Okahu Estate Chambourcin 2007 - nom nom

I recently had dinner with a bunch of friends - who I hadn’t seen for a long while.  Anyway – it was very enjoyable.  And as is often the case they brought along some interesting wines to share over dinner.

One wine was a total surprise, and one I’d never heard of before.  I never claim to be a ‘wine expert’ or a ‘connoisseur’ though some people are under the sad delusion that I am - merely because I have been in the wine business for ten years.  It was a Chambourcin from North Auckland’s Okahu Estate. Chambourcin is allegedly a hybrid - made from American native grape crossed with a French variety.   Yennyhoo – who cares, it’s fab.
It had a deep ripe and spicy black fruit flavour with a long lasting palate.  I should have taken notes – but honestly, who does in the moment when laughter, conversation, good friends and wine are combined.

All I know is – it was a stunningly good wine and intriguingly different.

Okahu Estate was begun by local identity Monty Knight – starting in 1984 and going on to win NZ’s first Gold and Trophy for Syrah in the 1996 Royal Easter Show.  On the 3 Ha (7.5 acres) vineyard he also grows Pinotage, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Chambourcin. Okahu has also done well with Chardonnay, and Viognier is the latest variety planted.  The elevated vineyard site slopes west nor west, with impressive rural views, out to the sand hills of 90 Mile Beach and Shipwreck Bay. The Cellar Door offers free tastings of their wines, plus a range of local sauces, olive oil, honey, chutneys, nuts, cheese, jellies and jams.  Three tiers of wines, starting with Shipwreck Bay, then premium Okahu, and finally the flagship Kaz Shiraz.

Phil hosts wine tours in Auckland