Cliff Edge Awhitu Merlot Cabernet Franc 2012

August 30, 2018By Yvonne

Cliff Edge Awhitu Merlot Cabernet Franc 2012 $45 Only about half a dozen barrels are produced of this classic Bordeaux blend (70% merlot, 30% cabernet franc) from the Awhitu peninsula in Auckland.  I’m not a huge fan of brettanomyces in my wine but there’s just enough in here to be complexing.  Grown in the clay soils of … Read More

Howard Park Leston Shiraz 2012 $43 (4.5 stars)

April 4, 2017By Yvonne

When wines like this arrive at the Lorkin office, I do my happy dance.  I’d never make the cast of Limbs, or be given a place in Parris Goebel’s Royal Family, but my enthusiasm more than makes up for the lack of coordination.  This shiraz absolutely bursts with clean, peppery spices. It’s also awash with … Read More

Domain Road Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2012 $39 (5 stars)

April 3, 2017By Yvonne

If a wine could actually shout from the rooftops “I’m Central Otago pinot noir dangnabbit!!” then this would be that wine. I love the lift of rhubarb leaf, juicy cherry, dark plum and tea leaf loveliness in every sniff and the fact that all these flavours osmose onto the palate just adds an extra bit … Read More

Fairmont Estate Admiral Hill Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2012

March 31, 2016By Yvonne

Fairmont Estate Admiral Hill Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2012 $25 ★★★ Lovers of old-school earthiness in their pinot will be all over this wine that’s produced from fruit sourced from the Gladstone Terraces.  Made by Jon McNab, it’s a wine boasting aromas of ancient fallen tree trunks, lush forest floor notes, savoury cherry and shitake mushroom … Read More

Kalex Central Otago Rose Brut 2012

March 31, 2016By Yvonne

Kalex Central Otago Rose Brut 2012 $39 ★★★★ I love the pretty rose-gold colour in the glass, but we all know looks aren’t everything.  So I was reassured to find it has alluring aromas of shrewsbury biscuit, berry bagel and soft, toasted nutty flavours in the mouth, followed by a hint of cherry on the … Read More

Nikau Point Select Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

March 21, 2016By Yvonne

Nikau Point Select Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 $13.99 ★★½ The Nikau Point brand has recently been given a spruce up, meaning it looks a tad more stylish on the table, which is always a good thing with a sub-$15 bottle.  This is a lightweight red that has layers of dried herb, berry and spice … Read More

Bodega Lagarde Guarda Blend 2012

March 1, 2016By Yvonne

Bodega Lagarde Guarda Blend 2012 $27 ★★★★ Sourced from one of the oldest bodega’s in the Llujan de Cuyo region of Mendoza in Argentina, this is a blend of 40% malbec, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot and 10% syrah that’s been aged for 12 months in French oak.  I love its black fruit intensity, liquorice … Read More

Big Sky Te Muna Road Pinot Noir 2012

January 20, 2016By Yvonne

Big Sky Te Muna Road Pinot Noir 2012 $40 ★★★★ Katherine Jacobs and Jeremy Corban are the couple behind this rising star Martinborough brand.  The ancient Te Muna terraces provide deep, mineral-driven texture to the pinots which grown on its soils and this is no exception.  A dusty, musky mouthfeel cloaks earthy cherry and cocoa … Read More

Amisfield RKV Reserve Pinot Noir 2012

January 20, 2016By Yvonne

Amisfield RKV Reserve Pinot Noir 2012 $120 ★★★★★ This is one of those wines that I want to get all Spinal Tap on it by saying “but this one goes up to eleven”.  If I could give it eleven stars I would. RKV stands for Rocky Knoll Vineyard, the jewel in Amisfield’s crown and vineyard … Read More

Elderton Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

January 11, 2016By Yvonne

Elderton Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 $31 ★★★★ It’s the perfume of this wine which won me over from the first sniff.  Bay  and dried, bouquet garni herbs weave through subtle eucalypt and sweet, ripe plum and blueberry notes.  In the mouth it’s buoyant and fresh, yet velvety-smooth at the same time. The tannins are … Read More