Rabbit Ranch Central Otago Rosé 2018

Rabbit Ranch Central Otago Rosé 2018 $22.95  Crafted from 100% pinot noir, this snappy little rosé resembles the styles of Southern France, skating down the dry and spicy-fresh side of the fence and leaving a comet tail of soft melon, cranberry and pink peppercorn characters on the palate.  Clean, crunchy and built for serving super-chilled […]

Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2017

Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2017 $21.99 Punchy and peppery right upfront then followed by juicy raspberry and cherry and light leathery, earthy notes on the palate.  It’s a great introduction to good, affordable, Gimblett Gravels syrah and as soon as you’ve tasted it you’ll be hooked!

Catalina Sounds Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Catalina Sounds Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $24 Passionfruit.  check.  Lime.  Check.  Crushed herbs. Check.  Cut grass and capsicum. Check.  Spark and personality?    Hmmm not so much.  I was expecting a punch in the face, but got a flick from a damp teatowel instead.  It’s an ok drink, but for $24 it’s lacking pungency and […]

Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2017

Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2017 $24  Bold, juicy and ready for action, this velvety-smooth red has cocoa, dark cherry, plum and peppery warmth on the palate.  It’s fleshy, beautifully textured and fabulous with moussaka. www.millsreef.co.nz  

Hunter’s Marlborough Chardonnay 2017

Hunter’s Marlborough Chardonnay 2017 $24  Holy peach pit Batman!  This is like a tropical, toasty roundhouse kick to the face by a cheeky chardonnay often discounted down to the $18.99 mark.  Absolutely heaving with gorgeous roast stonefruit, grilled grapefruit, toasted cashew, and incredibly zesty acidity makes this a wow moment for me as chardonnay lover […]

Richmond Plains Organic Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Richmond Plains Organic Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $22 Grown in the gloriously weedy, certified organic vineyard owned and lovingly tended by Lars and Sam Jensen, the Richmond Plains sauvignon is nothing short of a Nelson icon. Aromatically it sings with lemon blossom, red capsicum, sugar snap pea and lime notes.  Racy acidity, boatloads of florals […]

Ash Ridge Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Ash Ridge Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $21 Lemon, lime notes on the nose and palate, they’re edged with seashell minerality and expect some marzipan and toasty notes from the 85% barrel fermentation as well. It could do with more generosity and freshness in the mid palate however. www.ashridgewines.co.nz  

Ashwell Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Ashwell Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $20 Bright and bursting with citrus and nectarine notes in every sip. Add to that elderflower, lemon blossom and a lick of lemongrass and you get extra deliciousness on the nose and palate.  This little bit of Martinborough magic is intensely fresh on the palate, with zesty acidity, good astringency, […]

Melton Estate Canterbury Pinot Gris

Melton Estate Canterbury Pinot Gris 2015 $20  Located in the leafy climes of West Melton, 20 mins or so drive west of Christchurch city, this pinot gris has a hint of botrytis character happening, honeyed notes, beeswax and some roast stonefruit showing through.  Doesn’t really show the classic nashi, pear, quince and apple characters that […]

Hunter’s Kāho Roa Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $23.90 (4.5 stars)

Hunter’s Kāho Roa Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $23.90 Sourced from the clay-rich soils of their Omaka vineyard, the fruit for this sauvignon was crushed and the cloudy, high-solids juice poured directly into old French oak puncheons for a wild yeast (spontaneous) fermentation.  The wine was then aged on its lees for 6 months before bottling, […]