NZ PINOT NOIR GOLD - WYCROFT

We blogged the other day about getting a lovely bottle of 2009  Wycroft Pinot Noir in exchange for a lend of our meat mincer so our mate could make some venison sausages ( we got some sausages as well).
We are well familiar with the delightful depth and sophistication of Wycroft wines so we were well pleased to acquire a bottle.
However ,we have just discovered the latest accolade this small but excellent vineyard has won. Wycroft is only found in the best restaurants as is befitting a pinot of quality. We love its plummy, chocolaty  richness and the decadence that comes from a hint of tobacco. It is a supremely good wine that  glows from the loving touch of its passionate vintners.  It has always been in the best of NZ Wine company and the latest award sees it again recognised as one of this country's premium pinot noirs and indeed the world.  

Specialist Wairarapa pinot noir maker Wycroft has been awarded one of only 18 gold medals globally in the 28^th annual London International Wine Challenge (IWC). Six kiwi pinot noirs scored gold – three from Central Otago, two from Marlborough, and Wycroft, from Matahiwi Rd, Masterton for its 2009 Wycroft Pinot Noir. With more than 25,000 wines entered the IWC is the world’s largest wine competition. The local pinot noir gold medals were shared with Australia and the United Stateswith one each, and France with 10. This is the second international gold medal from two entries for the boutique Wycroft label, the other being a Decanter award for the Wycroft 2006 Pinot Noir. Wycroft was established in 1998 and produces purely pinot noir in small quantities for high-end restaurants and mailing list clients. Its annual production averages around 250 dozen. 

We wont be drinking this bottle until we can find  an auspicious occasion to do it justice and congratulations must also go  to  Roaring Meg 2009 (Mt Difficulty, Central Otago); Elephant Hill 2009 (Central Otago); Valli Pinot Noir 2008 (Central Otago); The Society’s Exhibition Pinot Noir 2009 (Craggy Range, Central Otago); Nautilus Estate 2009 (Marlborough); Villa Maria Cellar Selection 2009 (Marlborough) which were also gold medal winners. 

HIGH VALUE GRAPE HARVESTER

We got to work this morning to find 6 bottles of wonderful Wycroft Forbury Pinot Noir from Bon Vivant and vintner Lawrie Bryant. Now we picked about 8 boxes of grapes in about 2 hours so we are confident that this reward means we are considered to be a very high value harvester!

We will take a couple of bottles with us to Padthaway South Australia in July - the home of some good big reds, to share with family there.
We enjoy watching them savour the subtly and elegance of NZ Pinot Noirs.

Thank you, my dear boy, thank you!

BACCHANALIAN PARADISE

Today we worked for our lunch, not lots, but enough to get a fainter shimmer of perspiration on our brow and a dusty butt.

We were asked to come join in the harvest of one of the Wairarapa's top pinot noir vineyards. Wycroft. The owner and Bon Vivant is Lawrie Bryant. There were a few other guests of the harvest as well but in the interests of national security all names will remain anonymous.
Anyway the day was picture perfect , autumn sunshine, great company and a superb autumnal lunch of cold cuts, pies, pickles and bread and salad. And of course a drop of the hosts best.

Wycroft is seen and enjoyed in such fine eateries as Antoines and Boulcott St Bistro.
We could go on about how good it is , but to our untrained palate it's just bloody yum.

One of the things that Lawrie has crafted, which shows he is a man who thinks hard about how to reduce the impact of dirty and difficult work, is the slidy vine chair pictured above. It alleviates the need to bend over or scrabble along on your derriere as you clip the grapes from the low hanging vines.

But the highlight of the day was meeting a 95 year old airforce veteran. Sprightly he was, thoroughly entertaining, a true gentleman and a one our nations treasures. And he helped pick grapes along with us young 'uns. We could have listened to his tales for hours.

We will remember the Wycroft 2009 vintage, and the privilege of meeting a great New Zealand hero for many years to come.