Christmas gift ideas and something for the day

XMAS NEWSLETTER DEC. 2008

My last newsletter of the year and with Xmas only two weeks away spare a little time to peruse a sample of my offerings for the festive season ahead. Included is a comprehensive range of wines at promotional pricing, and a list, by no means complete, of some of the outstanding premium wines I have in stock. Look out for a fantastic 10yr old Gimblett Road Cabernet Sauvignon from the outstanding 1998 Hawkes Bay vintage. (See below)

GIFT WRAPPING Once again I have some attractive gift wrapping options free of charge, but would appreciate a little warning or time if you have a number of bottles to be wrapped.

BOUTIQUE NZ BEERS I now stock a wide range of beers from Boutique NZ Breweries. Gift packs of these beers make an excellent gift for that hard to buy for man.

PREMIUM WINE RECOMMENDATIONS single vineyard wines that clearly rate amongst the best of their variety from the better vintages.
Forrest Wines Doctors Range You will love the new labeling and the quality wines to match, just three in the range including two recent trophy winners.
Doctors Noble Chenin Blanc 2008 ($24.99) Gold Medal & Trophy Air NZ Awards 2008
Doctors Riesling 2008 ($21.99) Gold Medal & Trophy Air NZ Awards 2008
Doctors Bubbles for Beth 2005 ($29.99) Methode Traditional from Syrah and Grenache,
Johanneshof Gewurztraminer 2008 ($29.99) and Johanneshof Pinot Gris Medium 2007 ($29.99) High quality multiple award winning wines.
The Fiddlers Green Wines may not be household names, nor the wonderful sailor’s tale from which the name originated be known, but the wines produced from this Waipara Vineyard are worthy of recognition. Fiddlers Green Chardonnay 2006 ($34.99) and Fiddlers Green Sauvignon Blanc 2008 ($22.99) are of high quality as is the classical Fiddlers Green Pinot Noir 2004 ($39.99).
One of New Zealand ’s Iconic labels is the Martinborough Ata Rangi vineyard Pinot Noir, widely regarded as one of NZ great wines. Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2006 ($75). Is a wine of compelling depth and complexity.
The John Forrest Collection The quality of this range of superb wines from low yielding mainly older vines is now well documented, while the equally impressive reds from the Gimblett Gravels under the Newton Forrest Label offer great value. I have the complete range of these wines to choose from.

FROM THE CELLAR
Newton Forrest Cornerstone Cabernet Sauvignon 1998 A classic example of Hawkes Bay Cabernet Sauvignon that has stood the test of time. One of the top rated wines of the 1998 Hawkes Bay vintage, still amazingly youthful, bright purple in colour and offering superb drinking over the next year or two. A special wine, exclusive to Milford Cellars . Normally $55 Special $40 . .

CHRISTMAS SPECIALS

SPARKLING WINES:
Beacon Hill NV Brut Cuvee An easy drinking style with fresh fruity flavours, soft and mouth-filling. $13.99 or Two for $25
Quartz Reef Methode Traditionnelle NV From Central Otago this latest release is a blend of Pinot Noir 62% and Chardonnay 38%. A rich, easy drinking style regarded as one of our best Methode Traditionnelle bubbles. DRY
Promo $28.99
Cuvee No 1 NV Being made from 100% Marlborough Chardonnay this is a classic blanc de blancs style Champagne made by Daniel Le Brun. The winner of many international awards it’s clearly one of NZ best bubbles. DRY. Promo $39.99 Case Price $38.99/bot

SAUVIGNON BLANC:
Bishops Head Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 An easy drinking style with good depth of flavour and smooth barrel fermentation characters adding complexity.
Promo $14.99 or Two for $28
Forrest Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Premium “Savy” at its best now, as two recent Gold Medal awards confirm. Weighty, finely balanced with delicious melon, lime and passionfruit flavours it offers exceptional value. Gold Medal California , Gold Medal Air NZ Awards Nov.08 Promo $17.99
Boreham Wood Sauvignon Blanc 2007 A classical Awatere valley style with typical cool climate herbaceous aromas and herbal gooseberry, passionfruit flavours. A vibrant lively wine with pleasing texture and weight, it’s been the bridesmaid on seven occasions with seven silver medals. 5 Stars Cuisine (Dec08) Promo $18.99
Omaka Springs Falveys Sauvignon Blanc 2007 A small percentage of Semillon contributes to this wines punchy melon and green-capsicum flavours, while a sliver of sweetness balanced by racy acidity adds appeal to this very popular single vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. Promo $19.99

