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Autumn 2010

2010 looks set to be very busy with our diaries full. We already have tastings and travel planned for each month right through to October. The Summer was also very busy for us in the cellar door, with lots of visitors (lovely to catch up with so many of you), “Music in the Vines” The Cromwell Wine and Food Festival and at the end of January we had the 2010 Pinot Noir Conference in Wellington, which brought a number of international wine writers to the region, all of which kept us on our toes.

Our Christmas newsletter had some great bargains in it, due to the surplus wine on the market from the 2008 vintage and we wanted to give you, our loyal mail list clients the opportunity to purchase first before we offered the wines to the retail. Thank you for your keen responses and support.

12 Days of Christmas: Another thank you to all of you who provided us with an email address. We hope the lucky winners enjoyed their surprise gift.

In the vineyard we are well through verasion, nets are being put over the grapes as I write, and we are experiencing the first signs of Autumn, cooler mornings and soft shades of red and gold amongst the trees, plus the sounds of gas guns to scare the birds. After a mixed Summer with more rain than usual, wind and cooler days, the fruit set was good but we have dropped fruit to ensure ripening and quality, which should result in a lighter crop yield this year.  We expect to begin the harvest after Easter.

We have just bottled the 2009 Pinot Noirs Jackson Barry and Slapjack Creek and are delighted with both wines.  

Enjoy the last of the Summer and do come and see us at the cellar door if you are in Central Otago at Easter. We are bound to have some extra Specials.

Cheers Heather, John and the team.

New Release:

2009 Riesling Dry

This wine has a typical Central Otago nose of honeysuckle flowers and melon with notes of apple, honey and lime zest on the palate.  The racey acidity is balanced with a touch of residual sugar which lends to a broad mid-palate and a crisp and lingering finish.

In The Cellar

2009 Sauvignon Blanc                                                                             

Kiwi fruit, capsicum and hints of gooseberry on the nose lead into a palate displaying juicy lime, passion fruit and hints of feijoa. The wine has a powerful, refreshing finish that evolves in the glass.   Enjoy as a refreshing drink on its own or pair with fresh goat’s cheese, shellfish or simply prepared summer salads.

2008 Riesling                                                                               

This dry style Riesling shows complex aromas of mandarin, pear and pineapple on the nose. The body has crisp citrus flavours, offset with spice and good length of finish. A wine that should age well and see additional aging characters develop in the bottle.  Very much a food wine, try it with creamy pasta, chicken, fish or even cheese.

2009 Tom Logan – Pinot Gris                                               

Notes of dried fruits, poached pear and rose petals on the nose lead to a weighty mid-palate that is accentuated by flavours of stone fruit and a touch of cinnamon and ginger.  

2008 Gewurztraminer

Rose petal, Lychee and spice aromatics dominate the nose. The aromatics flow into the mid palate and are supported by a lovely almost “oily” texture. The wine is long in the mouth and finishes with lingering spice and balanced acidity.

2009 Bannockburn Club unoaked Chardonnay

This wine was designed to be crisp and refreshing with subtle layers of complexity. On the nose there are hints of orange blossom, mango and butterscotch. The palate delivers flavours of juicy melon,  nutty spice and a lime zest finish.

2009 Nipple Hill – Pinot Noir

A beautifully robust and fruity wine developed in an early drinking style but with plenty of aging potential.  A fantastic glimpse of the promise of Central Otago 2009 Pinots.

2008 Jackson Barry – Pinot Noir                                                     

The wine has a bright garnet hue with a nose of crushed raspberries and wild mushrooms. The palate shows a broad fruit spectrum ranging from boysenberry to fig which is accentuated by spicy hints of nutmeg and crushed black peppercorns.  With chalky tannins, and balanced oak, the wine has a generous mouth-feel and a lingering savoury finish.

Awards 2008 bragato wine awards - silver medal   2009 Air NZ  Pure Bronze

2008 Robert the Bruce

A blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage. The wine has a rich nose of cassis and violets supported by notes of leather and toasty caramel. The palate is balanced with savoury flavours of mushroom and black pepper accentuated by hints of blackberries and Doris plums. The wine is drinking well now and will also benefit from aging.

Some recent comments from the wine writers.

