In 2008 Sam Sparro released the banger ‘Black & Gold’. But these three wines rock those colours every year in spectacular fashion…
Pukeora Estate Ruahine Range ‘The Benches’ 2013 $28
From what was heralded as the ‘vintage of the century’ comes this powerfully built blend of merlot, malbec, syrah and cabernet sauvignon from the limestone-laden hills of Central Hawke’s Bay. Sweet saddle-leather, pepper, mocha, hints of prune, liquorice and showing bold, juicy tannins – it’s a muscular, sinewy sip that has loads of life in it yet. Sip with: roast venison and pomegranate dressing.
www.pukeora.com
Tony Bish Golden Egg Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017 $40
Immediate creamy nougat notes waft up the nostrils, followed by cashew butter, roast peach and plucky, pineapple and citrus layers that all osmose onto the palate. Fresh, frisky yet smooth and silky to sip, it proves without shadow of doubt that Bish is basically the Gandalf of good stuff, the Tsar of taste, the Obi Wan Kenobi of kardonnay if you will.
Sip with: Hot smoked salmon.
www.tonybishwines.co.nz
Bannock Brae Goldfields Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016 $35
This new vintage is un-fined and unfiltered, so you’re simply getting pure flavours of cherry, baked strawberry, wild thyme, tamarillo and hedgerow fruit notes. Grown in the desert-scape of Bannockburn’s Cairnmuir Road, this is a gorgeously gamey, elegant pinot noir with soft, fruit leather layers and deserves to be consumed by pinot noir lovers across the land.
Sip with: Roast duck with grape sauce.
www.bannockbrae.co.nz
