Brian Bicknell called in to see me the other day. I mentioned something about being in Marlborough in 2004 and calling into the restaurant of the new winery he has just bought. But I think he misunderstood me, because he said, "Sorry I wasn't there when you called in with your friends."
"Huh," I said.
"Your American friends that you were bringing around to visit. I was called away on urgent business."
"That wasn't in 2004."
"It wasn't?"
"No, it was back in 2000."
"Gee, was it really that long ago!"
Yes it was. How time flies. But I have good memories of Robin's and Jenise's visit to NZ - separately but coincidentally at the same time.
Anyway, Brian Bicknell - formerly of Seresin Estate, where Robin and Jenise and I visited in 2000 and tasted some gorgeous Seresin wines - has left Seresin to concentrate on his own venture.
He started producing his own label, Mahi, in 2001 but never did much to promote it in NZ while working at Seresin. Much of it is exported anyway (Australia and the States). But that has all changed as Brian has just bought the winery and assets of Cellier Le Brun, a company best known for one of NZ's best bubblies, a brand created by Frenchman Daniel Le Brun (who sold out of the company several years ago and now cannot use his name on the bubbles he now makes at Number One Family Estate).
Brian also has acquired the 2-hectare vineyard around the Cellier Le Brun winery, though the rest of the Cellier Le Brun vineyards have been sold separately.
Brian, who is also a sparkling winemaker, is looking forward to working in this specialist sparkling wine winery and will continue to produce the Le Brun label and well as Mahi.
He says he makes the Mahi wines in a similar style to the Seresin wines, but of course they are all from different vineyards. I am looking forward to trying the new releases in the next couple of weeks.
Cheers,
Sue
