"Daniel Schuster is one of the New Zealand’s eminent names, his career spanning four decades from researching viticulture in the early 1970’s at Lincoln University, winemaker at the first commercial winery in Canterbury at St. Helena as well as consulting at Ornellaia and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and authoring several books." While this sounds like it might have come from a brochure for Daniel Schuster's winery and been written by a PR agent, it was in fact from the Wine Adocate. Other pieces we saw use the term 'legendary' and 'highly respected'. In short, Daniel Schuster is a big deal in New Zealand and clearly welcome at top addresses elsewhere in the wine world. He may be one of the biggest time winemakers you've never heard of. The wine, the Pinot Noir Omihi Selection, is the top of the line of his portfolio and only produced in the very best years. It is made from the best lots from this 20 year old vineyard in Waipara. This 2006 not only got a 91 from Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar and a 90 from Wine Advocate, but the equivalent of a "Consumer's Choice ' award in New Zealand. Some of you may remember we told the story of Schuster a few years back when we sold another of his Pinot Noirs under similar circumstances.
What circumstances? Well, while Daniel is a Pinot icon in NZ, his import forays into the U.S. market have not always met with success. Why? Well, while the reviews were very close (they were both nearly four years ago), the prices were not, quoted at $53 and $75 dollars respectively. Prices at that level made for a pretty small audience. In any case, we were fortunate to know about Schuster from before and noticed this wine among several in an Australian portfolio that was being liquidated.
Needless to say, when we saw this wine at this price, we pounced. The quality here is striking. Initially the wine seems reticent until you realize it takes a few minutes for it to wake up after 6 years of slumber. Within 15 minutes this bottle is strutting it’s stuff with gobs of dark cherry, plum and boysenberry competing for your attention with a background of clove and savory spices, and a touch of forest floor. Daniel has made the complete package here, rich, ripe, decadent, and yet amazingly poised, fresh, and vibrant with acidity. It is focused and promising for another 3 to 5 years of great drinking ahead. Think the level of Felton Road, engaging but distinctly Kiwi. The upside is you have a delicious, persistent, complex Pinot that is wonderful now, all for about 50-75% (depending on which list you believe) of it’s original price. The downside is, this will be the last of it as we are told the winery is closed, though Schuster will still be working some consulting gigs. Deals this good on wines of this stature don’t happen all that often. Good hunting.
