Ti Point ‘Tess’ White Merlot 2015 $15-$20 ★★★★

If you keep a couple of bottles of this in the fridge over your average spring weekend, you’ll find there’ll be no shortage of people knocking on your door armed with cheese and crackers and wanting desperately to be your friend.  Crafted from merlot grown in Matakana and named after the youngest daughter of winemaker Tracy Mason, this pale, ballet-shoe pink drink has ripe, round raspberry, watermelon and spicy berry notes.  I like the smooth, creamy texture and concentrated fruit fullness on the finish.  Very pretty wine indeed.  www.blackmarket.co.nz