It seems that all of Bordeaux is a-quiver these days - waiting for the next bus load of newly minted Chinese grillionaires to swing past and buy the farm. It has been happening with alarming regularity for the past year or two and has been creating some waves. I guess the world is a global market place these days and one should not get too hysterical about this sort of thing, but its fair to say that some sectors of France are taking a view pretty much the same as when Kraft bought the much beloved Australian Vegemite brand and what may possibly end up happening to Southcorp and the Penfolds Grange.
I am sure it was just another day at the office for the pristine Coal Pit winery last year in Central Otago, when a major Aussie wine buyer cruised in to taste the wines. Maybe it was the immaculately tended vines, maybe it was the amazing vista down from one of the higher vineyards in this sub-region of Gibbston Valley in NZ, maybe it was the energetic and organised atmosphere of the two-girl operation (Rosie the owner and Lynn the guru), maybe it was the assertive managerial attitude of the in-house one foot long Ugg-Boot with the personalilty of Rambo who goes by the name of Chicco, but certainly all of this came together to make a bit of history for the winery...
I have never been accused of letting discretion get in the way of a good story, so on this occasion I won't name the Aussies. What I can say is that they took it all - the whole vintage with the sweep of one signature.
We are very priviledged in that the jungle telegraph works efficiently for us in Central Otago and we found out about this virtually right away, with us being able to get samples of the 2009 on a plane and even more importantly to put my pinot-stained sneaker onto a small allocation pending the tasting. Cutting the story short - the stuff rocks. We did a far smaller but equally as enthusiastic impression of the Aussie wine buyers - after tasting the samples in Singapore, we excercised our "sneaker option" and took whatever they would give us from their Museum stock.
I have just completed a one-on-one tasting of the 2010 Pinot back here in Gibbston Valley with Chicco and the girls who agree that the 2010, if given the chance of another six months or so of peaceful slumber and integration in an environment that probably resembles any wine dudes idea of heaven, has a good chance of being even more impressive than the 2009 we have available today. It has legs and structure that will allow it to effortlessly age beyond the drinking window of the 2009, and grow deeper and richer in stature and presence, whilst retaining a feeling of weightlessness and grace.
For those who get some of the 2009 from us today which will very certainly be over-subscribed, look out for violets, dark plums, and fresh cherries still warm from the late summer sun. There will be the unmistakeable stamp of fresh mountain flowers and lifted alluring spice that makes this part of the world so very distinctive and special - ensuring my return next year to hang out with these two determined and special ladies and their fluffy curator - doing battle once more for at least the chance to see what they are going to do next...
(Anybody who takes up the 2009 offer will have first right of refusal over the 2010 when it is ready for distribution.)
The Offer:
Coal Pit "Tiwha" Pinot Noir 2009 (Bob Campbell 94/100)
$65 net
To Order:
email robert@wineexchangeasia.com
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(Taken New Arrival Allocations)
