Paddy Borthwick Falloon Block Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2014 $22 The Borthwick’s are Wairarapa pioneers in farming and grapegrowing and that they’re able to produce such fresh and fabulous pinot noir at this price is testament to their vast experience on the land. Classic black tea, seasoned leather, black guava and spicy cherry flavours merge with … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Te Awanga Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018
Te Awanga Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 $28.99 Crafted by Rod McDonald, a winemaker seemingly blessed with the syrah version of jazz hands for every vintage, this is a plum and pepper-scented sensation was sourced from fruit grown west of Hastings, an area famous for producing the iron-rich, Bridge Pa soils and the prestigious, deep, … Read More
Matahiwi Holly South Series Wairarapa Chardonnay 2018
Matahiwi Holly South Series Wairarapa Chardonnay 2018 $33 While the team at Matahiwi have been turning out cracking chardonnay from Hawke’s Bay for years now, the Holly South Series is all about celebrating their southern roots. Grown in their ‘Home’ vineyard near the winery, just outside of Masterton, this chardonnay is richly structured, with punchy … Read More
Hãhã Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2018
Hãhã Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2018 $18 So bright and bouncy and bursting with baked pear and spiced peach notes on the nose and palate, this is a nicely balanced gris that’s generously proportioned yet very refreshing and crisp. Hints of cashew and apple unveil on the finish too. Nicely made. www.hahawine.co.nz
Hãhã Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018
Hãhã Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018 $18 This new release is a super-smashable red that sings plum, plum and more plum! Warm and cuddly in the mouth, it coats the palate with cocoa and spice and slips down far too easily. Edged with pepper, the tannins are soft and woolly, yet add a hint of chew … Read More
Matahiwi Estate ME Wairarapa Rosé 2019
Matahiwi Estate ME Wairarapa Rosé 2019 $19.99 Ultra-pretty in the glass, like bright, sparkly watermelon and raspberry-coloured, and while you’re sidetracked looking at it, the perfume of wild redcurrant and strawberry will sneak up and seduce you. SO mouthfilling and satisfying – it’s a fruit fest of plum, guava, buckets of berries, juicy spices and … Read More
Ellero Pisa Terrace Central Otago Riesling 2015
Ellero Pisa Terrace Central Otago Riesling 2015 $25 Gleaned from the last letters of Californian’s-cum-Central Otagians, Roberta Manell Montero and John Montero, Ellero is a 16ha operation in the Pisa Terrace sub-region, an area famed for injecting intense minerality and character into every grape grown there. This riesling has soaked up all that and more. … Read More
Misty Cove Marlborough Rosé 2019
Misty Cove Marlborough Rosé 2019 $22.99 How pretty is this shiny, new, pinot noir-based rosé? It absolutely pops in the glass and it’s strongly scented with classic raspberry, cherry and strawberry notes and bursts forth all manner of rich, generous, gob-filling gorgeousness in the fruit department. Fresh, yet densely flavoured and full-bodied, it’s the complete … Read More
Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019
Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019 $21.99 A squeak of skin contact has given this gris a super-sexy rose-gold blush in the glass and aroma-wise it ticks all the boxes in terms of quince, baked pear, peachy notes and all sorts of fresh spices that also osmose across the palate. The acidity … Read More
Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $17.99 I was tasting this wine whilst looking at a recipe for Spinach, Pea & Parmesan Risotto and sauvignon blanc immediately springs to mind the second I see spinach and peas in any recipe. But you don’t want just any old sauvignon, oh no. You need … Read More