Glengarry's Sunday ramblings of all things vinous, grain and glorious. The Sunday Sediment. Issue Seventy-One
Rowena, Welcome to the Seventy-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.
1
THE PROPRIETOR
TWO PADDOCKS 2017 & CERTIFIED ORGANIC
Sam Neill’s side project looks less and less like a side project and more like a major obsession with each passing vintage. In this round, Sam and his viticultural and winemaking team have upped the ante by launching their now fullyaccredited organic status with BioGro logos on their labels. Well done, Two Paddocks. We applaud.
2
MARK & ELVEZIA SHANNON
A TASTE OF FRANCE | COOL, CRISP SUMMER DRINKING
In the 1980s rivers of inauthentic white averageness from all over the globe were labelled Chablis, some without ever having seen a Chardonnay grape, let alone a lifetime growing up in Kimmeridgian soil. Not these days. The oyster-shelled terroir that is one of the key components in Chablis’ unique profile is now protected by law, as enshrined and important to the wines as the marginal and northerly aspect of Chablis’ location. Only one variety counts here, and that is Chardonnay, which thrives in the same chalk soils that run through Champagne. Chablis is Chardonnay in one of its purest expressions. If you are an exponent of big, buttery versions, then Burgundy will be more your thing than the pure, deliciously lean styles to be found here.
3
LILLET THE ART OF THE APERITIF
Lillet is a French apéritif developed in 1872 by brothers Paul and Raymond Lillet, distillers in Podensac, in the Graves region of Bordeaux. 19th-century Bordeaux was the most important port city in France, with fruits and spices coming in from all over the world, providing the brothers with access to a wide range of exotic ingredients for their distilling endeavours.
ingredients aged in large oak vats. These are quintessential French apéritifs, distinctive and elegant, produced from secret recipes that have been passed down through generations. Lillet apéritifs are blended from Bordeaux
They can be imbibed on their own, or used in
wines, along with subtle infusions of macerated
the creation of cocktails.
fruit liqueurs and spices, the combined
4
By the early 20th century, Lillet was famous in
champagne goblet. Three measures of gin,
France, served at special occasions and official
one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet.
receptions. It also became popular with high
Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a
society New York bartenders as an ingredient
large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?’ Got it.
for their cocktails. Lillet was immortalised in Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel Casino Royale when James Bond ordered ‘A dry martini in a deep
MARK & ELVEZIA SHANNON
A TASTE OF ITALY | A-MANO
Mark Shannon is a Californian who went to Puglia for a short holiday with Fruili native Elvezia Sbalchiero, nursing an affection for the Primitivo grape that rapidly turned into an obsession. Entranced by the region situated in the heel of Italy’s boot with its fresh, uncomplicated cuisine and timeless approach to living, the pair made it their home and established A-Mano to craft their handmade, affordable wines. ‘To make expensive wines is contrary to our way of thinking,’ says Elvezia. 5
Theirs are superb value, fruit forward wines made with plenty of passion and flair. Within one year of its conception, A-Mano had been named Red Wine of the Year at London’s International Wine Challenge.
OCTOBER MALT CLUB WITH MICHAEL FRASER-MILNE ABOUTWINE
The October Glengarry Malt Club was treated to visit from a special guest from Christchurch’s Whisky Galore, Michael Fraser-Milne. Not long after returning to kiwi land following a two-week visit to Scotland, Michael shared stories straight from the distilleries themselves! A great line up and with cheese options paired alongside it, the evening was set to impress.
6
Opening the night with one of Gordon &
A very special thanks to Michael for continuing
MacPhail’s new releases, the Discovery 13-
to make time for us here at Glengarry and
year-old from Tormore Distillery – a fantastic
we’re looking forward to our next Malt Club
whisky to kick off the night, hinting Pineapple
with you… What shall we do next?
Lumps on the nose with a nice vanilla and baked apple taste on the palate. We sipped and savoured all night long exploring each whiskies tales and talents. The top two whiskies of the night would be the Benromach 10-year-old 100 Proof (57% ABV), which could be your next default dram as it covers all spectrums of a great whisky, and the Mortlach ‘Gordon & MacPhail’ 25-year-old (43% ABV), a rare release and will only grace our shelves briefly as we’ve only got a couple bottles remaining in stock.
