Matahiwi Wild Holly Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2022

November 9, 2023By Yvonne

Matahiwi Wild Holly Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2022 $38 Winemaker Liam Macklin has been given carte blanche to create a pinot noir that veers left from the classic Matahiwi stable and the result is well and truly wild. Crafted without any additions from just one tonne of their best quality, hand picked, Abel clone fruit, it … Read More

Huntress Waikoa 2023

October 12, 2023By Yvonne

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

Huntress Waikura Wairarapa Rosé 2023

August 10, 2023By Yvonne

Huntress Waikura Wairarapa Rosé 2023 $30 ‘Waikura’ is a reference to the crimson-red glow in the sky in sunrise and sunset in Te Reo Māori, and as soon as you pour this into your glass you’ll see how the colour is deep and glowing. Crafted using Abel clone fruit which has been soaked on its … Read More

Le Grá Wairarapa Pinot Rosé 2022

May 22, 2023By Yvonne

Le Grá Wairarapa Pinot Rosé 2022 $38 A refreshingly spritzy style of rosé that roars with watermelon, crabapple and succulent salinity. Crunchy-crisp and mineral-drenched, it’s laced with soft herb and rhubarb notes and has a long, zesty finish. Nice work from one of Wairarapa’s smallest wineries. (Extra for Experts) Look out for some interesting new … Read More

Matahiwi Wild Holly Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2021

August 21, 2022By Yvonne

Matahiwi Wild Holly Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2021 $35-$44 Crafted by winemaker Liam Macklin*,  this wild and woolly pinot has had 3 weeks on skins to extract colour and texture and then aged for 14 months in French oak to inject some smoky tones and according to Liam, it was created with “No additives, no fining, … Read More

Matahiwi Holly Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2019

August 19, 2022By Yvonne

Matahiwi Holly Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2019 $39  What I really enjoy about this wine is its soft, floral aromas, lifted leather and spice layers and slippery, fleshy mouthfeel. It’s silky and lithe and shows lovely restraint and poise. The acidity is energetic and perky, yet the wine is developing some maturity and its tannins are … Read More

Gladstone Wairarapa Pinot Gris 2021

May 26, 2022By Yvonne

Gladstone Vineyard Wairarapa Pinot Gris 2021 $24.99 There’s something in the deep, dry, rocky soils of the ancient terraces of the Ruamahanga River that gives Gladstone Vineyard’s pinot gris its deliciously dry superpowers.  Spice-stacked and mineral-focused, it has a core (scuse the pun) of pear and green apple which provides the spine for crunchy acidity … Read More

Le Grá Wairarapa Sauvignon Blanc 2019

April 20, 2022By Yvonne

Le Grá Wairarapa Sauvignon Blanc 2019 $27 Re-tasted May 2023 and drinking beautifully- plush, tropical, deliciously complex. Much better after some time in bottle. Very yummy indeed. Sauvignon blanc from the Wairarapa is its own beast, floral, feisty and fanging with tree and citrus fruits. This Le Grá boasts fresh green apple, lemongrass and a … Read More

Gladstone Vineyard Wairarapa Viognier 2019

April 3, 2022By Yvonne

Gladstone Vineyard Wairarapa Viognier 2019 $28.99 The unmistakable aroma of orange zest, apricot and a little jiggle of jasmine tells you that this is going to be a great little viognier. Grown organically on the ancient rocky terraces above the Ruamahanga River, this is an ultra-bright, beautifully balanced example of a variety that’s notoriously difficult … Read More

Gladstone Vineyard Estate Pinot Gris 2019

March 11, 2022By Yvonne

Gladstone Vineyard Estate Pinot Gris 2019 $25 Paired with: Braised Fennel with Lemon in Canvas Magazine in the NZ Herald March 12th 2022 The state of the world is all a bit bung, a bit pakaru and more than a tad huckery right now. So tuck yourself away with a few good friends, bake them … Read More