Master of Molly' - A Mollydooker Lunch with Matt Willmer (Queenstown)
Come one, come all to this fabulous Mollydooker-ful extravaganza!
We're lucky this year to be hosting Matt Willmer, Mollydooker's left-hand man for this hemisphere for the most important week of the year for them - the one with International left-handers day on the 13th!
- Date: Friday, 16 August
- Time: From 12:30PM
- Location: Toast & Oak
- Cost: Free for TRADE
Enjoy a specially curated lunch paired with six juicy Mollydooker wines - tickets to the lunch tasting are strictly limited. Book today to reserve your place.
Tasting:
- 2021 Mollydooker The Maitre D Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2021 Mollydooker The Scooter Merlot
- 2021 Mollydooker Two Left Feet Shiraz / Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot
- 2022 Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz
- 2021 Mollydooker Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz
- 2021 Mollydooker Carnival of Love Shiraz
Meet Mollydooker
If you haven't yet met Mollydooker, let us introduce you... A powerhouse in every sense of the word, Mollydooker has been a crowd-pleasing, wow-inducing, glass-filling favourite in the Dhall & Nash portfolio for years.
These unapologetically lush and vivacious wines are everything their quirky labels make them out to be – loud, bold and utterly scrumptious. With a look to turn the head and a taste to delight the tongue, there’s nothing this Aussie superstar can’t achieve.
What's with all the 'Left' references?
Mollydooker is Aussie' slang for a left-hander, which has been an oddly strong theme throughout this brand's entire journey. Both of the winemakers who started the label were Mollydookers, but it's more than that! You'll notice all Mollydooker staff will only shake your left hand, the Boxer Shiraz (their most popular bottling) has two left-handed gloves in his depiction, and is part of the 'Lefty' series. Wine critic Robert Parker helped to boost this brand to international recognition, which they found particularly poignant given he too is a left-hander and they've named their wine room after him: ‘Nosey Parker Experience.’ Mollydooker also employs an unusually high number of Mollydookers - despite only making up around 10% of the population, around 50% of their winery staff just so happen to be left-handed.
Vintage Billecart 'Wines of Distinction' Series: Queenstown Dinner
Join us for a three course degustation of our rarest vintage Champagnes from Maison Billecart-Salmon, paired with the exceptional dishes created by the world renowned Eichardt's culinary team.
Prepare for an evening of culinary and vinous wonders as we present a meticulously crafted three-course meal thoughtfully paired with a selection of phenomenal vintage champagnes. Delight in the harmonious marriage of flavours, where each dish is artfully designed to complement the unique characteristics of these prestigious champagnes.
Indulge in an exclusive tasting which will offer you a sensory thrill through the cellars of one of the top-rated Champagne Houses.
Tasting Journey Includes:
- Billecart-Salmon 2013 Vintage RRP $210
- Cuvée Louis Salmon Brut Blanc de Blancs 2009 RRP $364
- Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon Brut Rosé 2009 RRP $415
- Cuvée Nicolas François Brut 2008 RRP $399
Tickets to the dinner are strictly limited. Book today to reserve your place today to embark on this exclusive journey through the finest Billecart-Salmon vintage Champagnes.
Maison Billecart-Salmon
Situated in the Champagne heartland of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, near Epernay, Billecart-Salmon has been under family ownership and management since its founding in 1818. It is a family-run winery with a majority share owned by the Billecart family and a minority holding is held by the Frey group, itself a family-owned business – they are owners of Château La Lagune in Bordeaux, Paul Jaboulet Ainé in the Rhône, and Château Corton C in Burgundy.
The Billecart family still lives on site and there remains a strong sense of long-visioned family continuity at play. Today there’s the seventh generation Mathieu Roland-Billecart overseeing everyday business as CEO, working closely with Antoine and François.
Champagne of the Millennium
On 12 June 1999, a jury of international experts came together to judge which champagne would be awarded the grand title of “Champagne of the Millennium” following a blind tasting.
Among the 150 champagnes in competition were the two Billecart-Salmon vintages, the Nicolas François Brut 1959 and the Nicolas François Brut 1961. When the results were announced, these two vintages took both first and second place
In his book The Great Tasting, Richard Juhlin wrote of the winner: "The perfect champagne, 1959 Billecart-Salmon, had everything one would expect of a luxury champagne, but in a seldom seen concentration and simultaneously with harmonious balance. A totally perfect champagne in its category, with a smoky, honey-smooth extremely long taste of walnut, orange blossom and chocolate. All who ever get to drink this fabulous wine just have to love the pleasure it grants. When you study the end results it is striking to see how obvious the victory was."
It was awarded a final mark of 98.5 out of 100.
You can read more about Billecart-Salmon here & about Vintage Billecart-Salmon here.
Eichardt's Hotel
Guided by the experienced hand of Chef Sylvester Nair (previously of Hippopotamus in Wellington), dining at Eichardt’s offers the opportunity to savour local and seasonal flavours within a range of elegant settings.
For the dinner, Eichardt's can offer the following special rates – which much be booked directly with the hotel or via Dhall & Nash.
These special rates will not be available or advertised elsewhere.
- The Penthouse – NZ$11,500 per night for one night or NZ$9,000 per night, for two or more nights.
- Lake View Suite – NZ$2,450 per night for one night or NZ$2,150 per night, for two or more nights.
- Heritage Suite – NZ$2,200 per night of one night or NZ$1,950 per night, for two or more nights.
Rates are based on occupancy of two persons per suite and include our standard signature inclusions of daily a la carte breakfast, nightly pre-dinner drink and canapés, $50 per person dining credit, for food only that can be used when dining in any of our three venues (The Grille, Eichardt’s Bar or No5) and valet carparking.
- Date: Friday, 10th May, 2024
- Time: 06:30pm
- Location: Eichardt's Private Hotel
- Cost: $395 per person (incl. GST)
- Dress Code: Formal Attire
If you have any questions or want to find out more, please contact us at puneet@dnfinewine.com or 09 357 0493.
International Partners Masterclass (For Trade)
Join Owen Wood from Dhall & Nash for this masterclass alongside visiting international guests - Karl Coveney (APAC Director of Sales) of Duckhorn from Napa Valley, Jean-Luc Chapel (Sommelier) of Paul Jaboulet Aîné in the Rhône Valley and Joan Carreras (APAC Director) of Pares Balta from Penedes, Spain.
Duckhorn Vineyards:
Duckhorn Vineyards was established in 1976 by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn, it was one of only 40 Napa Valley wineries at the time. Dan and Margaret have been toiling away in the name of establishing Duckhorn as one of North America’s premier producers and have succeeded in crafting a tradition of quality and excellence that continues today.
Paul Jaboulet Aîné:
Having started with the small plot of land in Hermitage, Paul Jaboulet Ainé now has 120 hectares, across 26 Rhône appellations. It is a huge success story achieved through hard work and passion.
Parés Baltà:
A family-owned winery in the Penedes region with tradition that goes back to 1790, this forward-thinking winery has it’s roots in the past and it’s thoughts to the future.