TASTINGS AND EVENTS
7
MALT & CHAMPAGNE - AUCKLAND - SECOND NIGHT | VICTORIA PARK Glengarry Head Honcho Jak Jakicevich and GM Liz Wheadon both have their fixation. Jak is a committed fan of Single Malt whiskies, while Liz is a champagne fiend from way back. They are teaming up to take their respective obsessions on the road, perhaps in an attempt to justify them to the rest of NZ, or maybe they just want to share some gems they know about
WHEN: Thursday 13th December
with those of you who don’t. Anyhow, there
WHERE: Glengarry Victoria Park,
they both are, out on the road, taking it to the
118 Wellesley St West Auckland
streets. Each of them will be flourishing the
TIME: 7.00pm
attributes of six of their favourites. Is it a duel? A face-off? We don’t know. Will it be entertaining and enlightening? Absolutely.
TAKAPUNA GIN CLUB | TAKAPUNA One might almost be forgiven for thinking that the 17th Century tulip mania has resurfaced in an infatuation with gin, such is the burgeoning range of mainstream and more boutique options available to Glengarry regulars. Fortunately nobody is having to mortgage their property to get in on this craze, but with such a huge selection to choose from the task of selecting what to sip on a sunny Sunday afternoon isn't quite as straightforward (or
WHEN: Thursday 29th November
boring!) as it once was. With the goal of easing
WHERE: Glengarry Takapuna,
these tough decisions in mind, and the
Cnr Hurstmere & Killarney Takapuna
requests of dozens of afficionados ringing in
TIME: 7.00pm
our ears, we are hosting a tasting night focused entirely on Gin, with a selection of fine options being opened to be explained, discussed and enjoyed. Book quickly as the gin craze is showing no signs of abating and places will fill quickly!
8
PERRIER JOUET NV | PARNELL INSTORE TASTING | PARNELL Perrier-Joet was established in 1811 by PierreNicolas-Marie Perrier, adding the maiden name of his wife, Adele Jouet, to name the house. They settled in the town of Epernay where they have vineyards in Ay, Avize, Cramant, Mailly and elsewhere; many are planted with Chardonnay, bringing a delicacy to the PerrierWHEN: Friday 14th December
Jouet style.
WHERE: Glengarry Parnell,
This is an in-store tasting so no need to book,
164 Parnell Rd Parnell
just pop on down to the store and try a some of
TIME: 4.00pm-6.00pm
Perrier Jouet's superb NV Champagne from 4.00pm - 6.00pm.
ANNUAL TAKAPUNA CHAMPAGNE TASTING - ROSE! | TAKAPUNA The Christmas Champagne tasting has become something of a tradition at our Takapuna store. Anticipated as keenly by the team pouring as it is by the locals sipping and swirling, we have been through a few different themes - from broad discussions of the different Grand Marque and growers to sampling some of the superb 2008 vintage. This year we will try something different again -
WHEN: Wednesday 12th December
with pink as our inspiration. RosĂŠ champagne
WHERE: Glengarry Takapuna,
is often seen as the sweeter, less serious
Cnr Hurstmere & Killarney Takapuna
cousin of the methode champenois. In truth
TIME: 7.00pm
these are (mostly) dry wines that can be every bit as special as the finest cuvĂŠe. Don't believe us? Book quickly and come in for what is sure to be a memorable evening.
9
PRESTIGE CHAMPAGNE TASTING | THORNDON For a strictly controlled region such as Champagne it is surprising that there very few regulations regarding Prestige Champagne. However, it is clearly in the best interest of each House to make sure that these wines are the very best that they can produce. A typical Prestige Champagne is made entirely from Grand Cru grapes from the oldest vines. These
WHEN: Wednesday 30th January
wines are also aged a lot longer in the cellars
WHERE: Glengarry Thorndon,
and there are numerous examples of late
53 Hutt Rd, Thorndon
disgorged wines. There is also more thought
TIME: 6.00pm
put in to the bottle and the presentation to make it as luxurious and special as possible. We have a stellar line up and look forward to trying them with you.
That's it for this week's Sunday Sediment. Issue Seventy-Two will be winging its way to your inbox next Sunday. Cheers,
Jak Jakicevich
10