many will answer, ‘Burgundy.’ Its greatest wines are produced on Burgundy’s Golden Slopes, the Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune. Inheritance laws have seen the vineyards divided into ever smaller family parcels, and it is not uncommon for a single vineyard to have numerous owners. Read More..
PINOT NOIR | AUSTRALIA
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There are some exceptional Pinot Noir wines coming out of Australia’s cooler regions. While something of a sweeping generalization, it can be said that Australian Pinots tend to be lighter expressions with fine, elegant tannins, bright, lively acidity and sweet, red-fruited palates. Tasmania, Mornington Peninsula and the Yarra Valley are leading the way. Read More..
EN PRIMEUR | FOR FANS OF BORDEAUX
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Also known as Wine Futures, En Primeur refers to the process of buying wine before it is bottled and released onto the market. The wine is normally delivered two years later. This year’s En Primeur campaign is due to start in April (or, to be more accurate, when the châteaux decide to release). In preparation for this, we have our dedicated website www.enprimeur.co.nz ready to go. You can log on now, create wish lists and get everything in place. Glengarry GM, Liz Wheadon, is off to Bordeaux to taste her way through the 2018 vintage and report back first-hand. Liz is there mid-April, and you can follow her thoughts on twitter @lizziewine or via our blog www.aboutwine.co.nz And the 2018 vintage? It’s superb. Read More..
TASTINGS AND EVENTS
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LAPHROAIG VERTICAL TASTING WITH RORY DONNELLY | JERVOIS ROAD It is written that from the central courtyard of the distillery, one can see the surrounding buildings, some of which pre-date the 'official' beginning in 1815, when Laphroaig was still a farm with the distillery an illicit sideline. It seems that no one knows the full history of
WHEN: Tuesday 16 April
Laphroaig as it was lost in the mist of time. It's
WHERE: Glengarry Jervois Rd,
clear, however, that the Irish had been distilling
54 Jervois Rd Ponsonby
there for many years and that the locals picked
TIME: 7.00pm
up the skills when they left, but because it was illegal the small stills on the farms were rarely discussed - just a nod and a wink in the right direction! Read more....
WESTMERE WINE CLUB | ROCKBURN Rockburn's wines are hand-harvested off the company's Parkburn and Gibbston Valley vineyards. Each site contributes its own unique characteristics that provide chief winemaker Malcolm Rees-Francis with a palette of distinctive flavour profiles from which he masterfully produces the award-winning wines. As Malcolm puts it: “My philosophy is to
WHEN: Wednesday 17 April
respect the fruit, listen to what it is trying to say
WHERE: Glengarry Westmere, 164 Garnet Rd Westmere
and help it to do that. We don't manipulate or
TIME: 7.00pm
use finings; our aim is to produce harmonious wines that reflect their unique terroir.� Rockburn's outstanding record is not confined to their headlining Pinot Noir, but extends throughout the entire portfolio, with excellence across the board their primary objective.
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Read more....
TAKAPUNA WINE CLUB | FOLEY FAMILY WINES - PINOT NOIR OF NZ April in Glengarry is all about Pinot Noir, and as a special treat for the local faithful this month we are be delighted to host a tasting presented by Foley Wines. Established in 1996, Foley Wines are responsible for the operation of some of the world's greatest wineries. In New Zealand this includes such icons as Martinborough Vineyards, Vavasour
WHEN: Wednesday 17 April
and Te Kairanga, and more recently grew to
WHERE: Glengarry Takapuna,
include Mount Difficulty. With such an
Cnr Hurstmere & Killarney Takapuna
impressive portfolio it goes without saying that
TIME: 7.00pm
Foley help look after some of the finest Pinot Noir made in either island. So come join us for a little pre-Easter tasting to celebrate and learn about some of the outstanding, and very differing, styles of Pinot Noir that Aotearoa is becoming increasingly more renowned for. Read more....
A TASTE OF NEW ZEALAND PINOT NOIR | DEVONPORT This month at Glengarry, we're all about Pinot Noir, so it seemed only fitting that we taste some excellent examples from around New Zealand. New Zealand Pinot Noir has gone from strength to strength as the vines here have started to get some age on them. Tonight, we'll be tasting Pinot Noir from various regions, to really showcase what New Zealand
WHEN: Wednesday 17 April
has to offer.
WHERE: Glengarry Devonport,
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Read more....
Cnr Clarence & Wynyard Devonport TIME: 7.00pm
BLUSH NZ TASTING | KHYBER PASS Blush is a New Zealand spirit company with a vision to change the perception of gin from the mother's ruin to something that is lively and pleasant. Their gins and vodka are triple distilled, locally produced, and hand crafted with great attention paid to every detail. With their brand new addition of a Boysenberry
WHEN: Wednesday 17 April
Gin to their lineup, we thought it would be a
WHERE: Glengarry Khyber Pass,
good time to have Chris come by to tell the
409 Khyber Pass Rd Newmarket
Blush story and acquaint us with some exciting
TIME: 7.00pm
serving suggestions. Read more....
