The latest Cuisine magazine, Issue No. 137,
for November 2009 is oriented to the summer months with Christmas as a
focus. Some excellent cuisine aspects
are covered, and with wine, there are the results of tastings of Champagnes, sparkling
wines and New Zealand Pinot Noirs.
The Top Under $100.00 Champagne was H. Lanvin Brut NV, a regular
star performer in wine judgings and tastings, such as Cuisine’s. It is a great value wine as well as one
possessing great quality and character.
The price of Lanvin has crept up over the past year or so, but it’s
still less money than some of the big names, and delivers just as much style
and quality as some Champagnes
more than twice the price.
Interestingly, in second spot was the instantly recognisable ‘Yellow
Label’ non-vintage brut of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin. VCP is now the second largest label after
Moet & Chandon. Against the normal
trend and to Veuve’s credit, quality has actually increased along with the
larger volume produced. It remains a
magnificent full-bodied Champagne
with autolytic complexity, but even fresher than ever. In third spot was Louis Roederer ‘Brut
Premier’ NV, one of our favourites and our pick in the ‘Top 30’ last year.
A Hot Tip: Our 2009 ‘Top 30’ selection to be
released in November offers Lanvin and Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne at very good
prices…..
The Top N.Z. Pinot Noir went to Wild Earth
Central Otago Pinot Noir 2007. This is
not the first time the Quider family have tasted success with their Pinot
Noir. We have had the wine available for
much of this year, and it is drinking beautifully, as many 2007 Pinot Noirs
are. The Cuisine line-up of to Pinot
Noirs is heavily weighted to wines from the 2007 vintage, a harvest that we
have been recommending for quite some time.
In second place was a limited release Peregrine ‘Karearea’ Pinot Noir
2007. We have begged for this, but there’s
only enough for the cellar door. However,
the regular Peregrine Pinot Noir 2007 keeps on winning award after award, and
we’re happy with that.
Another Hot Tip: We have negotiated a final allocation
of the Peregrine Pinot Noir 2007 for our ‘Top 30’, and are extremely pleased to
be able to offer it again this year…