Tom Logan Pinot Gris 2009:

No varietal shyness here: This Bannockburn wine shouts Pinot Gris. Lovely nashi pear, spice and slightly honeyed notes bathe the taste buds and a caressing texture gives the impression it’s in no great rush. A wine to enjoy with company, alongside anchovy bruschetta  4 Stars Cuisine

Gewurztraminer 2008

Subtle flavours of rose petal / pot pourri but with a drop dead silken texture and quite lengthly finish. Very pure, mellow wine in a medium / dry style. A terrific example of subtle power. Bob Campbell wine writer

The well established and reliable wine producers such as Olssens, continue to improve their outstanding wines with added complexity, harmony and expansive mouthfeel . Tasting their glorious 2007 Jackson Barry a luscisous pinot showing rich blackberry and cherry flavours with subtle cedary oak and spice. It’s generous and very delicious.  Sam Kim, wine writer

Our normal retail discounts (excluding specials) are

5% on a 1 case order

7% on a 2 case order

10% on a 3 case order

ORDERS OF 36 BOTTLES OR MORE ARE FREIGHT FREE.

FREIGHT: North Island - $12.00. South Island - $10.00 per case

Click HERE to order

OLSSENS CAFÉ  - Visitors are always welcome to bring their own food and beverages, including wine, but Café style food and platters are available throughout the summer period and by arrangement at other times.

"We simply want people to enjoy themselves in our garden environment. We're in the business of giving people enjoyable experiences, and if they want to bring their own food and wine, we really don't mind, because for those that do, they'll go away and tell their friends that they had a great time at Olssens. And that's what we're about."

At Olssen's Garden Vineyard visitors are encouraged to walk amongst trees, picnic by a pond, sit under an umbrella or a tree, play petanque with a glass of wine to hand, or quoits, partake of a vineyard platter or cheese board, or simply taste the wines. The vineyard caters for young children too, and baskets of toys are available. Visitors are invited to bring their own picnic, enjoy one of Heather's vineyard platters, or a cheese board.

EVENTS AT OLSSENS
The Olssens have developed a number of vineyard events offering patrons the opportunity to enjoy themselves.

The Scarecrow Gathering was the last Sunday in November each year, and schools, businesses and individuals competed for prizes and had a fun day out, not that the scarecrows actually scare anything.

Sculpture in Central Otago, held annually at Labour Weekend, in its 4th year, this has become the pre eminent southern sculpture exhibition and sale. Curated by our friends at "the Arthouse" [62 Worcester St, Christchurch] the 25 invited, leading NZ artists, showed off 45 works for patrons enjoyment and acquisition. It began on Saturday afternoon [4:00-6:00pm] with a Grand Opening - where 90+ guests enjoy wonderful food and wine with live music and got to inspect the works and make the early purchases. This was followed by two days [Sunday & Monday] of public viewing and purchases.

The Barrel Party, held periodically, is for serious wine and fun lovers. A bus brings patrons from Cromwell to a marquee on the vineyard where a meal, music and barrels of Pinot and Chardonnay are tapped for the enjoyment of guests.

Music in the Vines is a mid summer event where artists entertain guests who picnic and relax whilst enjoying the entertainment. This years event is Wednesday 6th January [rain day 8th] 2010 - 2:00 to 8:30 pm, starting with Dunedin's DEL GIRLS, followed by our very own quartet "The SpareParts" featuring Neil Middlemass to entertain us with a compilation of jazz and blues while guests relax and dance the evening away.

Gate sales on the day $25 - pre buy "on-line", at the vineyard, or any Central Otago Paper Plus store and pay $20 - Kids 12 and under are FREE.

Bring a picnic and rug and enjoy the music and the ambience - light food, coffee and wine available - NO BYO Alcohol please. CLICK Here to buy tickets On-Line now!

Private Functions are held by many people who choose the ambience of the vineyard for their wedding or anniversary celebration and Heather goes out of her way to ensure that everything is perfect, no matter what the occasion.

THE BANNOCKBURN CLUB
Members receive a joining gift of a bottle of Bannockburn Club Chardonnay and a small jar of Chardonnay mustard. You then go in an annual draw for a [free] mixed case of Olssen's premium wines and each year you [and 3 others] are entitled to enjoy a barrel tasting of the current Pinot Noir with our winemaker, simply by making an appointment.. As a member of this club you will automatically receive a single bottle of each of our new wines, as they are released, and secure a 5% discount on these wines and a 10% discount on all other wine purchases you might subsequently make.
This is a simple and certain way of receiving a bottle of everything we make, and we spread it over the year for you in 4 easy installments - which means that the cost is very manageable and Xmas comes an extra 4 times each year.

You get to try each wine in your own home and can decide whether you want to buy more, at a discount, before it runs out.

You also get to experience [free of charge] for yourself and 3 others, a barrel sampling of current vintage Pinot Noirs with our winemaker - simply ring the vineyard or winery to arrange a time.

Please contact us for an application form to join or [click here] to join online now.