In late April, I was returning from my time "down under" where I’d worked at some fantastic wineries and checked the quality of Farr Vintners' great New Zealand imports along the way. However, I will admit, I was pining for some Claret and arguably saved the best for last as I happened to be in Shanghai & Hong Kong for two fantastic wine dinners hosted by the ever-engaging Director of Cos d’Estournel, Jean-Guillaume Prats.
As this en primeur campaign comes to a close, and the world’s fine wine merchants head off to Hong Kong for the biennial Vinexpo wine fair, this seems like a good time to reflect on how it’s gone.
Having worked at Kumeu River and seen New Zealand's best Chardonnay, I headed down to the South Island to see where the country's most famous Sauvignon Blancs are produced. Churton sits in the stunning Waihopai Valley with rolling hills and vineyards as far as the eye can see. Sam Weaver came over to Marlborough, with his wife Mandy, from London over 15 years ago. He quickly established himself as a serious wine-maker and consultant at nearby wineries while planting his own vineyards on the North facing slopes behind his house. For many years he was a two-harvest-a-year man working in Europe at wineries in France (such as Comte Lafon) and further afield.
