Mills Reef Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 $19 Bright and floral and fanging with violets and cherry and all sorts of spices on the nose, this fresh and feisty syrah has ripe plum, raspberry and cranberry characters on the palate. The tannins are easy, elastic and ever-so-powdery, plus there’s a softness on the finish. Superb … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Little Wing Waiheke Island Syrah 2016
Little Wing Waiheke Island Syrah 2016 $60 This is Gillian and Gareth MacLachlan’s red riot. They became obsessed with Syrah after working in the Northern Rhone in 2010, so when the opportunity came along to purchase a semi-abandoned oceanfront vineyard on Waiheke Island years later, of course syrah was compulsory! Planted on heavy clays, super-close … Read More
Saint Clair James Sinclair Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Saint Clair James Sinclair Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $22 As soon as you stick your nose in a glass of this sauvignon, you’re met with marshmallow, lemongrass, summer flowers and soft passionfruit layers. On the palate it is punchy-fresh, yet the acidity is gentle and beautifully integrated with the fruit concentration and herbaceousness. Nice sipping … Read More
Amisfield Central Otago Chardonnay 2017 $45
Amisfield Central Otago Chardonnay 2017 $45 Dr Stephanie Lambert has a fearsome reputation as a winemaker and yet the big up’s, the accolades, the critic prop’s per se, are overwhelmingly in favour of her pinot noir. Indeed she does make damn fine, world-class pinot noir at every price point, yet I’m here to say that … Read More
ME by Matahiwi Wairarapa Chardonnay 2017 $19
ME by Matahiwi Wairarapa Chardonnay 2017 If you like your chardonnay punchy and fruit-kicked and showing sackloads of citrus, then hop on the bus to freshtopia friend because that’s where this wine is headed. Zesty white peach and grapefruit make up the core of this wine, which is then stitched together by a soft seam … Read More
Taylors St Andrews Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Taylors St Andrews Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 $60 Red wine lovers, look out. What this wine has is a very particular set of skills. Skills it’s acquired over a very long time, skills that make it a nightmare for people who don’t like cabernet. Because it’s so glorious. If you give in to its … Read More
Ash Ridge Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2016
Ash Ridge Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2016 $50 Unfined, unfiltered and absolutely elegance wine-onified. Perfumed with peppercorn, bay leaf, bright violets and plum blossom, the palate of this new release by winemaker Lauren Swift shows deeply savoury characters, leather-slapped, game meat and mocha notes. Fresh acidity and fanging length of flavour. It’s a syrah that’ll … Read More
Hawkes Ridge Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2014
Hawkes Ridge Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2014 $25 Incredibly golden and glossy in the glass, this viognier is soon-to-be-released and once it’s out there, by hokey New Zealand, it’s in the bag! Or should I say, “in the cellar”, because it’s gloriously gulpable. Think rich apricot, musky florals, sweet citrus concentration and some botrytis influence adds … Read More
Hoppers Crossing Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018
Hoppers Crossing Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 (tank sample) Lush, plush and nicely structured, needs a tiny bit of settling and red berries (wild strawberry, cherry, redcurrant,) decent tannins, fruit concentration and spice. Long finish. Good stuff. very drinkable.
Wrights Reserve Organic Gisborne Chardonnay 2018
Wrights Reserve Organic Gisborne Chardonnay 2018 $30 There’s a hint of musky, ginger and spices on the nose and palate of this chardonnay – so don’t be going in expecting the bog standard peaches and cream characters of your more commercial examples. There’s an earthy, nutty note on the mid-palate and a truffle-like tweak on … Read More