Herald on Sunday, 8 March 2015 
 

Cheers

Push the boat out bottles

This column was first published as Cheers in Living magazine in The Herald on Sunday, Auckland, New Zealand, 8 March 2015

Elicere

Elicere (‘eh-lis-seer’) is Latin for ‘to lure’, which is something this Aussie grenache does in spades. And not only because it’s so soft and fruity, but because good grenache has such soft smooth tannins, it tastes almost light bodied (despite its high-ish alcohol content), so it is the perfect transition red from summer to winter. We are not quite in the depths of wintery despair, so this red bridges the seasons with spicy flavours of nutmeg, cinnamon and cardamom and red fruit appeal. Every sip lingers in the mouth and the mind. 2013 Lavina Elicere Grenache McLaren Vale costs $39.99 from www.liquorcabinet.co.nz

Big bodied beauty

2012 Lavina Grand Royale McLaren Vale Shiraz $119.99
The wine inside this hefty bottle more than lives up to the weighty promise of its packaging with pronounced intensity of colour (deep purple), flavour (rich and juicy black plums, figs, black currants) and a long, smoky finish.

Diary date

Sauvignon Blanc now accounts for 85% of New Zealand wine exports and is the most widely planted grape in this country, so next year the first International Sauvignon Blanc Celebration is to be held from  Monday 1 to Thursday 3 February 2016 in Marlborough. Find out more from Patrick Materman
, chief winemaker at Pernod Ricard, email: Patrick.materman@pernod-ricard.com