Mother’s Day tomorrow means spending money today and she loves wine. If you’re a day or so late with delivery don’t fret, but don’t skimp either…
Mahi Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $22
You’ve heard the saying “You do the Mahi, you get the treats”, it’s totally true with wine too. Meaning ‘work’ in Maori, Mahi’s winemaker Brian Bicknell and his team battled through two cyclones during the season, yet succeeded in crafting this passionfruit, lemongrass and sweetpea-soaked stunner. A tiny 7% splash of barrel ferment adds complexity to its citrussy, herbaceous core.
Sip with: Linguine and minted pistachio pesto.
www.mahiwine.co.nz
Matawhero Irwin Gisborne Chardonnay 2016 $59.99
Launched in September 2017 as Matawhero’s first-time, flagship wine, this chardonnay has so many French hallmarks I think I’m going to christen it a ‘Gisburgundy’ style. And yet no French oak was used, instead the grapes were crushed and fermented wild in a combo of American and Hungarian barrels which imprint a smoked vanilla character over the elegant citrus and ripe, roasted nectarine notes. Outstanding!
Sip with: Red curried butternut pumpkin.
www.glengarrywines.co.nz
Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2009 $100
To clarify, Moët rhymes with ‘poet’. So from today. It’s not okay. To say ‘mow-way’. When the Chef de Cave (French for ‘Chief Winemaker’) Benoît Gouez declares a ‘vintage’ it’s something to notice because the quality doth skyrocket. This is the 73rd time in the history of Moët that it’s happened. Aged for 7 years before release, it has luxurious creamy, cashew-like characters, tiny, delicate beads, biscuity, lemony lusciousness in the mouth and a long, finely-tuned, zesty-fresh finish.
Sip with: wasabi oyster omelette.
www.thegoodwine.co.nz
