If you’re looking for complexity and recogniseably familiar flavours, try out Cloudy Bay’s top tier Sauvignon Blanc, known simply Te Koko, which is made from grapes grown on some of this iconic winery’s oldest vineyards, which produce grapes with high concentration and intense aromatics.

After gentle pressing and settling for a period of 24 hours, the juice is racked directly to French oak barrels, a small portion of which is new (typically less than 10%) where it undergoes a slow steady fermentation initiated by indigenous yeasts. The wine rests in barrel on fine lees for about seven months. Whilst in barrel, the wine undergoes a partial malolactic fermentation and then careful maturation in the cellar creates the unique texture and acid profile of Te Koko.

Aromatically, Te Koko unfolds with a complex array of citrus and stone fruit, complemented by exotic floral notes on the finish. the use of oak at fermentation.

Among the most popular fruit liqueurs, De Kuyper apricot brandy is produced from distillates of premium apricots, delicately blended with fine brandy to preserve the fresh flavour.source: thedrinkshop.com

Traditionally made using the dried peel of the small Curacao orange, named after the island of Curacao in the Caribbean, Curacao liqueurs can be clear, blue or orange. The colours are purely decorative, but the bitter orange flavours are very similar. The Curacao fruits are sliced and macerated in fine neutral spirit to extract the flavours. Once the blend has been enhanced with sugar and brandy, it is then left to marry for several weeks to develop its full flavour. Rarely consumed neat, De Kuyper Orange Curacao is a vital ingredient for various eye-catching cocktails.source: in-the-spirit-shop.co.uk

Chateauneuf du Pape is the most important red wine in the southern Rhone Valley and was also the first appellation in France when it was formed in 1936 to protect the authenticity of the area's wines. Up to 18 different grape varieties are allowed to be used in reds and whites made under the Chateauneuf du Pape AC today, with no distinction made as to the exact percentages used. This means the wines from here can vary significantly in style and they tend to be big powerful reds with great longevity. 

Domaine Janasse is one of our top Chateauneuf du Papes in store at Regional. It's a blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault with 80% of the wine having been aged in stainless steel and 20% in barrel (30% new) for 12 months. 

It's a dry, full bodied, powerful red with pronounced red and black fruit flavours buoyed up by spice, cedar and savoury notes. 

Château de Fesles Bonnezeaux is a yellow, almost ochre-coloured wine. It has an expressive, vinous nose with notes of lemon, citrus fruit and white flowers. This wine is nicely alcoholic, warm and spicy on the palate. This Bonnezaux has a semi-dry style and a slight taste of peach kernel. Bonnezeaux is 100% Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley.

Bright flavours, fresh and light in style - and lighter in alcohol too with 9% ABV. Sauvignon Blanc is well suited to lower alcohol wines because it's so intense in flavour and this lively wine expresses that with its tropical fruit aromas, fresh herb tastes and its fresh zesty acidity, which adds balance and length of taste.

A great wine to drink when you want less alcohol but still want to enjoy a drink or two. That little bit less alcohol makes a big difference... and here's a tasty example which is also dry in style with 5 grams residual sugar (that's natural sugar from the grapes, retained from stopping the fermentation early). 

The finger limes highlight the Asian spices like coriander and star anise, and are complemented by the fresh ginger. Then turmeric adds weight to the palate and a fresh but earthy quality, not unlike dill.

The resulting gin has lifted aromatics of lime curd, pine needles, and fragrant spices with a vanilla character which pulls it all together. The palate is intense - sweet and juicy - but it is still very clean.

Chardonnay Barrel Gin is a smooth and super sippable gin. Aged in French Oak ex-Chardonnay barrels, the palate is light and creamy, finishing with lingering spice and fresh citrus peel. As soon as you open the bottle, you'll get great aromas of preserved lemon, ginger, light vanilla and cinnamon.

100% hand-picked Chardonnay, crushed and pressed into old Burgundian French oak barrels for wild yeast fermentation until dry. The wine was matured in barrel for 14-16 months during which time it underwent full malolactic fermentation.

