In a taste-off between Bordeaux and Gimblett Gravels, it might come as little surprise to see Mouton and Haut-Brion at the top of the tree – but Kiwi Mission Estate pulled off a shock by finishing third – and ahead of Lafite, Latour and Margaux.

The comparative tasting of eight top Bordeaux wines and eight from Gimblett Gravels involved 40 wine experts, and led by Lisa Perotti-Brown MW, was organised by the Independent Wine Centre in Hong Kong.

The Mission Estate wine which took third place was the Jewelstone Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2009, which will shortly be available in the UK through Laithwaites at less than £25 a bottle.

Hailing the result as an 'extraordinary achievement', Mission Estate winemaker Paul Mooney said: 'It shows that New Zealand reds, and those from the unique Gimblett Gravels terroir in particular, have a big future on the world stage.'

News item from Imbibe.com, 18-08-2011