Imagine…winning lotto - my dream wine list

Vines in Bordeaux’s Pauillac appellation

“Imagine” the advertisement begins. And if you are like me, you have no shortage of imaginings. Helping the kids into new homes. A world cruise. One of those new electric sports cars. Or just a reliable car. Some help to your favourite charity or two. And if you are a wine lover, I bet there’s some fine wine on the list. Of course, chances of winning lotto are somewhat worse than the chance of being hit by a bus. When rational brain is ruling, that lotto “investment” is better invested elsewhere. But just….imagine!

So, after a run of more serious weekly blogs I thought this week let’s have some fun and let the wine dreams run loose. Imagine if money was no object and your job was to put together the wine list of your dreams for a degustation party with other wine lovers. What would be on it?

Well, here is mine! From my long wish list of wines I’d love to try but never had means or opportunity. I’ve jammed in a lot so the party will need to get underway early evening, say 5.30pm for the champagne and canapes and the pours will not exceed 75ml. While the notes about the wines are not mine, I hope they evoke for you, as they do for me, some imagination (and salivation)!

We’d start of course with a vintage champagne. Since it is already Spring here in New Zealand and heading into Summer we’ll go with a Rose. My pick is Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Elisabeth Salmon Brut Rose 2008. A blend of 55% Pinot Noir with some red wine vinification and 45% Chardonnay. Described as pale salmon pink with coppery glints and fine bubbles, a nose of strawberries, citrus, peach and subtle spice, tasting of mandarin, blood orange and apple tart with a chalky minerality and a long finish. My newly hired butler will serve some exquisitely chosen canapes to match.

The second wine is one I’ve never tasted but from a genre I know and appreciate well, German Spatlese Riesling, this being the Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Nahe Riesling Spatlese 2019. I reckon the taster gets five points just for saying the name! With excellent reviews in the high 90s, the winemaker notes “This wine offers expressive acidity with an amazing rush of green granny apple and fresh-plucked verbena leaves. Traditional, stately Spatlese with an incredible wealth of fruit aromas and, despite its impressive concentration, an ephemeral grace and elegance”. Yes please! To accompany it, a small bowl of hot chilli, lemongrass and kaffir lime flavoured tom yum bplaa soup.  

For third and fourth wines – I have tasted the fourth, but not the actual vintage. One from my own country- the 2020 Bell Hill Vineyard “Limeworks” Canterbury, due for release this month at a price beyond my budget, rated 10/10 by Alder Yarrow who comments in his Venography wine blog “Its presence, poise and depth keep hounding me!” Alongside one from across the ditch, Giaconda 2021 Estate Vineyard Victoria Chardonnay. With a plethora of 100- and 99-point reviews this is a powerful Chardonnay to rival any Burgundy Grand Cru but with screwcap reliability. Described as having superb density, fruit complexity, flow and mineral length, made from grapes picked “properly ripe”, fermented and aged in small barrels with full malolactic conversion. I can’t wait! Both matched with pumpkin ravioli and sage brown butter.

Overlooking Bell Hill

My fifth and sixth wines are from the revered 1990 Red Burgundy vintage: Domaine de la Romanee Conti and Domaine de la Romanee Conti La Tache. The former, priced at an average 27,000 Euros a bottle is described as ethereal, subtle and elegant in style with a silky weightless texture and long haunting finish. The latter, a comparative bargain at an average of only 9,000 Euros per bottle, expressive, rich and dramatic with a powerfully vibrant and structured style and intense lingering “emotional” finish. Hit me baby! Matched with duck breast in a balsamic cherry glaze.

Seventh and eighth wines to wash down some tender slices of venison loin roasted with a juniper and blackberry reduction. From Cote Rotie, the Guigal 1999 La Landonne, 100 points from Robert Parker and described as a wine of staggering richness and intensity, with aromas of black olive, smoked meat, dark berries and graphite. Partnering is the 2002 Henschke Hill of Grace South Australia Shiraz. From a cooler vintage this too received top praise with 98 points from Lisa Perotti-Brown and 97 points from James Halliday. Described in a 2023 tasting as a “cracking wine”.  “Serious concentration is evident, the balance remains first class and the intensity does not waiver. Seductive texture.” I’m all in!

In the Guigal Tasting room in Ampuis – but sadly not tasting any of the lalas

For the next two wines we move to Bordeaux to match our roasted lamb shoulder with baby rosemary potatoes and mint peas. We begin on the right bank’s Pomerol with 1989 Chateau Petrus, once described by Robert Parker and echoed by other critics as “perfection in a glass”. 100% Merlot with explosive aromas of black truffle, plum, mocha and violets, dense and silky on the palate with immense depth and a finish that lingers and lingers and lingers.  Moving to the left bank, Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1982 Pauillac. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, described once as a “wine of the century” with aromas of cedar, graphite, cassis, tobacco and violets, an ethereal texture, great depth and haunting finish. I want to die in your arms. But, there’s more!

My dessert is an apple crumble I tasted in the most unlikely place – a small café in Bangkok’s Phrakanong. Spicy, sticky, chewy, crunchy, and sweet all at once! I’m going to pair that with two 30ml pours of different dessert wines. First, a 2011 Van Volxem Scharzhofbeger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, described as ‘virtually perfect” by Wine Advocate with a crystalline acidity, honeyed apricot, botrytis spice and slate minerality to cut through the crumble’s richness. Its counterpoint, a lush 2009 Chateau Rieussec Sauternes with notes of marmalade, honey, tropical fruit and toasted brioche to envelop the crumble with its warmth and concentration. I’m ready to sleep now but a small scoop of lemon sorbet freshens me up for the grand conclusion.

The steep slopes of the slate soiled Scharzhofberg vineyard

The finale! A small wedge of Kapiti Kikorangi Blue cheese with dried fig and toasted walnuts accompanied by a 30 ml pour of 1994 Taylors Vintage Port. Considered one of the best vintage ports ever produced by Taylors offering a sublime experience of creamy texture, intense fruit and balanced acidity, with intense flavours of blackberries and cassis, spices, plums and fig. Bury me with my wine glass!