Wine Importer and raconteur Michael Jemison paired up an interesting and eclectic range of wines to present for this tasting. It was certainly a treat to taste these, especially the older German Rieslings. The crowd favourite was headed by the stunning Moss Wood Chardonnay – A wine where you really do get what you pay for. The 1992 Auslese was a very special wine but as the vote for favourite wines showed, there was something pleasing for everyone across the wines.

Ca Di Rajo Prosecco Spumante Brut DOC Treviso NV

New Zealand has Sauvignon Blanc; Italy has Prosecco. The world-wide growth in demand for prosecco over the past few years has been phenomenal. Produced from the Glera variety of grape, Prosecco is made in the North East region of Veneto around the city of Treviso by the Charmat (tank ferment and transfer) method. Established in 1931, Ca Di Rajo is an independent family-owned winery in Piave. Clean, fruity and fresh are its calling cards.

Ca Di Rajo Prosecco DOCG Millesimato Brut ‘Cuvee del Fondatore’ 2015

This is from the Valdobbiadene region which has the Italian quality “Superiore DOCG”, making these wines the ‘top of the tree’ for quality Prosecco. This has more persistance and energy than the Brut and a definite ‘step-up’. Dry, with some toastiness and depth with floral notes. Very good.

Blank Canvas Chardonnay 2016

Blank Canvas is a relatively new venture for Matt and Sophie Thompson. Matt has a long history of wine making both here in NZ and overseas being the head wine maker at Saint Clair and Delta for many years. During that time Matt established good ties with  a number of top growers whose fruit he now uses for the Blank Canvas wines. Made in the modern ‘Traditional’ style; that is wild yeast ferment in larger oak. This is a fairly full-on Chardonnay with plenty going on. A good whiff of struck match along with white fruits – peach, nectarine and excellent depth and length.

Moss Wood Chardonnay 2015

Regarded as one of the great names of Margaret River Chardonnay and with 40 year old vines making then amongst the very oldest in Australia.  Although fermented and aged in 50% new oak, this is not obvious on the palate. A wine with layers of flavours – quite savoury with chalky nougat, honey, nut and some citrus flavours. An exceptional Chardonnay.

Weingut George Heim Riesling Spatlese Neumagener Rosengarten 2001

Michael put the word out to his friend Martin Kerpen in the Mosel a couple of years ago to keep an eye out for any old parcels of Riesling sitting in cellars. He’d discovered some previously and had heard that some of the smaller family vineyards often had various vintages hidden away. Treasures indeed. Yellow gold in colour with only slight aging characters. Lemon and honey with a hint of Botrytis character.

Erben Burgermeister Lauer Riesling Auslese Dhroner Hofberger 1992 500ml

This is all you’d expect from an well cellared, well aged quality Auslese. At 25 years of age, this still looks quite youthful and fresh, yet under-pined by marmalade and honey characters. The sweetness is also still fresh. Amazing to taste a wine like this.