Huntress Waikoa 2023 $40 Winemaker Jannine Rickards has created a deeply complex and deliciously drinkable blend of 60% riesling and 40% sauvignon blanc from fruit grown in Martinborough’s ‘Grava’ vineyards. And if you thought that a sauvignon/riesling blend was going to be all light and floral and flouncy then you can skate right out of … Read More
martinborough
Moy Hall Martinborough Syrah 2020
Moy Hall Martinborough Syrah 2020 $90 While Martinborough is considered one of the greatest Pinot Noir regions in the world, yet the results that Phill and Carolyn McArthur are having with Viognier and Syrah, you could also say it’s a little spot of the Rhone at home. Co-fermented with a tiny splash of 3% viognier, … Read More
Moy Hall Martinborough Viognier 2021
Moy Hall Martinborough Viognier 2021 $50 For the life of me, I do not know the significance of having a beenie-hatted trout dressed in a Swandri carrying an axe on the label, but hey, I’m honestly not caring, because the wine inside is so so good. I love the way the 2021 has a cleansing, … Read More
Moy Hall Martinborough Viognier 2020
Moy Hall Martinborough Viognier 2020 $50 Phill and Carolyn McArthur are the power couple behind Moy Hall and they’re responsible for my newfound obsession with Martinborough Viognier. Grown on the Martinborough terrace, the fruit was fully barrel fermented and aged on its lees for a long, sleepy, 11 months to inject a gorgeous creamy undertone … Read More
Te Kairanga Runholder Martinborough Chardonnay 2022
Te Kairanga Runholder Martinborough Chardonnay 2022 $35 LOVING this new chardonnay from the team at Te Kairanga. Named after the name given to Martinborough’s founder John Martin, who ran a sheep farm on the land where Te Kairanga now stands. Back in the day, he was known as a ‘runholder’ and I’ve gotta say, with … Read More
Pinot Brothers Gold Label Martinborough Pinot Noir 2019
Pinot Brothers Gold Label Martinborough Pinot Noir 2019 $49 Ben Dugdale and his daughter Rose are the talent behind Pinot Brothers (or should that be Pinot Parent and Progeny? or Pinot Dad and Daughter?) Anyhoo, they’ve done an excellent job of capturing the classic Martinborough florals and cherry intensity on the nose and palate. Lifted … Read More
Drummond Farm Happy Jack Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Drummond Farm Happy Jack Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 $30 Paired with Skordalia by Annabel Langbein NZ Herald Sat 17th 2022 If you were going to go full authentic on what to sip with skordalia, then best you bust out that bottle of retsina you bought to remind yourself of when you were 20 and went … Read More
Porters Estate Martinborough Pinot Noir 2017
Porters Estate Martinborough Pinot Noir 2017 $45 Winemaker and ferociously competitive lawyer John Porter, has managed to cram a shed tonne of spice-soaked fruit into his wine, and that puts me firmly in my happy place pinot-wise. He doesn’t accept average and neither do you I suspect. Deceptively pale in colour (pinot noir doesn’t need … Read More
Kererū by Porters Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018
Kererū by Porters Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018 $35 Proprietor John Porter is a hands-on winegrower and winemaker when he’s not at his legal firm in Wellington. He and his wife planted 6.4ha of vines in 1992 and designed their ‘Kererū’ label to accelerate awareness of their native bush restoration initiative. Kererū is the Māori name … Read More
Butterworth Estate Layline Martinborough Pinot Noir 2020
Butterworth Estate Layline Martinborough Pinot Noir 2020 $35 Masses of fresh cherry, cocoa powder and tamarillo aromas greet the nose and the palate is soaked in classic su bois (forest floor), savoury sensations. Fresh acidity and racy tannins elongate the spicy layers which give this wine real finesse and character. Very nicely made, beautiful drinking … Read More