AROMATICS
Te Mania Nelson Riesling 2007 A lovely example of this aristocratic variety, the perfect partner to summer salads and fresh fish meals with its juicy citrus flavours and minerally edge. An off/dry style with a refreshing crisp finish. Promo $16.99
Forrest Doctors Riesling 2007 Made in a Germanic Style with only 8.5% alcohol and a touch of residual sweetness this highly awarded label continues to grow in popularity. The perfect aperitif or luncheon wine, deliciously refreshing, lively, light and very long. Promo $17.99
Cape Campbell Pinot Gris 2007 Very popular and clearly one of the best sub $20 Pinot Gris wines on the market. Moderately concentrated with citrus, pear and apricot characters it’s nice and fresh, with a smooth off/dry finish .Silver Medal NZIWS Promo $18.99

CHARDONNAY
TW Estate Chardonnay 2007 Just released, and another very good vintage of this great value unoaked Chardonnay. Full-bodied with ripe citrus and melon flavours, it shows a slight creamy/ buttery texture from having had a degree of malolactic fermentation.
Promo $15.99
Coopers Creek Hawkes Bay Chardonnay The Limeworks SV 2006 The fruit for this lovely Chardonnay is all sourced from the one company vineyard on the limestone hills just out of Havelock North. A beautifully balanced wine showing perfect integration of fruit and oak. Highly Recommended! Promo $21.99
Brunton Road Chardonnay 2007 Another single vineyard Chardonnay grown at Patutahi in Gisborne. Fermented in French and American oak with full malolactic fermentation, it’s weighty and creamy textured with excellent flavour depth. Gold Medal Top 100 Sept. 2008; Gold Medal Air NZ Awards Nov. 2008 Promo $24.99

RED WINES
Alex Gold Central Otago Pinot Noir 2007 This Central Otago Pinot from the Alexandra Wine Company is their second label but offers quality in keeping with more expensive top labels. Wonderful vibrant fruit- top value! Gold Medal & Trophy top 100; 4 Stars Cuisine Promo $27.99
Wooing Tree Beetle Juice Pinot Noir 2007 Another second label, the quirky name celebrating the endangered Cromwell chafer beetle. A wonderful seamless expression of Pinot Noir from this Cromwell winery that is fast acquiring a big reputation. 5 Stars & top 10 Cuisine Promo $28.99
Beacon Hill Shiraz 2007 & Scotts Creek Shiraz 2007 Two South Australian reds that deliver plenty of smooth easy drinking, without added residual sugar prevalent in many commercial Australian Reds. Both are weighty wines with good varietal flavours, the Scotts Creek being the spicier of the two. $13.99 or two for $25
Beresford Highwood Shiraz 2006 The quality and structure of this Shiraz belies its modest price and you would be hard pressed to find its equal in this price range. Lovely berry-fruit, chocolate and spice flavours. Highly recommended! 4½ Stars Sam Kim.
Promo $16.99
Fontella Chianti DOC 2007 Traditional Chianti based predominantly on Sangiovese grapes with its delicious cherry and berry-fruit flavours and solid acid spine. Still quite youthful, this is ideally a wine to be enjoyed with food around the BBQ. Promo $15.99
Irvine Merlot Cabernet Franc 2005 A lovely Bordeaux style blend combining the best of Eden Valley Merlot with its rich plumy characters and the violet-like florals of Cabernet Franc. A special wine that will have wide appeal and offers terrific value. Highly Recommended! Promo $27.99
Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 From the Tim Gramp Vineyard in the Clare Valley a lovely Cabernet, rich and supple with lush complex savoury berry-fruit flavours which linger on a long finish. Highly Recommended ! Promo $20

Also at Promotional Pricing:
Beacon Hill Cuvee NV $13.99 or Two for $25 Kaimira Nelson Chardonnay 2006 $15.99
Thomson Toolunka Flat Cabernet 2006 $15.99 Pikes “Luccio” Sangiovese 2006 $18.99

Finally, a special wish to all of you for a safe and happy festive season.
Cheers David and Dianna