Tag: Lansdowne

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Montana using Australian wines, Watering vines

Montana using Australian wines

You may recall that in the last issue I raised the matter of Montana using Australian wines in some of their cheaper varietals. Those of you who watch TV1’s Seven Sharp programme will have noted that this matter was canvassed last week. Once again elements of the mainstream media are lagging behind your newsletter in bringing these matters to your attention. I can only repeat, read the label fully. The origin of the wine will be mentioned.

Watering vines

Lansdowne 100-year-old pinot noir

And if it is not enough that we were ahead with the Montana story, no sooner do we give Lansdowne some coverage in our Summer Romance tasting than the DomPost is in on the act.

Those of you who get the weekend paper may have noted John Saker’s article in the “Your Weekend” magazine. John talks about the fact that not watering vines actually produces better wines. He highlights two wines, one being the Lansdowne Pinot Gris that we tasted in February.

To quote; “Since planting a vineyard with his son near Masterton more than a decade ago, Derek Hagar has never irrigated. This Pinot Gris is special, with fascinating Chablis-like characters, pear and minerally finish. It’s dry with a gently viscous mouthfeel. Excellent value too.”

You can still get it through me at under $20 a bottle if you hurry.

Cheers
Robin Semmens, Editor

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Late cancellations, Summer romance tasting, Wine of Australia

Late cancellations

We were finding that working too far ahead occasionally left us in trouble with late cancellations so your committee decided to arrange tastings a little closer to the time. This does not seem to be working out so well and we are in repair mode over the April tasting. Rest assured though that something will be arranged that will meet the usual high standard of our events.

Summer romance tasting

At the February summer romance tasting, I mentioned that the Lansdowne wines could be purchased. The offer was not taken up at the time but is still on the table. Lansdowne produces three wines and they are of a very high quality. There was some really good feedback on the Pinot Gris on the night. The wines have been bottle aged but will all cellar well. The Pinot Gris is $19.55 while their Pinot Noir and Syrah are more expensive at $38.25. These prices include a 15% but are only available through me. Let me know if you are interested.

Wine of Australia

Shows the value of reading the label fully. The Montana Wines mentioned will say “Wine of Australia” on the back. Clearly to be avoided if you want to be sure you are drinking NZ wines.

Cheers
Robin Semmens, Editor

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Glancing Back: Lansdowne and Bijou Estates

The evening went well with members enjoying the contrast in speaking styles and the differing philosophies from two producers, without a background in the sector, and trying to develop in an area without a strong recent wine history. As to be expected each producer had their fans. There was comment that Alex from Bijou was a good presenter and she presented some good wines. Some felt that Derek, despite his passion for his wines, was a little inexperienced in presenting to an audience that includes a number of members with very well developed tasting skills. It was, nonetheless, an engaging meeting with a lively discussion about cork vs screw cap.

Interestingly the stand-out wine, which was not tasted on the evening, was the Lansdowne Syrah, which a number of members purchased, despite not having tasted it. Murray, Dinah, Patricia and I had the opportunity to compare it with a Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah from 2007 recently, and it suffered nothing in the comparison. A lovely drop and if you get a chance don’t hesitate to purchase some.

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Looking Forward: March 2013 Lansdowne Estate

2015-06-17-5580e255d9586Early settler William Beetham held extensive land holdings in the Wairarapa Valley and planted carefully sourced classic French Rhone Valley and Burgundy originating vinis vinifera cuttings of Hermitage (Syrah) and Pinot around his Lansdowne Homestead in Masterton in the early 1880’s. These classic grapevines flourished and he then moved them to a vineyard of about six acres which he established nearby, in a vale within the valley, on the bank of the Ruamahunga river. This became the first successful commercial vineyard in the Wairarapa.

In 1998 Margaret and Derek Hagar bought land on the west bank of the Ruamahanga River which was part of the original Lansdowne Estate.

The terrain with its dry climate, cool nights and long hot sunny days with stony, clay over limestone soil compare favorably with any in the world for the cultivation of Burgundian wines. After several years of hard struggle in the stony, free-draining soil Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Syrah were again established at Lansdowne. The six acres planted are about the same size as the original vineyard. They may well be on, or very near to the original site, being less than a kilometer from the original homestead.

Derek will be combining with another local producer to present wines from around the northern region of Masterton. Has the potential to be very interesting.