Pirathon happens to be an ancient word used to describe a peak or pinnacle and that’s exactly what the team at Kalleske feel they have here. Shiraz is the Barossa’s best grape and Kalleske’s growers up in the Greenock, Moppa, Belvedere, Stonewell, Seppeltsfield, Koonunga and Ebenezer districts of the North West are the best there … Read More
Unison Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013 $55.00
Tucked away down a long, olive-lined shingle driveway in the middle of the Gimblett Gravels is a tiny winery where Unison’s owner Philip Horn and winemaker Jenny Dobson toil tirelessly to create some of Hawke’s Bay’s most sought after reds. This syrah hails from “the vintage of the century” according to the locals, and it’s … Read More
Kendall-Jackson Vintners Reserve Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 $44.99
Sonoma County should be called Cabernet County in my eyes, since it insists on churning out exceptionally earthy, concentrated cabernet like this. Kendall-Jackson are one of the most highly respected producers across the entire California coast and they have a signature cocoa, vanilla, smoky tone to their reds which work stunningly well with the powdery, … Read More
Mount Edward Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014 $45.00
Don’t fret if you’re staring at this wine thinking it’s a little less glossy than others. Be happy because winemakers Duncan Forsyth and Anna Riederer, haven’t fined or filtered it, opting instead to keep the wine in its pure authenic state. A state of black tea, cherry and mixed spice intensity. The palate is tightrope … Read More
Toi Toi Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir 2012 $45.50
There’s an expectation out there, and I’m not sure why, that all Central Otago pinot noir has to be inky dark and OTT. This is a deliciously silky, subtle and beautifully balanced example sourced from the arrid slopes of Lowburn. I love the lift of 5-spice, cherry and dried herbs that collide with succulent, juicy … Read More
Gibson Bridge Barrique Ferment Marlborough Pinot Gris 2013 $46.99
Howard and Julie Simmonds have made it their mission to turn out tiny amounts of stylish, complex wines with truckloads of character. Only 1800 bottles of this gris were produced and it’s crafted in a dry, toasty style which amps up the interest. Fresh tropical and quince characters on the nose, lead to musky, chai … Read More
Tesch Krone Laubenheimer Riesling 2013 $39.00
If riesling with a kiss of green apple, lime and ripe peachiness sounds like a bit of you, then wait until you sip this dry little dazzler. Tesch’s Krone vineyard in the town of Laubenheim, lies directly next to the Löhrer Berg on an eyewateringly steep slope consisting of coarse, decalcified loess and weathered sandstone … Read More
Pegasus Bay Waipara Chardonnay 2015 $39.00
If you can catch a whiff of struck match on your first sniff then welcome to the world of sulphide complexity, something I love to see a little bit of in my chardonnay. With smoked pineapple, grapefruit and grilled peach characters zigzagging across the palate and erupting on the finish – it’s a super stylish … Read More
Greystone Waipara Chardonnay 2015 $39.00
It’s been 11 years since the Thomas family first put vines in the ground at Greystone and then harvested for this vintage. The chardonnay is now really hitting its straps. Rich and golden in the glass and smelling of, oh lord, just the most delicious melange of almond biscuits rubbed with grapefruit pith and dipped … Read More
Te Kairanga John Martin Martinborough Chardonnay 2014 $40.00
This lightly creamy Martinborough chardonnay is crafted by John Kavanagh and has fresh, lifted nectarine, rockmelon, just the subtlest of toasty notes and a lovely fresh juicy character. It’s elegant yet mouthfilling and supremely satisfying. Clean, vibrant and zingy – it’s the type of chardonnay that’ll make your tastebuds stand to attention, aching to impress. … Read More