Halliday to host Vintage Masterclass in Taupo

PRESS RELEASE

21 July 2008

JAMES HALLIDAY TO HOST SCENIC CELLARS BORDEAUX & GIMBLETT GRAVELS 2005 VINTAGE MASTERCLASS IN TAUPO

Scenic Cellars and the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Association are proud to announce James Halliday as guest speaker and convenor at the Scenic Cellars Bordeaux and Gimblett Gravels 2005 Vintage Masterclass, to be held in Taupo on 18th October 2008.

James Halliday is a well known international wine personality, and one of Australia’s most respected wine writers and senior wine judges.

Scenic Cellars stocks one of New Zealand’s largest range of French Bordeaux wines and has held an annual Bordeaux tasting for over 10 years.

This year’s event will have an added dimension; featuring six 2005 vintage Bordeaux style wines from the Gimblett Gravels, as selected by James Halliday, blind tasted alongside six of Bordeaux’s best and most famous labels.

The impressive line up of 2005 vintage Bordeaux wines included in the tasting are;

Robert Parker Rating Decanter Rating
Chateau Mouton Rothschild 96/100 5 Stars
Chateau Haut Brion 98/100 5 Stars
Chateau Lafite Rothschild 96+/100 5 Stars
Chateau L'Eglise Clinet 100/100 5 Stars
Chateau Troplong Mondot 98/100 5 Stars
Chateau Cos d'Estournel 98/100 5 Stars

Managing Director of Scenic Cellars, Ian Isaacs, believes “this is a rare and fantastic opportunity for New Zealanders to sample some amazing French and Hawke’s Bay wines, as well as learn and listen to a very knowledgeable member of the wine industry”.

Rod Easthope, Executive Member of the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Association, said “We leapt at this opportunity. Bordeaux style wines from the Gimblett Gravels have come a long way in the last decade – but our full potential will only be realised by continually benchmarking our wines against the world’s best. The comparison will be fascinating.”

The Scenic Cellars Bordeaux & Gimblett Gravels 2005 Vintage Masterclass will take place in the underground Cellar at Scenic Cellars on 18th October 2008, and will consist of an afternoon blind tasting followed by a five course gourmet dinner, complemented with Gimblett Gravels’ wine. Tickets are limited and priced at $550 each. To book your ticket contact info@sceniccellars.co.nz or call +64 7 378 5704.

Based in Taupo, Scenic Cellars is one of New Zealand’s largest independent premium wine retailers, and is renowned for its innovative and progressive approach. Stocking over 3,000 New Zealand and international wines, Scenic Cellars also houses New Zealand’s largest underground wine cellar. Customers can also experience enomatic wine tasting in store as well as the delicious tastes of Yum Food Company.

ENDS

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