A delightful aroma of button mushrooms, blackberry and ripe plum skin that leads to a nice dry mineral draped black fruit palate.
90 points
5 Stars
RRP $40
90 points
5 Stars
RRP $40
> > > > >
Friday, December 17, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
The Web and Video
The latest video that I uploaded to Viddler surprised me somewhat, I can now view it on my iPad and iPhone. Without fanfare or email alert Viddler subtly moved into the Apple platform market and have done away with flash.
Yahoo have also decided to drop their video platform as of March 2011. This is somewhat a surprise given the direction of the internet and its hunger for video content. With over 35 hours of video content being uploaded every minute on YouTube, and growing, is this move somewhat premature?
Monday, December 13, 2010
St Jerome Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
Rich ripe black fruit, mocha, and saddle leather on the nose and translates well on the palate
88 points4 stars
RRP $25
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Royal Wedding Wine for Prince William and Kates Wedding!
Jayson Bryant tastes Greystone Pinot noir 2010 from Waipara that would be ideal for Prince William and Kate's Royal Wedding.http://www.winevaulttv.com
Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Tasti, but don't con me!
Here is a little muesli bar, operative word, that has been made smaller and kept the same packaging and not told anyone nor changed the price. I am sure these nut bars were bigger very recently. Either change the wrapper or make a bigger bar!
Don't con me and take me for an idiot and think I wouldn't notice!
Wrapper with bar inside
Wrapper and bar
Monday, October 11, 2010
A little bit about me!
This is where I lived for a while, 15 Claudius Drive.
Then here at Forest Lane Cottage
Me aged 18
My Parents Mel and Kay
My favourite Nan, St Ives
Some of my school friends
Two of my best friends Jon and Tony
Our first Dog, Mumbles
Offa
The Tribe Twm, Offa, Gwen, Dylan, and Swansea
Best Man at Skinny Man's wedding 1st August '98
Me just leaving for New Zealand 4th August '98
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Ode to my friends
My friends Time running out Tony Bray I remember you when we were 12 Corfe Walk council house Claudius Drive Private estate You dated my sister and became my best friend, we shared so many times together. I remember leaving you at stanstead airport thinking it was the last time I was going to see you, but no! You were there the next time I fell down and messed up my life, you were there the next time I collapsed crying down the phone, you were there when you needed someone more than I needed someone! What about Ralph Griggs? What about the time we stole, the time that we held the world to ransom, Asia, Marillion, we were in control, you were in control. What happened? Did we run out of time? was time stolen from you? It should have been taken from me, as I have done worse things in life than you. Rob Lewis What happened? you and I loved the man so much. that man was John Lennon. We competed on seeking his albums, Two virgins if I recall, shaved fish, The rock’n’Roll years were our years. The Select few with Brian Ebury and Matthew Pegg and Eddie Marco on Bass. I remember the time at the Caribbean club, supporting Jim Jiminee, jumping off stage in to the crowd. I remember your Sax, uber cool, uber not aware of cool. Jem carter Arrogant at first meeting, then I understood what it was all about, a brain tumor that was never to return, but it did return and meeting you at the ice rink that day and you telling me you weren’t going to have treatment, man that was hard, harder for you of course. If anyone it should have been me that was taken, not you, I did far worse things in life! Let me take your Tumour, Let me take your brain Haemorrhage, let me take your brain tumour. Let me take it all, or shall I be the seed of life for you and tell the world all about you? let me know one day. love.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Rabbit Ranch Pinot Noir
Shot with my Hipstamatic for iPhone
Lens: Helga Viking
Flash: Off
Film: Kodot Verichrome
Lens: Helga Viking
Flash: Off
Film: Kodot Verichrome
Sent from my iPhone
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
One Laptop One Child, but what about the waste?
After attending TEDxAkl I was delighted to learn about the altruistic nature of some of the worlds greatest minds, by offering 30 million PCs to the poorest of children. Then on deeper inspection it occurred to me 'what will happen with the wate once the computers either break or have gone past their use by date?'
The areas in which these children live are often remote, they struggle to provide, what we would call, sanitation. This, and given that they do not yet have programs in place for plastic recycling plants, is a cause for concern.
Sure we can send them PCs for them to learn from and on, but what provisions are there for recycling an already troublesome piece of technology?
Another concern is, who supplies the educational material for these children?
Will the educational material be propaganda and will we be re-writing history in the process?
I'm all for great initiatives, but we need to think the whole process through and stop and think about waste management in an already over consuming public.
Do they really need these tools just because we have them?
Feedback welcome.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
NZ wine marketing and apps.
After reading Rick Bakas' review of wine apps and marketing it became apparent that so few wineries in New Zealand put reviews of their wines on sites such as Cork'd and Snooth, Why wouldn't you?
For a start, personally go on the site and review wines and also add your own, narcissistic for sure, but it's a great way to reach a new audience when linked to social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook.
With the advent of Snooth's new smart phone app it is now possible to take a photo of a bottle and locate the nearest store from which to buy it.
It also acts a a reference and wine library storing the history of the wine you have consumed, and if enough Kiwi's start using both Cork'd and Snooth they'll end up having a regional profile for NZ.
