SWE Evening #1: Tasting at New Zealand Embassy

As promised, I will post daily reports while Susan and I are in Washington, DC, for the Society of Wine Educators annual conference.  Today was a short day, just to pick-up our registration packets and then attend a tasting at the New Zealand Embassy.

All 51 wines, as you might guess, were all from New Zealand!  We found some lovely surprises, including a marvelously restrained, almost austere Sauvignon Blanc; a bright, refreshing Pinot Gris (PG makes up only 3% of the varietal plantings in New Zealand); a stunning Pinot Noir; and the best non-Pinot red wine I've ever had from New Zealand (a Bordeaux blend, showing good ripeness, but also intelligence, finesse, and complexity).

So, here are our personal picks of the day.  Not all of these wines have widespread distribution in the U.S., but I'll be investigating SC availability while at the conference.

• Palliser Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2008.  Forget everything you thought you knew about New Zealand Sauv Blancs (as lovely as they can be).  This wine was restrained, almost austere, and absolutely wonderful.  I may have found something I like as much as Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre!  No distribution information yet, but I have to find this one.
• Manu Marlborough Pinot Gris 2009.  Bright, refreshing, and a total surprise.  This wine was the "sleeper" of the night.  I'm not a big fan of Oregon Pinot Gris, and only enjoy a limited number of Pinot Grigios from Italy.  We know that this wine will have distribution in South Carolina through Grassroots, a firm which has always distinguished itself by offering truly worthwhile wines in SC.
• Saint Claire Pioneer Block #14, Doctor's Creek, Pinot Noir 2007.  As noted above, absolutely stunning.  New Zealand Pinot Noir, going back 3-4 years, failed to excite.  No more!  This is a classic Pinot Noir that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best from Oregon or Burgundy.  Wow!  And Saint Claire's entry level Marlborough Pinot (2008) was quite nice, too.  No distribution information yet.
• Alpha Domus Hawkes Bay Navigator 2006.  This was unquestionably the best non-Pinot red wine I've had from New Zealand.  Until now, at least to my taste, Bordeaux varietals either were not planted in the right soils or couldn't achieve adequate ripeness.  But this blend of Merlot, Cab, Malbec, and Cab Franc was a classic right-bank Bordeaux.  Well done, Alpha Domus!  And my understanding is that Grassroots will be bringing it to South Carolina.