MILLTON & CASTAGNA - WITH JAMES MILLTON AND JULIAN CASTAGNA | THORNDON & VICTORIA PARK Millton and Castagna are Australasia's pioneering biodynamic wineries. James Millton
AUCKLAND
started New Zealand's first organic and
WHEN: Wednesday 1 May
biodynamic wine estate in 1984, on the banks 10
of the Te Arai river near Gisborne. His Clos de
WHERE: Glengarry Victoria Park,
Ste. Anne wines are some of the finest (and
118 Wellesley St West Auckland
hardest to find) wines in New Zealand. Julian
TIME: 7.00pm
Castagna had a successful career in film and advertising, before planting his vineyards in
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1996 at 500m altitude in Beechworth Victoria. James Millton was his early mentor, and was a powerful influence on the possibility of WELLINGTON
biodynamics. These are some of the most exciting (and un Australian) wines in Australia,
WHEN: Thursday 2 May
with a style and precision all of their own. For
WHERE: Glengarry Thorndon,
the very first (and probably only) time , these
53 Hutt Rd Thorndon
two inspiring winemakers will be presenting a
TIME: 6.00pm
tasting together. This will be a fantastic READ MORE...
evening of stunning wine and insights not to be missed.
MEZCAL MASTERCLASS GRACIAS A DIOS | JERVOIS ROAD Join in on the Mezcal revolution at Glengarry Spirits with Xaime Niembro, owner of Gracias a Dios Mezcal. We will begin the evening with a Mezcal cocktail, see why bartenders across the globe have fallen in love with this spirit, before tasting through the range by Gracias a Dios, which includes the very limited Pechuga Mezcal.
WHEN: Tuesday 7th May WHERE: Glengarry Jervois Rd,
Read more....
54 Jervois Rd Ponsonby TIME: 7.00pm
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NEW ZEALAND REGIONAL TASTING - HAWKE'S BAY | JERVOIS Join our sommelier, Grant Dingwall, in the cellar at Jervois Road to discover the Hawke's Bay, New Zealand's oldest continual wine producing region. Come and join us to taste our way around the region top producers such as Black Barn, Te Mata, Pask, Craggy Range, Brookfields, Villa Maria and Vidal Estate. As always, the wines will be accompanied by a
WHEN: Wednesday 8 May
selection of dishes from Dida's Wine Lounge.
WHERE: Glengarry Jervois Rd,
Book now as there are only 12 seats available.
54 Jervois Rd Ponsonby TIME: 7.00pm
Read more....
MAISON MUMM CHAMPAGNE WITH OPHELIE NEIL | THORNDON Mumm Champagne has been at the heart of the Champagne region since before 1827. Originally from Germany the Mumm family was already in the wine business but they were attracted to Champagne by the quality of the outstanding sparkling wines in the Champagne district. From the outset quality was the watchword and so it has remained for all its
WHEN: Wednesday 15th May
successors. This approach is encapsulated in
WHERE: Glengarry Thorndon,
the motto penned by Georges Herman Mumm
53 Hutt Rd Thorndon
-"only the best". We are lucky to have Ophelie,
TIME: 7.00pm
the Brand Ambassador for Maison Mumm, on hand to not only share the history but take us through fabulous range of Champagne from NV to Prestige. Read more....
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VEGA SICILIA MASTERCLASS | VICTORIA PARK Do not miss this very special tasting. Few wineries have a history as distinguished as that of Vega Sicilia. Founded in the 1860’s in Ribera del Duero, its top cuvée ÚNICO was the first great wine of Spain, with an almost unlimited cellaring potential. Until recent decades it was the only Spanish wine collected and coveted throughout the world.
WHEN: Thursday 16 May WHERE: Glengarry Victoria Park
Read more....
118 Wellesley Street, Auckland TIME: 7.00pm
WORLD WHISKY DAY | VICTORIA PARK One of our favourite days of the year! Join us for our 3rd edition of the massive World Whisky Day tasting. Our aim is to ensure we have as many new releases for you to experience. Single Malt, Bourbon, Irish, Kiwi, Japanese, Wood finishes, Old Malts and young, join us for what will be a fantastic day! Is there something you wish to sample, let us know! Last year
WHEN: Saturday 18 May
there were over 150 Single Malts to try, expect
WHERE: Glengarry Victoria Park
it to be bigger and better this time round. You'll
118 Wellesley Street, Auckland
even get a Glencairn glass to keep, plus the
TIME: 2.00pm-5.00pm
Jack Daniels grill will be there serving up some awesome BBQ. This event will run from 2-5pm. Read more....
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BOLLINGER LA GRANDE ANNÉE 2008 RELEASE WITH GUY DE RIVOIRE | VICTORIA PARK The new release of a La Grande Année (the great year) from Champagne Bollinger is always an occasion. This year is something very special indeed. The 2008 vintage is one of the finest in history for the region, and possibly the greatest vintage Bollinger ever made. A WHEN: Tuesday 21 May
truly artisan product, each bottle is touched
WHERE: Glengarry Victoria Park
around 40 times in this incredibly costly and
118 Wellesley Street, Auckland
complex process. Read more....
TIME: 7.00pm
That's it for this week's Sunday Sediment. Issue Ninety-Two will be winging its way to your inbox next Sunday. Cheers,
Jak Jakicevich
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