Pyramid Valley Colours Collection North Canterbury Rosé 2021

June 1, 2022By Yvonne

Pyramid Valley Colours Collection North Canterbury Rosé 2021 $39.99 Crafted from some of the oldest, organically, biodynamically-grown pinot noir vines in New Zealand, this rosé comes from their growers in Waipara, North Canterbury, and the image on the label is of mallow flower, a plant endemic in Pyramid’s vineyards and gardens. I love how delicately … Read More

Black Estate Home North Canterbury Chardonnay 2020

August 23, 2021By Yvonne

Black Estate Home North Canterbury Chardonnay 2020 $55 Bright, glossy and golden in the glass, this chardonnay is scented with gunflint, apple, green nectarine and caramelised oak, with a vein of citrus and toast roaring through onto the palate. It’s youthful, frisky and zesty on the palate with a core of spiced peach and buckets … Read More

Black Estate Damsteep North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2019

August 18, 2021By Yvonne

Black Estate Damsteep North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2019 $52  Floral floral floral! Crafted from fruit grown in the organic, biodynamically-managed Damsteep vineyard which was established back in 1999 on a patch of sandstone and limestone loveliness in North Canterbury. Winemaker Nicholas Brown opts to kickstart the ferment using the yeasts present in the vineyard canopy … Read More

Churton Best End Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018

May 13, 2021By Yvonne

Churton Best End Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $47 Marzipan, creamy, biscuity characters, lemon verbena, smoked basil, crushed herbs, complex acidity, fresh and fabulous. Roast fennel, caramelised parsnip, dried herbs, lemongrass, basil, nasturtium, and all sorts of niceness. Wild ferment, yet fresh zesty mouthfeel. Churton and you’re likely to spend much time looking at ‘poo pits’ … Read More

Urlar Gladstone Pinot Gris 2018

April 17, 2021By Yvonne

Urlar Gladstone Pinot Gris 2018 $25 Organically and Biodynamically grown and tended by viticulturist Bevan Lambess, and crafted into wine by Jannine Rickards, this wild, wooly and mineral-edged Pinot Gris will definitely appeal to those who prefer their gris on the dry side. 12% of the blend went in as ripe bunches that were fermented … Read More

Millton Riverpoint Vineyard Gisborne Gewürztraminer 2015

February 28, 2020By Yvonne

Millton Riverpoint Vineyard Gisborne Gewürztraminer 2015 $26 Righto.  So it’s to be kind of expected that a wild and woolly, funky and frisky, organically, biodynamically produced gewurztraminer will look, smell and taste different to the norm.  This is what you’ll find in the Millton 2015.  Bronze-coloured in the glass and offering manuka honey, fusel, spice … Read More

Pyramid Valley North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2018

January 9, 2020By Yvonne

Pyramid Valley North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2018 $50 The black tea and cherry notes on the nose dish out an exotic hit of aromatic intrigue that’s fresh, floral and flirtatious.  Highly savoury and showing good tension linking the spice, acidity, alcohol and tannins.  Warming and deeply flavoured, it’s a style that happily drinks now, but … Read More

Churton The Abyss Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017

July 17, 2019By Yvonne

Churton The Abyss Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017 $75 The Abyss is the highest altitude block of this organic and biodynamic producer in Marlborough’s Waihopai Valley.  Backing onto a precipitous cliff, it’s also home to Churton’s oldest vines, which grow bunches exposed to the easterly sun, creating fruit with complexity and coolness.  Hints of musk, wild … Read More

Churton Marlborough Petit Manseng 2016

December 11, 2018By Yvonne

Churton Marlborough Petit Manseng 2016 $49  Incredibly rare in New Zealand, Petit Manseng is grown primarily in Jurancon, in the Southwest of France, however the Weaver family are now growing teensy, tiny amounts in their biodynamic vineyard at Churton, in Marlborough’s Waihopai Valley.  It produces an intensely delicious, greengage plum and toffee-topped wine which bursts … Read More

Churton Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013

July 25, 2016By Yvonne

Churton Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 $44 Biodynamic winegrowing is where the Weaver family of Waihopai Valley excel, so when the winemaker offers to show you his “poo pits” I suggest you accept with a smile because (weirdly) they’re actually rather inspiring. This pinot erupts with bright berries, tangy black tea and sweet dark fruit concentration. … Read More