I review the 2020 Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Chardonnay Selection

January 5, 2023By Yvonne

I review the 2020 Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Chardonnay Selection. Twelve wines whittled down from dozens submitted that were judged by Cameron Douglas MS to reflect the absolute finest examples created from the 2020 vintage from the Hawke’s Bay region. I love that there’s a healthy sub-regional spread in terms of where they were grown and … Read More

Coopers Creek SV Chalk Ridge Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2020

November 15, 2021By Yvonne

Coopers Creek SV Chalk Ridge Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2020 $24 Absolute classic Hawke’s Bay viognier here from a West Auckland icon. Bright apricot, orange zest and jasmine aromatics all saturate through to the palate and its solid acidity (hard to achieve in viognier) leaves an impressively zingy impression. Great stuff! Cellar door only 

Coopers Creek Select Vineyards Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot Malbec 2015

September 13, 2019By Yvonne

Coopers Creek Select Vineyards Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot Malbec 2015 $23.75 Previously sold under the ‘Metals and Gravels’ label, this 57:43 M & M blend is showing how fantastic 2015 was in Hawke’s Bay for merlot-dominant, Bordeaux-style red wines.  Elegant, statuesque and stacked with buckets of black fruits, masses of Christmas pudding spices and … Read More

Yvonne Lorkin Canvas Column July 21 2018

July 10, 2018By Yvonne

Yvonne Lorkin Canvas Column July 21 2018 If the words ‘crazy whites’ conjures up Trumpy connotations, quickly rejig the phrase to ‘crazy good whites’ and you’ll calmly enter the world of this weeks’ wines… Obsidian Reserve Waiheke Island Viognier 2015 $48  I first sipped this wine while listening to the album Raising Sand, by Robert … Read More

Coopers Creek Bell Ringer Gisborne Albarino

May 5, 2016By Yvonne

Coopers Creek Bell Ringer Gisborne Albarino 2015 $22 ★★★★½ Winemaker Simon Nunns has crafted a distinctly limey, lipsmackingly dry and intensely mineral-driven albariño from Gisborne’s Bell vineyard. It’s got real presence and poise and truckloads of tangy stonefruit notes, yet it’s beautifully balanced and delicate at the same time. Sensational with pan seared groper steaks … Read More

Cooper’s Creek SV Gisborne ‘Bell Ringer’ Albarino 2011

September 21, 2011By Yvonne

Coopers Creek SV Gisborne ‘Bell Ringer’ Albarino 2011 $20  Dubbed the ‘Bell Ringer’ because it was an instant hit within the company, it’s also the namesake of their Gisborne growers Doug and Delwyn Bell.  It has soft, powdery floral aromas and super-clean, dry and minerally in the mouth with a white peach note on the … Read More