Below is the new look Snooth smart phone app.
Searching for the nearest wine shop to your present location.
Taking a photo of the wine you are drinking in a restaurant.
Searching through the database.
It has identified the winery
It has identified the wine and you can now see other peoples reviews or add your own.
Additional information.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
The Attention and Engagement Economy
If you give me attention I'll give you my custom!
From our earliest memories we seek attention.
We are bombarded with information, advertising and other various stimuli. All of these act on our conscious and sub-conscious trying to get our attention.
An airline pilot must be able to multitask, speak to air traffic control, take in the visual environment, operate and fly the plane and make a rational priority list of what is most important to them at a particular time, and then react accordingly to emergency warning signals.
Each individual does this on a day to day basis subconsciously, Companies are vying for our attention all the time, so what makes us give it to them?
Are we becoming immune to advertising?
Do we seek more from the companies that want our business?
Traditional media advertisers followed a model that suggested consumers went through a linear process they called 'AIDA' - Attention, Interest, Desire and Action. Attention is therefore a major and the first stage in the process of converting non-consumers. Since the cost to transmit advertising to consumers is now sufficiently low that more ads can be transmitted to a consumer than the consumer can process, the consumer's attention becomes the scarce resource to be allocated.
With the advent of integration media such as Facebook and Twitter we are seeking greater engagement from brands that once just fed us what they wanted us to hear. The traditional model has changed for many businesses and agencies are seeking ways in which to make their ads more interactive.
The buzz word for the past 2 years has been all about Social Media, i.e Twitter, facebook, Bebo, Myspace, YouTube, but these platforms really serve as being part of a social media strategy and are not the stand alone business tools that is claimed by many Social Media Gurus.
What I want from a brand/company maybe very different from what you personally want, we all want different things at different times. So what can a brand do to placate all of these variables?
Well for a start they can engage with the audience, long gone are the days when the company knew best. Democracy has arrived and it's called New Media. If I get bad customer service or don't like a product of yours then I can tell the world. I can shout it from the roof tops, only if I have an audience that is willing to listen.
This is not only my chance to tell people what I do and don't like, about your brand, but also your chance to listen to my concerns and engage with me. Don't take offense, merely take pleasure that I am talking about your brand and am ready for your attention and engagement.
If you're not going to give myself your attention I'm going to seek it somewhere else, I'm going to shift my potential loyalty to your competitor. Perhaps I'll stay with my new found brand, perhaps I won't. If they are willing to listen and interact with me then at least I feel I'm getting the attention that I want and most companies want to have with me.
My attention needn't be bought, isn't necessarily captured on Facebook, Twitter, nor YouTube, my attention is where you seek it and I seek yours. Social Media isn't the be all and end all of advertising/marketing but sure does help get my attention and upwards of 650 millions others.
So come on what have you got to say to me?
Friday, September 17, 2010
I still admire this website: Newseum | Today's Front Pages | Map View
via newseum.org
The Newseum displays these daily newspaper front pages in their original, unedited form. Some front pages may contain material that is objectionable to some visitors. Viewer discretion is advised.
View Today's Pages:
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Thursday, September 16, 2010
What not to say on Twitter for a big corporate!
|
TelstraClear (@TelstraClearNZ) #fuckyes Got my galaxy back! @noozeeland @CourtneySit @ChrisPPH @TimothyNewman |
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Bragato Wine Awards, Gold Medal Winners!
The gold medal winning wines by varietal class were:
Chardonnay 2009
- Coopers Creek Select Vineyards Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 'The Limeworks' 2009,The Limeworks Vineyard
- Palliser Estate Chardonnay 2009, Palliser Estate
- Himmelsfeld Moutere Chardonnay 2009, Himmelsfeld Vineyard
Chardonnay 2008 and older
- Auntsfield Cob Cottage Chardonnay 2006, Auntsfield Estate
- Reserve Chardonnay 2008, Mystery Creek Wines Home Block
- Summerhouse Chardonnay 2007, Summerhouse
- Villa Maria Single Vineyard Keltern Chardonnay 2008, Keltern Vineyard
- Villa Maria Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008, Waikahu Vineyard
Sauvignon Blanc 2010
- Brightwater Vineyards Lord Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Brightwater Vineyards
- Tohu Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Tohu Awatere
Sauvignon Blanc 2009
- Saint Clair Pioneer Block 19 Bird Block Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Thomsons Ford Vineyard