This is a complex Chardonnay with multiple layers of ripe fruit and richness, along with a chalky minerality on the nose. The palate combines fruit weight and balanced acidity with a tight yet generous structure. This is followed by a long lingering pithy citrus finish with and hints of savouriness.

Viticulture 

Grapes sourced from our own Fromm Vineyard (5.1%), from Churton Vineyard in the Waihopai Valley (18.8%) and from two sites in the Brancott Valley, Yarrum (25.4%) and Wrekin (50.7%). No herbicides, pesticides or systemic fungicides used. Only approved natural fertiliser applied. All vineyards certified organic (BioGro).  

Winemaking 

Hand-picked between March 16th and 31st. 100% destemmed while retaining a high portion of whole berries. Selected parcels from each vineyard were individually fermented on “wild” yeast and vinified into single vineyard wines, providing the blending components for this Cuvée. Average time on skins between 14 and 28 days. Matured for approximately 14 to 18 months in French oak barrels (less than 10% new). 

Wine facts

Grape variety  Pinot Noir

Bottled   March 2022 under cork at FROMM Winery

Labelled and packed at FROMM Winery

Production  7044 bottles and 18 magnums

Cellaring potential 2036

Winemaker  Hätsch Kalberer

Store   10° – 14° Enjoy   16° – 18° 

Wine analysis  Alcohol   13.5%

Total acidity  4.6 g/l pH   3.63

Residual sugar  less than 1 g/l 

Winemaker’s comments - Dense, deep red colour. The nose is concentrated yet fragrant with dark fruit aromas, complex, focused and very expressive. On the palate again concentration without being heavy. An elegant Pinot Noir with beautiful transparency, excellent structure and tension and very fine tannin support in the finish, reflecting one of our most exciting vintages since 2010. 

Food match - Beautiful with venison, wild game, beef, lamb, vegetarian dishes, cheese and charcuterie, chocolate, raspberries and strawberries.

Royal Dock Gin represents the style of Gin supplied by the family and previous generations under the mark "Senior Service Gin" to both the Royal Navy and the trade from 1863. Its robust and bright profile with an enhanced aromatic nose had great appeal amongst the highest ranks of the Navy.

Based in London, they delivered to the Royal Victoria Yard at the Royal Dock, the largest of the three Admiralty Victualling Boards which was the headquarters for the food and drinks provisions. Gin along with Rum was an essential part of the cargo.

This Navy Strength Gin at 57% vol was the strength required to enable gunpowder to still light if gin was spilt on it. Senior Service Gin was the nickname for the Royal Navy and the original name for this gin. The colour scheme has endured but not so the antiquated nickname. 

Tasting Note 

Nose: Royal Dock Gin has a characteristic, bright and robust gin style, to be expected from the Navy Strength spirit, and yet retains its citrus, juniper and refreshing floral hints on the nose. 

Palate: This intense but smooth gin retains a balance of juniper, coriander, orange and lemon peel with mineral and spicy hints and a slightly sweet warmth. 

Finish: The lingering juniper and citrus flavours mingle with the other botanicals to leave a warm, faintly floral and honey finish. 

Awards Double Gold San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2013 Gin Masters, The Spirits Business 2012 Gold

IMAGINATION - Distilled in an 8 plate fractionating column still.  Juniper and coriander are complemented by the leafy earthiness of manuka to create the heart of this gin.  Whole New Zealand oranges and lemons add a refreshing citrus aroma and cinnamon and licorice leave a sweet lingering spice finish.

Each label tells the story of the ingredients, the place or the people behind what's in the bottle.  This label was inked by Juse from Taupou Tatau tattoo studio, Wellington, New Zealand.

Blended from 42 malts, all from Speyside, plus top quality grain. It's smooth and fruity.

From the talented hand of John Quarisa using grapes from Coonawarra in South Australia.

Approachable, easy going and versatile, this wine has a nose of fresh, complex cassis and mint fruit flavours with some well integrated vanillin oak. The palate is full bodied with dense ripe cassis fruit flavours balanced with vanillin oak but yet long and smooth. This wine has the flavour, structure and balance to be enjoyed now but can benefit from further cellaring.