Last week I spied an online special for Kalex Pinot Noir Rose Brut 2015.
I'd purchased a half a case of Kailix riesling a month or so ago and it was pretty good.
According to the advertiser's blurb Kalix is getting rid of current stocks due to a label change.
Fair enough I guess especially given the severe Germanic references in the name and labEL that look like something Heinrich Himmler would have dreamed up and creamed over.
I tend to approach these 'label change', 'failed export order' and 'winery undergoing restructure' clearance offers with a bit of suspicion. I was a wine marketer after all and know all of those old tricks. I tend to put them into the category of: 'the cheque's in the mail', and 'I promise that I won't come in your mouth'.
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the riesling which, at $10 is a nice sweet and low alcohol aperitif. The sparkling rose, while a bit light on bubbles is OK and, with the boost of a splash of Marlborough pinot noir in it is a good drink. I think that Sam Kim might have had a few other wines before he tasted it and gave it 93 points and 5 stars but, fairs fair, at $20 a bottle it is, to me 'pool challenge' worthy. Unfortunately Her Indoors disagrees however and rejected it after a few sips. I respect her opinion as she has a better palate then I do.
Intrigued by this Kalex label change I did an internet search and found their website: KALEX
There are the usual things in there - 'Our Story', 'Our Wines, ''News' etc but what really caught my attention was the company slogan or by-line - TO STRUGGLE THROUGH ADVERSITY MAKES SUCCESS SO MUCH SWEETER.
"OK" I thought. "That sounds a bit much" and then I read through the story.
Alex Kaufman, a Polish American businessman, entrepreneur and holocaust survivor, overcame incredibly challenging situations to educate himself in post-war Germany and immigrate to the US with nothing but the clothes on his back and a quarter in his shoe. He worked his way up from washing petri dishes in a laboratory to becoming the owner of a large chemical company, and an outstandingly successful businessman.Right. Initially I thought that my flippant reference to Himmler was inappropriate given that Alex Kaufman is a 'holocaust survivor'.
Through his enthusiasm for great wine, Alex Kaufman already knew that the best wines are often produced in the most challenging places. Few are more daunting than the majestic Central Otago region of New Zealand, where climatic extremes, thin soils and geographic isolation offer an intimidating landscape for wine growers.
Alex fell in love with the region and, in a reflection of his own life, determined to overcome the many challenges and produce outstanding wines of the highest quality – a fitting legacy for someone whose start in life was similarly beset with adversity.
In creating Kalex Wines, Alex Kaufman has used his incredible business acumen, and his ability to find and trust in the right people, to build a company operating successfully in this challenging environment.
His passion, guidance and inspiration are the driving force behind the small, committed team at Kalex Wines, whose very focus is to deliver truly remarkable wines, which express a unique sense of place.
Our wines represent perseverance, individuality & ingenuity – the very essence of Alex Kaufman.
I then became offended as this 'heart strings' marketing approach is cynical and contrived. It has nothing at all to do with Central Otago winemaking and I doubt that Alex, bless him, is of an age where he can easily select vineyard sites, plant vines, harvest grapes and meaningfully oversee wine production. I suspect that the winemaking and marketing team use him (and his money) more for the label and advertising blurbs.
But, Robert could be wrong.
I continued my internet search on Kalex Pinot Noir Rose Brut 2015 looking for reviews and found that apart from Sam, no-one else had a great deal to say about this wine. Two other notable reviewers gave 4 star reviews but this was for previous vintage wine.
I should know better but I feel cheated.
