Kelly Washington Wairau Valley Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $36 Aromas of freshly-baled pea-hay, lemongrass and soft, white pepper characters co-exist with lime and nettle notes in a beautifully balanced, mineral-driven mouthfeel that is just delicious. Certified organic and very classy in the glass, I really wish I could confidently say that New Zealanders will pay … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Lowburn Ferry Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016
Lowburn Ferry Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016 $50 Stuffed with cranberry, redcurrant, rosehip tea, succulent acidity, slippery lithe mouthfeel, warming, luscious, lovely and spicy and velvety. It’s a classic, old vines, Central Otago style that works beautifully with roast beetroot soup and anything game-related. It’s a juicy, spice-centric style that’s created from fruit grown by … Read More
Vesevo Beneventano Campagnia Aglianico 2015
Vesevo Beneventano Campagnia Aglianico 2015 $21.50 Aglianico is a grape that does its happy dance in volcanic dirt and that’s why mineral-rich soils of campagnia produce such jawdropping examples like this. ‘Vesevo’ is the ancient name given to the volcano ‘vesuvio’ – so it totally fits. Incredibly bright florals, cherry blossom, pepper and dark cocoa … Read More
Circuit North Canterbury Chardonnay 2018
Circuit North Canterbury Chardonnay 2018 $24.99 Crafted by the team at Black Estate from organically grown fruit that’s been fermented using a starter culture from the vineyard itself, this is a creamy, brulee and butter-smothered wine, with peach and grapefruit notes underpinning the nutty smoothness. Theres a hint of wildness and funk to the fruit layers … Read More
Black Estate French Farm Pinot Gris 2018
Black Estate French Farm Pinot Gris 2018 $30 Crafted from fruit sourced from a vineyard overlooking Akaroa Harbour on Canterbury’s Bank’s Peninsula, this is a dry, seriously textural pinot gris showing hints of quince and a palate that definitely rocks in the mineral, quartzy-dry department. Full and generously flavoured, it’s a deeply complex style fermented in … Read More
Whistling Buoy Canterbury Pinot Noir Rosé 2016
Whistling Buoy Canterbury Pinot Noir Rosé 2016 $25 Perfumed with the softest of pot pourri and peach stone, it feels like it’s going to be super-subtle as a wine style. Then you put it in your mouth and holy moly! It’s an explosion of crunchy-fresh acidity, guava, tropical tones, incredibly rich, zesty layers of flavour … Read More
Black Estate Netherwood North Canterbury Chardonnay 2016
Black Estate Netherwood North Canterbury Chardonnay 2016 $65 Created from organically grown fruit and kicked off with a ferment straight from the vineyard, this cashew and citrus-forward chardonnay is their signature example and only produced in years when the fruit is perfect. It’s big, real big. Boasting caramelised oak notes, soft smoky characters, wild and … Read More
Huntress Martinborough Pinot Noir 2017
Huntress Martinborough Pinot Noir 2017 $49 Winemaker Janine Rickards is the ultimate huntin, fishin, divin’ drivin’ damsel (just check out her rugged and rustic instagram pics), and I love what she does with her Huntress wines. Hand harvested fruit from clones 5, 828 and Abel clones has been used, 20% of which has been whole cluster co-fermented … Read More
Mudbrick Reserve Waiheke Island Syrah 2018
Mudbrick Reserve Waiheke Island Syrah 2018 $75 I honestly couldn’t tell you the last time I tasted a syrah that was so young yet sang so beautifully on the palate. Winemaker Patrick Newton has woven some witchcraft with what’s quite clearly plump, flavour-stacked fruit, to produce an ultra-velvety syrah, stitched together with cracked pepper, boysenberries, … Read More
Te Kairanga Runholder Martinborough Pinot Noir 2017
Te Kairanga Runholder Martinborough Pinot Noir 2017 $28 I think this could very well be my favourite vintage of Runholder. Plush, lush and packed with flavour, it roars with cherry, cranberry, rosehip tea and layers of earthy cocoa characters on the palate. While it’s slippery and silky to sip, it also has powdery, emery-like tannings … Read More