HAWAIIAN

Growing Competition From NZ Wine Regions

Thirty years ago you’d have been lucky to find more than a handful of wines direct from New Zealand wine on shelves anywhere in this country. At the time there were only small, isolated pockets of vines spread largely around the North Island, and few had tasted, or even heard, of the miracle that is Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

1981 saw three immigrant brothers plant their first vineyard in Canterbury on the South Island, which was the southernmost commercial vineyard in New Zealand, and the world. Coming from a Germanic background, where grape vines were found not only in the family backyard but also the local school, the Giesen’s were surprised to find a country climatically similar to their own yet with so few vines in the ground and a population more interested in Steinlager than anything that required a corkscrew.

In 1984, the first Giesen vintage produced which also included a small batch of the wine which would eventually become renown as the famous Marlborough Sav Blanc. Alex Giesen sums up its success succinctly “It is the people’s wine”; a style that has seduced drinkers around the world with its pungent, decadent passionfruit flavours and spark of spine-tingling acidity. The 2008 Giesen Sauvignon Blanc has a well balanced sharp, acidic taste coupled with a full fruit flavour.

Today Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is a global phenomenon that has well and truly put New Zealand wine firmly on the world stage. While there is little doubt of its commercial success and appeal, this is only one of many great wines found in New Zealand.

And one of New Zealand’s highlights is its Chardonnay, especially with wines from Kumeu River. Where Chardonnay may not be a popular, wines produced by Michael Brajkovich are a great additional to an old classic. Forget the oaky Chardonnay flavours which have nothing in common with refined Kumeu River wines, which found north of Auckland.

You find it difficult to locate greater value than with a 2007 Kumeu River Village Chardonnay, which has a vibrant, fruity Chablis flavour with some creamy sensations and length. But Michael’s crowing achievement from the 2007 vintage is undoubtedly the Mate’s Vineyard Chardonnay, a wine that would comfortably sit amongst the great Chardonnays of the world. Just like the team behind Kumeu River, there is great precision and focus to this wine with layers of traditional citrus and apple fruit flavours lifted by nutty, oatmeal barrel ferment complexity. And if stored for the next five to ten years, you’ll discover a most pleasurable drinking experience.

Known for their expectional Pinot Noirs, New Zealand’s movement into the traditionally dominated Australian full bodied red markets including Shiraz, Merlot and Cab Savs, which has been most interesting. Near Auckland and specifically around Waiheke Island, Cabernet Sauvignon is dominant. But these are not your decadent fruit-bomb styles, rather their muscular nature and gravelly complexity share much with the wines of Bordeaux.

New Zealand also produces some great Shiraz (also referred to as Syrah), particularly if exploring the Hawkes Bay region. Here Gimblett Gravels, helps the Shiraz to ripen providing it’s wine with a spicy flavour with layers of peppery fruit. Some outstanding wineries can be found including Te Mata, Bilancia and Esk Valley, and for consistency look to Steve Smith from Craggy Range. While the 2006 Block 14 Syrah shows lovely balance between perfumed fruit and fine-grained tannins, the 2006 Le Sol Syrah is breathtaking with layers of chewy sweet fruit heightened by a spicy and floral perfume. While different in style, this wine provides great competition to anything found in the Barossa Valley or McLaren Vale.

Moroni Quezada Mata Ortiz Master Potter

Durga Maa (Jai Mata Di) – Fine Hindu Divine POSTER – 21″x31″ (#7110) $7.50

MILITARY COMICS #42 1945-BLACKHAWK-mata hari-PT BOAT- vg/fine $94.99

Early Mata Ortiz Fine Line Seed Pot by Angel Amaya $110.00

Lord Ram Sita Mata, Laxman Hanuman – Fine POSTER – 20″x27″ (#52) $8.95

FINE PIECE OF MEXICAN MATA ORTIZ POLYCHROME POTTERY HAND CRAFTED BY ALVARO PARRA $39.99

Roberto Olivas Fine ‘Museum Quality’ Pot – Mata Ortiz Mexican Pottery $475.00

Durga Maa Mata – Fine POSTER – Size: 10″x10″ (#10) $2.99

Shitla Maa Shitala Mata – Goddess of Gujarat – Fine Poster – 6.5″x9″ (#9481) $1.75

Vahanvati Maa (Sikotar Mata) – Hindu Goddess – Fine Poster – 6.5″x9″ (#792) $1.75

Laxmi Lakshmi Maa Mata – Fine POSTER – 15″x20″ (#011) $3.95

Durga Maa Bhavani Mata – Fine POSTER – 20″x27″ (#19) $9.25

Durga Maa, Laxmi Saraswati Kaali Mata – Fine POSTER – 20″x27″ (#20) $8.75

Laxmi Lakshmi Mata – Fine POSTER – 20″x27″ (#21) $8.99

Laxmi Maa Lakshmi Mata – Fine POSTER – 20″x27″ (#30) $8.90

Saraswati Maa Mata – Fine POSTER – 20″x27″ (#43) $8.95

Durga Maa Mata – Fine Metallic POSTER – 8″x11″ (#50) $5.90

Ana Trillo Mata Ortiz Fine Museum Quality Vase LARGE $525.00

Ana Trillo Mata Ortiz Fine White on Red Pottery Vase $199.88

FINE MATA ORTIZ POTTERY RITO TALAVERA QUEZADA SNAKE JAR $895.00

Santoshi Maa Mata – Hindu Goddess – Fine Poster – 6.5″x9″ (#756c) $1.75

Mata Ortiz Pottery by Miriham Gallegos – Fine Line Fish $225.00

Mata Ortiz Pottery Hector Gallegos Ceramics Museum Quality Mexico Fine Folk Art $360.00

Laxmi Maa Lakshi Mata – Fine Color Poster – 13″x16″ $5.99

vintage antique tribal old silver amulet pendant hindu goddess hoi mata $68.00

Laxmi Lakshmi Maa Mata – Fine POSTER – 9″x11″ (#G 577) $2.00

Mata Ortiz Pottery Tavo Silveira Ceramics Best In Show Award Artist Fine Art $1,695.00

Fine Signed Mexican Folk Art Mata Ortiz Pottery Jar $300.00

Bosch 101AO 3-Inch 20-Tooth Jig Saw Blades, 5-Pack $2.69 This set includes five Bosch T-shank blades. These blades eliminate set-screw mounting hole — which is the most common breaking point on Universal Mounting jig saw blades. Long-lasting and durable, these blades are excellent for producing fine, splinter-free cuts in wood. They are 3 inches long and have 20 teeth per inch….

Daniel’s Story $2.98 Daniel, a composite character fashioned to reflect the experiences of millions of children during the Holocaust, describes his family’s lives in pre-Nazi Frankfurt, their deportation to a ghetto, and their experiences in concentration camps. Reprint….

Thomas Mann & Theodor W. Adorno: An Exchange: 100 Notes, 100 Thoughts: Documenta Series 050 (100 Notes – 100 Thoughts / 100 Notizen – 100 Gedanken: Documenta, 13) $7.13 …

Erte’s Theatrical Costumes in Full Color (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) $9.02 A fan-bearing slave girl, a worshipper of Horus, Ceres, a mermaid, and a gypsy dancer. Spanning the years 1911 to 1975, the 49 theatrical creations selected for this volume include costumes for personalities — the comedy star Gaby Deslys, the opera soprano Ganna Walska — Folies-Bergère shows, editions of George White’s Scandals, and ballets. 49 plates. Captions….