Sit down tasting with Jean-Christophe Poizat from Maison Vauron $55 pp

JC will showcase ten wines, nearly all from the Rhône Valley's 'forward and charming' 2011 vintage. We'll start with a flight of three whites - two made from the Viognier grape (including a Condrieu, the famous white of the Northern Rhône) plus a southern Lirac blend. Then we'll sample reds from the appellations of Cairanne, Gigondas and Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Southern Rhône, followed by Crozes-Hermitage, Saint Joseph, and the world renowned Hermitage from the Northern Rhône - the home of the Syrah grape; finishing with a fragrant sweet Muscat from the southern village of Beaumes-de-Venise. As usual the wines will be matched with fabulous French finger food from La Fromagerie. Wine list as follows:



White
Villard Viognier Contours de Deponcins 2011
Villard Condieu Deponcins 2011
Lafond Lirac Blanc 2012

Red
Alary Cairanne 2011
Bouissiere Gigondas 2011
Galevan Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2011
Colombier Crozes-Hermitage 2011
Equis Saint Joseph 2011
Yann Chave Hermitage 2011

Dessert
Beaumalric Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise 2011

The 10 wines range in price from around $20 to $130, and will all be at great special prices on the night. Bookings confirmed on receipt of payment. Be quick!

Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Tasting
Thursday 13 June 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Sit down tasting with John Hancock (President and Founder)
$35pp (including finger food)

Trinity Hill was a pioneer of the Gimblett Gravels winegrowing area in Hawke's Bay and founder John Hancock has become one of the legends of Hawkes's Bay winemaking. A founding winemaker of Morton Estate winery and a wine judge, he's also worked in top wine houses in France - most notably in the Northern Rhone (the home of Syrah) with Gerard Jaboulet. The world renowned Jaboulet (famous for La Chapelle Hermitage), was the inspiration for Trinity Hill's flagship 'Homage' Syrah - one of the very best expressions of the northern Rhone red variety in New Zealand. The 'Gimblett Gravels' wines are Trinity Hill's top range, made from grapes grown on the famous Gimblett Gravels terroir. The tasting will feature the Homage Syrah, as well the other outstanding Gimblett Gravels wines. Here's the full list (8 wines):



White:
Gimblett Gravels Pinot Gris 2009
Gimblett Gravels Viognier 2010
Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2010

Red:
Gimblett Gravels Tempranillo 2010
Gimblett Gravels The Gimblett 2008
Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2011
Gimblett Gravels Homage Syrah 2009

Dessert:
Gimblett Gravels Noble Viognier 2009

Retail prices for the tasting wines range from around $30 to $120 and all will be at special prices on the night. Bookings confirmed on receipt of payment.

Spanish Tasting
Thursday 16 May 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Sit down tasting with Sophie Cotter from St Vincent's Cave - $35 pp (including finger food)

Spanish wine importer Sophie Cotter is back with a terrific line up of her top picks from various wine regions across Spain. The tasting will start with a flight of 2 sherry styles from the hot southern Montilla-Moriles region (Fino & Amontillado), followed by 5 red wines showcasing different varieties and blends - included lesser known indigenous varieties (Samsó & Bobal), as well as Tempranillo dominant wines from the famous northern Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions; finishing with 2 very different and delicious dessert style wines (9 wines in total). Here's the full list:

Alvear Fino (Montilla-Moriles)

Alvear Amontillado (Montilla-Moriles)

Proximo Tempranillo 2010 (Rioja) (new vintage)

Jimenez-Landi Bajondillo Garnacha/Syrah/Tempranillo/Merlot/Cabernet 2011 (Mentrida)

Mustiguillo Mestizaje Bobal/Tempranillo/Syrah/Merlot/Cabernet 2010 (Vino de Pago el Terrerazo)

Acústic Celler Acústic Samsó/Garnacha 2010 (Montsant)

Pago de los Capellanes Crianza 2008 Tempranillo/Cabernet (Ribera del Duero)

Alvear Moscatel (Montilla-Moriles)

Olivares Late Harvest Monastrell 2008 (Jumilla)



Retail prices for the tasting wines range from under $20 to around $80 and all will be at special prices on the night. Bookings confirmed on receipt of payment.

Sit down tasting with Jean-Christophe Poizat $40 pp

"The Beaujolais quality, distinctiveness, versatility, stylistic diversity, and age-worthiness being delivered in the bottle with regularity by the region's growers are all unprecedented, or at least in modern times" - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate



Jean-Christophe from importers Maison Vauron, touched on the exciting wines now coming out of Burgundy's Beaujolais region at our last (Nov 2012) Burgundy tasting. This time he'll be focusing exclusively on the various Beaujolais sub-areas. There'll be 9 wines featured - 8 reds (including 6 Cru Beaujolais - the highest classification) and to finish, a sweet white Vendanges Tardive, made from the Chardonnay grape. As always the wines will be matched with fabulous finger food from La Fromagerie. Here's the wine list :

Terres Dorees Beaujolais "L'Ancien" 2011

Dominique Piron Brouilly 2011

Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly & Vignes 2011

Bouroniere Fleurie 2010

Dominique Piron Chénas Quartz 2011

Terres Dorees Morgon 2010

Chermette Moulin-à-Vent Trois Roches 2011

Tour de Bief Moulin-à-Vent 2010

Terres Dorees Vendanges Tardives Extremis 2008 (500ml)



The wines range in price from under $30 to over $50, and all will be at special prices on the night. Bookings confirmed on receipt of payment.