The world is finally waking up to the fact New Zealand isn't a one-trick pony when it comes to producing top-class wines and that, in addition to a special style of sauvignon blanc, we're also incredibly adroit at producing superlative examples of pinot noir.
This week it was announced that a
New Zealand wine had won the Bouchard Finlayson trophy for best pinot noir at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in London.
The Black Estate Waipara Pinot Noir 2007 won gold, best in class and, after further rigorous judging, the international trophy for best pinot noir, blitzing hundreds of international entries.
The Naish family are understandably fizzing and Rod Naish said: "We are thrilled. Our family team put a lot of energy and focus into our vines and this award confirms just how special our site is."
Winemaker and Rod's son-in-law Nicholas Brown believes that the Black Estate site, with its limestone clay soils and subtle elevation is perfect for growing world-class pinot noir.
Cleverly, Black Estate is in conversion to organics and biodynamics which Nicholas says "is a fundamental aspect of our grape growing and will further allow the site to speak".
Nicholas was winemaker at Daniel Schuster Wines between 2006 and 2009 and has spent vintages at internationally renowned vineyards Isole e Olena (Chianti), Opus One (Napa), Soter Vineyards (Oregon) and Wither Hills (Marlborough).
He works closely with marketing manager and partner Penelope Naish and his brother-in law, Alistair Blair, who manages the vineyard.
Make no mistake, the IWSC pinot noir trophy is an epic achievement for this boutique Canterbury producer, but what makes it so much more skite-worthy from an industry point of view is that this is the second year in a row that a New Zealand pinot has taken top honours. Last year the same trophy was awarded to Mitre Rocks Vineyard for their Mount Dottrel Central Otago Pinot Noir 2007, which then went on to sell out in record time.
So there's the catch.
When our wines win these big international accolades that pretty much spells the end of their availability to you and I - but I'm willing to take the pain of missing out if it means those wines are making valuable inroads for brand New Zealand overseas.
The world is finally waking up to the fact New Zealand isn't a one-trick pony when it comes to producing top-class wines and that, in addition to a special style of sauvignon blanc, we're also incredibly adroit at producing superlative examples of pinot noir.
This week it was announced that a
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