I tend to favour Old World wine styles, at least based on the contents of my cellar. Even so, you will find a noticeable percentage of New World wines there, and even more in my “everyday drinking” racks. Almost two years ago I spent a month in Australia and New Zealand, including visiting 45 wineries, which boosted my regard for the wines of both countries. Here are my comments on the current offering, based on my past purchases from these suppliers, some of whom I was able to visit on my trip. My views on these wines are according to my own taste in wines, so judge accordingly!
Bec Hardy and Richard Dolan are great friends of Opimian and great hosts, who treated us to lunch at their home when we visited in 2015. We have been enjoying their wines since they first started dealing with Opimian, including the first year of Founder’s Choice, when they provided a 2004 Tempranillo – Cabernet blend that still wows my friends when I open a bottle.
On two previous occasion I have purchased earlier vintages of #9380 K1 Cabernet Sauvignon and though I have only opened a couple of bottles so far, it has been worth every penny. Another favourite has been #9372 GMH Meritage of which I have a few bottles and tasted at a few Opimian events. I have also enjoyed #9375 GMH Noble Sweet White at a few of Dave Conway’s events – it would fool many sweet wine lovers in a blind tasting. We tasted #9377 K1 Sauvignon Blanc at the K1 cellar door and it was quite stunning. I’m going to experiment this year, however, by purchasing #9371 GMH Pinot Noir. It’s not a variety one usually thinks of from Australia, but I recall some stunners from the Mornington Penninsula, and Richard speaks highly of it as well.
Martin Lightfoot was also a wonderful host with whom we spent the better part of a morning, touring the vineyards and tasting the harvest in progress directly from the fermentation tanks. Last year’s Vermentino is not offered again, unfortunately, so I am going with perhaps the most popular Australian wine amongst Opimians, #9382 Fat’n Skinny Picker’s Choice, and see what it is about!
Jane Masters has a wonderful video of interviews she had with Bob Berton, and you have to like his personality and approach to his wines. We tried #9401 Sauvignon Blanc, High Eden last year and it was simply fabulous. This year there are so many I would like to try, but I have narrowed it down to #9397 Reserve Durif, which is a variety I particularly enjoy.
Hunter Valley and Semillon are well known, and we have enjoyed #9406 Early Harvest Semillon both at the winery and in Opimian offerings – recommended. #9407 The Squire Chardonnay also showed well at our winery tasting.
Wingara is relatively new to Opimian, but I did purchase one of their offerings last year – #9418 Millicent Road Cabernet Merlot – and seemed a much finer wine than I anticipated. I have to say that #9413 Sparkling Brut Chardonnay Pinot Noir looks like a bargain.
Margaret River in Western Australia produces a higher percentage of the country’s best wines than any other region. I am looking forward to receiving this year’s Founder’s Choice from this winery!
Taka Wine Company
We are quite fond of NZ Sauvignon Blanc in this house, especially the ones that don’t overcook the herbal and grassy aromas. I am looking forward to receiving #9424 Taka Sauvignon Blanc.
Waiheke Island is a special place, a short ferry ride from downtown Auckland. It thrives on day-trippers and tourists, and it has many small, quirky wineries which push the boundaries. The small acreages, and tourist market, keep wine prices relatively high. Many wineries also offer wines from other regions to extend their offerings – and Sam Harrop covers Hawke’s Bay, a region that is usually not well represented in Canada.
The Opimian Society is “Canada’s wine club” and offers some 500 wines to 15,000 members across the country each year. All wines are selected by Master of Wine, Jane Masters, and sourced from suppliers from all the major wine regions of the world. Wines are ordered and delivered to members via the liquor boards or equivalent in each provincial and territorial jurisdiction (except Nunavut). Disclosure: I am a former member of the board of directors of the Opimian Society and former area representative.
We enjoyed our last virtual tasting so much we had to do it again – a great excuse to pull out some wines a little more special than normal, particularly the sweets, which are rare without (real) company. And then we combine this with a chat about the wines (and other things) with our wine […]
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We had been interested in setting a date for a dinner and tasting with our two close-by friends, but it was derailed by the recent omicron surge! Instead, we arranged to dine separately, but using the same wine selection, and then connect on Zoom over the dessert wine and discuss the wines, and the match […]
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Steve Delaney
November 30, 2017
Australia, New Zealand, Opimian Society
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