Pink champagne is one of our favourite things here at Regional Wines and this special bottle comes from Ruinart, one of the oldest champagne houses still in existence today.  This gorgeous expression of pink champagne is made mostly from Pinot Noir, which makes up 55% of the blend, with the balance being 45% Chardonnay. Interestingly, nearly 20% of the Pinot Noir was vinified as red wine and blended into this complex, sensationally savoury style of wine. 

It is a multi vintage blend with between 20 to 25% overall from reserve wines made in the previous two vintages and blended with grapes from the current harvest. Complex flavours develop in these older wines while the retention of freshness is retained both by the high percentage of new wines and also the lees aging in bottle while the champagne is on tirage, following its second fermentation.  It's a complex process, which translates in the flavours of great champagnes, such as this one. 

Most of the grapes in this wine and those in all Ruinart champagnes are grown in the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims terroirs in Champagne.

* The House of Ruinart was first established in the Champagne region in 1729 and was inspired by a monk. 

Domaine Joblot is credited for putting the Givry region back on the Burgundy map with its high quality Pinot Noir. The fruit is meticulously picked and vinified. 

This Pinot shows great finesse and charm. The nose is fresh and fruity, with cherry and raspberry notes. Earthiness and gentle oak on the palate are complemented by red fruit notes. This is a medium bodied Pinot with moderate tannins and a balanced finish,

From Domaine de l'Arlot

The Style of the Wine
With its well-defined character, this wine perfectly illustrates the identity of the Nuits Saint Georges vineyard. Complex aromas of blackcurrant mingled with spicy blackberry are revealed on the nose with, depending on the vintage, darker notes of liquorice, leather and blood orange. The well-built mouth affirms itself with density and strength around a tight structure with rich, well-wrapped tannins. It becomes increasingly seductive over time, which comes from the elegance, intensity and purity of the fruit.

Discover more
- The Clos des Forêts Saint Georges covers the entire geological range of the slopes of Nuits Saint Georges: Ladoix limestone at the bottom, Premeaux limestone in the middle, and white oolite limestone in the upper part, with a marked presence of ochre silt in some places. This Clos is planted entirely to Pinot Noir.

- Traditional vinification: A manual harvest, minimal vatting, pumping over and punching down without excess to reveal the full aromatic range drawn from this great terroir. Ageing lasts on average 15 months in oak barrels, with a maximum of 40% of new barrels, and 3 months in vats before bottling.

- A wine for ageing: the generous terroir of the Clos des Forêts Saint Georges forms the soul of the wine. It builds a solid red around well-present tannins which define a wine for ageing. A few years in the cellar will allow the wine to express itself more fully and make it more graceful, silkier and more complete.

The Terroir
In Burgundy the monopoly (single estate vineyard) defines a unit of land, a terroir which has been perfectly defined for centuries and which is owned by a single proprietor. The Clos des Forêts Saint Georges covers a surface of 7.2 hectares, all in one piece. It is a unique terroir in a privileged location which right from its origin has made one of the greatest Nuits Saint Georges wines.

Tasting Note
The nose brings out deep, intense floral and fruity notes, mixed with hints of spice. Described as a more muscular wine, the palate is straightforward yet complex, elegant and full-bodied. The finish is long and intense, suggesting that it will keep well. This is a very fine wine with velvety tannins.

Coddington Chardonnay is made with grapes grown on a West Auckland vineyard owned by Tim and Angela Coddington, who have provided grapes to Kumeu River Wines since 1998; originally used in the Estate Chardonnay.

The grapes from this vineyard has since proven to have such rich, distinctive flavours that the Brajkovich family decided to create a single vineyard Chardonnay, initally in 2006. 

Kumeu River Coddington Chardonnay is ripe, peachy and rich with supple approachability, density, concentration and luscious creaminess. This makes the wine easy to drink at an early stage and it will age well too.

Kumeu River Wines began life as San Marino Wines in 1944 when Croatian immigrant couple, Mick and Katé Brajkovich, bought a small property with a vineyard on it. Their descendents now own and run Kumeu River Wines, which produces 250,000 bottles of wine annually from its owns 30 hectares of vineyards in Kumeu and from another 10 hectares, owned by local grape growers. 

The Rasteau Cru lies in the heart of the Côtes du Rhône region. The vineyards are bathed in morning sun; sheltered by the Dentelles and have a mainly northerly aspect. The soils are dominated by clay and limestone, with cobbles on the surface, which retain heat and create drainage. Wine has been made here since Roman times, and the region is famous for its fortified, sweet Vin Doux Naturels. Dry red wines have been included under the Cru appellation since 2010. Grapes mature more slowly, and the harvest is later than other appellations; the extra time being highly suited to the region's dominant variety of Grenache Noir. 

This wine is a blend of Grenache with a small proportion of aromatic Syrah and Mourvèdre fermented in traditional concrete vats. The wine is matured for 12 months in the same concrete vats before release in the regulation appellation bottle.

Tasting notes

This wine manages to be serious, as you would expect from a Cru Rhône, but with a freshness and precision that really lifts it. All liquorice, garrigue, and spice, wrapped around a vibrant red and black fruit core.

Food match

Pair with roasted duck leg, slow cooked vegetable ragu, or a beautiful cheese platter.

Grenache Noir 65% , Mourvèdre 25% , Syrah 10% Vegetarian, Vegan, Sustainable

Specially selected by Boutinot's French winemaking team, les Crus du Sud is a handcrafted selection of wines from the Southern Rhône.

This wine is a rediscovery of the old tradition of using partially-dried grapes to add richness and concentration. The Barbera grapes were grown on southwest-facing slopes in the Monferrato hills, at 250-400m altitude. Soils here are clay and limestone. Following the traditional passito technique - a portion of ripe Barbera grapes (around 20%), left on the vine for nearly a month after the main harvest to sun dry, were blended with fresh Barbera grapes before fermentation. This sweetens, enriches and softens the resulting acidity.

Tasting notes

A fleshy and juicy red with aromas of sweet ripe plums and cherries. The palate shows ripe fruit-forward characters of cherry and wild plum and the ripe rounded finish is balanced by fresh bramble acidity.

Food match

A good match for roast poultry or game, or rich stews and pasta dishes.

Aroha is the Maori word for love and plenty of TLC has gone into tending the grapes that go into this full bodied Pinot Noir from the Te Muna Valley in Martinborough. 

This is the pinnacle Pinot Noir made by Craggy Range and represents a wine that can age superbly as well as drinking well now; preferably decanted. 

Red and black cherry flavours are supported by gentle smooth French oak ageing.

The best parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot Bordeaux varietals are selected from the Gimblett Gravels Vineyard and blended to make the richly layered and precisely constructed ‘Sophia’.

Ruby red colour, aromas of red fruits. In the mouth it is fresh withan excellent tannic texture. Ideal for first and second courses based on meat. Destemming and pressing of the grapes, fermentation and after a part of the wine is aged for 6 months in wooden barrels.