£13.97

Silver medal winner @ the 2015 IWSC.

Saint Clair meets Cloudy Bay. It has the intense blackcurranty flavour of SC & the richness of CB. Think Craggy Range. Too rich for me.

Mr G,

That sounds perfect for me. I really like Cloudy Bay, except the price - of course.
I particularly like Saint Clair as you know:- A good marriage for some . . . . . .
I drunk my last Saint Clair Pioneer block 6 Oh! Block 2009 during a lunch with an old friend last Tuesday. It had been residing in my wine cooler for several years. It was stunningly beautiful, and completely fresh as I had remembered the previous one, in the Autumn of 2013 - also from the cooler.
http://www.saintclair.co.nz/wines/pione ... 4&a=35&b=4.

I've never had Founders 78 - so here is a good reason. Thanks.
Cheers

_________________
Duncan

I envy both your cooler and your patience, MrD. The 2009 Oh Block remains the best sb that I have ever had. It's lightness of body is almost old fashioned now in style. Light bodied MSB still exists but it comes with such acid and attitude...

Enjoy the Founders I think though that of the style the Craggy @ Waitrose is the better wine. It's marginal though.

Yeah, I've never drunk since, an MSB quite so dancingly fresh and dainty as the Oh! Block 2009. Pungency was still wonderful also after all this time. IMHO, The Oh! Block '09 cuts and lifts the palate like tingling freshly picked guava & lychee, subtle and superior to the modern acidity in the bulk styles. Excellent screw cap that was hard to crack and the paper seal makes it special. My quest knew the wine and was delighted. He was given a choice of very decent Chablis 1er 2010 and Chassagne - and still went for the Saint Clair. A good guy to have for the last one with.

I'll go for the Craggy range then, when Waitrose next do their campaign to stock with some * flagship MSB, which vintage Mr G would you prefer for the Craggy?
Thanks,

NB, I can't see big Tesco stores stocking *Taylors Pass anymore, I think they have been told to go mainstream . . . . . . I could be wrong

Cheers for now,

_________________
Duncan

The 2013 Avery was similar to this. Not quite as intense or rich but classier somehow. I didn't enjoy it that much at the time but was impressed by the quality and thought it might develop well.

I haven't had any 2014 Craggy's.

Thanks for the info:

I don't know their '13 or '14 Avery vintages. Waitrose have the 2014 at the moment for £12.99.
The 3 reviews are all old, the most recent must be for 2013 being 11 months ago. I think I skipped them, and bought Astro instead, See below

I thought Avery '12 was somewhat subdued, so I was not going to give it a classier nod for being well behaved. It is coming back to me now, and perhaps (in my mind) the most classy thing about the '12 was the bottle!
In the blurb, Waitrose say that the Avery is an exotic Sancerre, for me, Saint Clair Oh! Block 2009 is what I could describe as just that, among a whole load of other superlatives.
Craggy '12 was rather pedestrian, - 'soft minerality' as descibed by another review is not that exciting, and could expire . . . . .

V. tricky - I will have to try 2014.

Ocado offering Giesen the Brothers 2010 for £14.99, obviously not from the label pic - exactly when will Ocado do their wine offers properly! The Brothers is £11.99 at Majestic just now.

Craggy Te Muna Road SB 2013 is £11.99 at Majestic multi buy

Villa Maria Reserve, Graham Vineyard 2014 is £12.74 just now on the multi-buy as well, so may be . . may be . . . ? . . ?

Flagship Saint Clair now £20 on a multi buy at Maj

_________________
Duncan

That Oh! Block was magnificent -- lingers in my memory still.

I can see no mention of Founders 78 on the St Clair website, so I'm guessing its been rebadged just for ASDA...

In case anyone was thinking of buying some, I just noticed that the Founders 78 Series is listed on asda wine online for £11 (not even shown as a roll back/discount)

The £13.97 was obviously an introductory price for idiots !...

After all that fuss & excitement about qualifying Wales' exit wasn't half a tame one. NZ v Argentina final I think.

My money is on NZ vs Oz final
As great as Argentina were, I think the ozzies will step up and win the semi
NZ to take the title though

The 2014 VMWR is down to £9.87 in store.

That is a very decent offer. Have you tried the '14 ?

I think I have only one 2012 left, which I enjoyed, good QPR. I know the style can be sometimes a little to rich and full for you, however. . . . .

_________________
Duncan

I've had one bottle. Not massively dissimilar to the SC Founders 2014. Intense Wairau flavour, tainted ( for me ) by it's richness.

Good wine needs time. I thought the 2013 a potential star and a notch up

Thanks for that.

I'll ask if they have any '13 before just pulling off the top. You never know.

_________________
Duncan

Duncan,
The Ara select blocks 2012 is back on offer at Tescos for £9 too if you're looking to beef up your MSB stocks