- Marlborough Exotica Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Koura Bay Wines
- Saint Clair Pioneer Block 18 Snap Block Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Park Orchard Vineyards Ltd
- Herkt Properties Limited 2009, Herkt Family Estate
- Saint Clair Pioneer Block 6 Oh! Block Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Buckland Grove Vineyard
- Mud House Swan Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Mud House - Marlborough
Riesling 2010
- Summerhouse Dry Riesling 2010, Summerhouse
Riesling 2009
- Horseshoe Creek Riesling 2009, Southern Boundary Wines
- Desert Heart Riesling 2009, Desert Heart
- Domain Road Vineyard Riesling 2009, Domain Road Vineyard
Riesling 2008 and older
- Villa Maria Single Vineyard Fletcher Riesling 2008, Rocenvin
Pinot Gris 2010
- Askerne Pinot Gris 2010, Askerne
Pinot Gris 2009
- Marlborough Exotica Pinot Gris 2009, Koura Bay Wines
- Kaimira Estate Brightwater Pinot Gris 2009, Kaimira Ventures Ltd
- Artisan Far Paddock Pinot Gris 2009, Valley East Estate
Gewurztraminer 2010
- Seifried Nelson Winemakers Collection Gewürztraminer 2010, Seifried Estate
Gewurztraminer 2009
- Saint Clair Pioneer Block 12 Lone Gum Gewurztraminer 2009, Lone Gum Vineyard Ltd
- Te Whare Ra Gewurztraminer 2009, Te Whare Ra
- Saint Clair Godfrey's Creek Reserve Gewurztraminer 2009, Woodbourne Farm Ltd
Gewurztraminer 2008 and older
- Longbush Bird Series Gewurztraminer 2008, Ilfracombe
Other White Wines 2010
- The Paddler 2010, Berakah Estate Limited
Other White Wines 2009
- Esk Verdelho 2009, Omahu Vineyard
- Waimea Edel 2009, Waimea Estates
- Waimea Viognier 2009, Waimea Estates
Dessert Wines exceeding 50g/L sugar
- Charles Wiffen Late Harvest Riesling 2009, Charles Wiffen Wines
- John Forrest Collection Noble Riesling 2006, Forrest Vineyards
- Glazebrook Noble Harvest Riesling 2009, Ngatarawa
Cabernet Sauvignon/predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon blends 2009
- Mudbrick Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2009, Mudbrick Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon/predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon blends 2007 and older
- Mills Reef Elspeth Trust Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Trust Vineyard
- Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2007, Omahu Vineyard
Merlot/predominantly Merlot blends 2008
- Kim Crawford Small Parcels Corner 50 Vineyard Hawke's Bay Merlot 2008, Corner 50
Pinot Noir 2009
- Gibbston Valley China Terrace 2009, Gibbston Valley
- Mondillo Pinot Noir 2009, Mondillo
- Marlborough Exotica Pinot Noir 2009, Koura Bay Wines
- Domain Road Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009, Domain Road Vineyard
- Black Quail Estate Pinot Noir 2009, Black Quail Estate
- Lowburn Ferry Home Block 2009, Lowburn Ferry Vineyard
- Mount Dottrel Pinot Noir 2009, Mitre Rocks Vineyard Ltd
- Cobblestone Te Muna Pinot Noir 2009, Cobblestone Vineyards
Pinot Noir 2008
- Pisa Range Estate "Black Poplar Block" Pinot Noir 2008, Pisa Range Estate
- Villa Maria Single Vineyard Southern Clays Pinot Noir 2008, Rutherford
Other Red Wines 2008
- Jurassic Ridge Montepulciano 2008, Jurassic Ridge
Syrah 2008
- Squawking Magpie The Stoned Crow Syrah 2008, Deerstalkers
- Vidal Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2008, Omahu Vineyard
Syrah 2007 and older
- Mills Reef Elspeth Trust Vineyard Syrah 2007, Trust Vineyard
- Vidal Reserve Syrah 2007, Omahu Vineyard
The Romeo Bragato Awards, held each year as part of the Romeo Bragato conference, are New Zealand’s only grapegrower awards.
The trophy winners, which represent the top wine from each varietal class judged, will be announced at the annual Romeo Bragato conference awards dinner along with the announcement of the Young Viticulturist of the Year and the winner of the Silver Secateurs Award. The gala dinner will be held on Saturday August 28 at Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000 in Blenheim.
Wine Survey Results
| Question01 | Which of the following is most influential when it comes time to make a wine purchase? | Answers96% | Skips4% |
| 0% | 26% | 52% | PERCENT | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommendations from friends? | 52% | ||||||
| Social media, including blogs, Facebook, and Twitter? | 24% | ||||||
| Other | 10% | ||||||
| Shelf talkers in-store? | 9% | ||||||
| Traditional media, including Newspapers, Television? | 5% | ||||||
| Question02 | From where do you purchase the majority of your wines? | Answers93% | Skip7% |
| 0% | 21.5% | 43% | PERCENT | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Supermarket? | 42% | ||||||
| Boutique Wine stores? | 28% | ||||||
| On-line? | 14% | ||||||
| Direct from the winery? | 14% | ||||||
| Discount chains? | 1% | ||||||
| Question03 | Which of the following social media platforms do you use most frequently? | Answers91% | Skips9% |
| 0% | 25.5% | 51% | PERCENT | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twitter? | 51% | ||||||
| Facebook? | 33% | ||||||
| Blogs? | 11% | ||||||
| Youtube? | 5% | ||||||
| Other? | 1% | ||||||
| Question04 | What’s the average price you currently spend on a bottle of wine? | Answers90% | Skips10% |
| 0% | 19% | 38% | PERCENT | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15-$20? | 38% | ||||||
| $20-$25? | 26% | ||||||
| $10-$15? | Posted via email from Wine Reviews
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