Canella Prosecco Superiore Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco ‘Millesimato’ 2014

June 3, 2023By Yvonne

Canella Prosecco Superiore Conegliano Valdobbiadene ‘Millesimato’ 2014 $30 It might say ‘extra dry’ on the label, but make no mistake, this plucky prosecco is packed with apple, pear and soft lemony loveliness, a seam of piercingly vibrant acidity and real generosity in the mid palate.  Serve super-chilled to enjoy the flintiness on the finish.  Prosecco is made … Read More

Paddy Borthwick Falloon Block Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2014

July 5, 2019By Yvonne

Paddy Borthwick Falloon Block Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2014 $22 The Borthwick’s are Wairarapa pioneers in farming and grapegrowing and that they’re able to produce such fresh and fabulous pinot noir at this price is testament to their vast experience on the land.  Classic black tea, seasoned leather, black guava and spicy cherry flavours merge with … Read More

Bernard Schurr Organic Cote du Rhone Villages 2014 $30 ★★★½

April 6, 2017By Yvonne

Bernard Schurr’s wines are now made at his friend Laurent Delaunay’s estate, Domaine de Lambisque, in the northern reaches of the Cotes du Rhone appellation.  This softly spiced, earthy red is a blend of 50:50 Grenache and Syrah, aged for 9 months in large, seasoned oak vessels.  It’s got a lovely forest-floor character alongside fragrant, … Read More

Reynella Basket Press McLaren Vale Shiraz 2014 $40 ★★★★

April 6, 2017By Yvonne

Alongside the bog standard technical stuff written on the notes that accompanied my sample of this bottle (things like acidity, alcohol, pH etc…) the winemaker has added ‘Occasion = Late Night’.  I concur.  Dark chocolate, seasoned leather, cigar box and blackcurrant compote notes followed by cockle-warming, juicy, spiciness on the finish, makes this the perfect … Read More

De La Terre Hawke’s Bay Barbera 2014 $43 ★★★★½

April 5, 2017By Yvonne

‘De La Terre’ means ‘of the earth’, which fits as they have New Zealand’s only earth brick winery building up on the Taihape Road. ‘They’ are Tony and Kaye Prichard, who’ve been working on their own label following Tony’s departure from Church Road a little over a decade ago. Barbera is super-rare and the Prichard’s … Read More

Billaud-Simon Chablis 2014 $41 (4 stars)

April 5, 2017By Yvonne

That delicious, chalky, limestone & crushed oyster shell character merges with lemon pith, white pepper, green apple and a faint touch of almond to produce a really pretty chardonnay that’s light yet beautifully structured in the mouth.  Waves of white florals and spice lull you into thinking it’s going to be a gentle ride until … Read More

Pask Declaration Gimblett Gravels Declaration Chardonnay 2014 $50 (5 stars)

April 5, 2017By Yvonne

Chardonnay lovers have I got a bottle of ‘batta bing, batta bing’ for you!  Crafted by the seriously talented team at Pask, (where it’s compulsory to adore chardonnay) here’s a grapefruit and peach-packed wine stitched together with butterscotch, custard crème, tweaks of cinnamon and a long, juicy finish.  As soon as you sip, your palate … Read More

Sacred Hill HALO Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2014 $28 (4.5 stars)

April 4, 2017By Yvonne

Holy hand harvest batman! What a wine!  It’s tricky to even start explaining how glorious this wine smells – but I’ll do my best for you.  Vanilla, soft boysenberry, cocoa, caramelised walnuts and smoked plums – how does that sound?  To drink, it’s fresh, vibrant, woven together with muscular tannins and extended with a marathon-like … Read More

Millars Vineyard Syrah 2014 $25 (4.5 stars)

April 4, 2017By Yvonne

Take the little bendy track called Bush Lane above Mangawhai beach, and you’ll find the small but perfectly formed vineyard belonging to Ross Millar. He grows tiny amounts of darn lovely wine and this syrah is no exception. Ultra-pure peppercorn characters on the nose merge with lifted violet, dark cherry, blueberry and juicy, succulent fruit … Read More