“Of all the phrases in the English language, of all the endless combinations of words in all of history, 'Cellar Door' is the most beautiful” - Drew Barrymore
It's so bloody annoying that New Zealand has to be the other end of the planet (from me) and impossible to bring my dog - I'm desperate to visit (even have a mate in Central Otago) and very jealous of your Wineymoon! That said, I did get to try the Palliser Chardonnay (probably 2023 vintage) here in NL last winter. I thought it was absolutely excellent and everything I wanted in a Chardonnay. However, my tasting panel (aka boozy friends) did not agree: those who like oaky, buttery styles found it too acidic, and those who like lean, unoaked Chablis styles found it too oaky. So no one was happy except me 🙃
It's on the other end of the planet from everyone! 😂 My dog, Benny (perfect creature), is also always the limiting factor for us traveling. I used to scheme how I could move him to NZ with me when I worked there for a summer, but it's too complicated and the quarantine requirements are no joke (definitely not vacation-friendly). We drove all the way from Austin to San Francisco to leave Benny with my parents, but that kind of multi-day road trip before and after a vacation is a lot to juggle. Worth it, though!
I'd love to introduce more people to Martinborough Chardonnay to see how they react, just so hard to track down out here. I'm biased, but I have trouble seeing how anyone could dislike it! If you have access to the 2024 Palliser Chard, I can't recommend it enough. Everyone we spoke with there went on about how tough the 2023 vintage was in the region (even so all the 2023 wines we tasted were great), but 2024 is supposedly shaping up to be one for the record books. The quality definitely supports it!
Nice! Unfortunately we didn't get to taste the McCrone while we were there, but we tried 5 different pinots (standard issue Ata Rangi, Masters, Kotinga, Celebre, and Crimson) and they were all great, with lots of variation between vineyard sites. Also loved their chardonnay. Can't ramble on enough about the damn chardonnay in Martinborough.
It's so bloody annoying that New Zealand has to be the other end of the planet (from me) and impossible to bring my dog - I'm desperate to visit (even have a mate in Central Otago) and very jealous of your Wineymoon! That said, I did get to try the Palliser Chardonnay (probably 2023 vintage) here in NL last winter. I thought it was absolutely excellent and everything I wanted in a Chardonnay. However, my tasting panel (aka boozy friends) did not agree: those who like oaky, buttery styles found it too acidic, and those who like lean, unoaked Chablis styles found it too oaky. So no one was happy except me 🙃
It's on the other end of the planet from everyone! 😂 My dog, Benny (perfect creature), is also always the limiting factor for us traveling. I used to scheme how I could move him to NZ with me when I worked there for a summer, but it's too complicated and the quarantine requirements are no joke (definitely not vacation-friendly). We drove all the way from Austin to San Francisco to leave Benny with my parents, but that kind of multi-day road trip before and after a vacation is a lot to juggle. Worth it, though!
I'd love to introduce more people to Martinborough Chardonnay to see how they react, just so hard to track down out here. I'm biased, but I have trouble seeing how anyone could dislike it! If you have access to the 2024 Palliser Chard, I can't recommend it enough. Everyone we spoke with there went on about how tough the 2023 vintage was in the region (even so all the 2023 wines we tasted were great), but 2024 is supposedly shaping up to be one for the record books. The quality definitely supports it!
Actually I just checked my notes - it was the 2022 I tasted! So maybe I'll skip 2023 and head straight for 2024...
Hell yeah, let us know what you think!
Very jealous you’ve been to Ata Rangi!
You've got to go! Have you had a chance to taste many of their wines?
Luckily have tasted lots of Ata Rangi, we used to sell a lot and still had some 2016 McCrone in the office cupboard when I left - such great wines!
Nice! Unfortunately we didn't get to taste the McCrone while we were there, but we tried 5 different pinots (standard issue Ata Rangi, Masters, Kotinga, Celebre, and Crimson) and they were all great, with lots of variation between vineyard sites. Also loved their chardonnay. Can't ramble on enough about the damn chardonnay in Martinborough.
Sounds absolutely epic, very jealous!