It’s hard not to fall hard for Martinborough. Such a quaint, pretty little village surrounded by row upon row of vineyards – yet don’t be lulled into thinking there’s anyting quaint about it’s style of pinot noir. It’s all about impression, big impression and that’s what this wine delivers in spades. Made by proprietor John … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Jackson Estate Somerset Single Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 $48 (5 stars)
Whenever the team at Jackson Estate choose to release a Somerset, I get very excited. Having slept quietly in the bottle for the last few years, the 2013 is now ready to rock and it’s a beautiful thing. Sourced from old, gnarly vines growing in unirrigated, clay-stacked soils in the Waihopai Valley, the wine shines … Read More
The Hay Paddock Pitchfork Classic Hawke’s Bay Red 2016
The Hay Paddock Pitchfork Classic Hawke’s Bay Red 2016 $34 Blended from a selection of classic Hawke’s Bay red varieties with Malbec and Syrah being the main stars, this has been supervised by Chris Canning, artist, writer, winemaker extraordinaire and its loaded with classic savoury peppery meaty notes that wrap around the prune, baked berries … Read More
La Celia Single Vineyard Heritage Uco Valley Malbec 2013 $70
La Celia Single Vineyard Heritage Uco Valley Malbec 2013 $70 So incredibly complex and multi-layered, this magically meaty, spice-driven malbec has seasoned leather, soy and black olive notes, anise, Irish moss and sandy, fine-grained but ferociously lovely tannins abound in this meal-in-itself wine. This wine has great palate presence and superb length of flavour, with … Read More
Giesen Waihopai Single Vineyard Selection Pinot Noir 2014
Giesen Waihopai Single Vineyard Selection Pinot Noir 2014 $60 Individually numbered, heavy-duty, black glass bottles were made of this powerfully built pinot noir and if I were able I’d be filling my cellar with them. Perfumed with raspberry leaf, wild cherry and baked, balsamic strawberry notes, there’s a lovely dried herb layer, hints of cola … Read More
House of Ball Waipara Pinot Noir 2014
House of Ball Waipara Pinot Noir 2014 $41 Crafted by the husband and wife team of Julian and Lynda Ball, just 200 bottles were made of this bright, spicy, classic North Canterbury pinot noir. Most of it is soaked up by their lucky B&B Guests, but if you contact them quick you could be in … Read More
House of Ball Romping Waipara Rosé 2017
House of Ball Romping Waipara Rosé 2017 $32 House of Ball is a vineyard and luxury B&B property owned by Julian and Lynda Ball on Mackenzies Road in North Canterbury. Lynda is the instigator of rosé because she was a fan of the style and wanted one of her own. Julian, good man, obliged and … Read More
Matawhero First Sun Gisborne Rosé 2018 $39.95 (3.5 stars)
What’s better than a bottle of crisp, snappy, fruit-soaked rosé? An even bigger bottle that’s what! Now it might be the middle of winter, but the team at Matawhero reckon it’s time they release their tribute to growing grapes in the first place that sees the sun each day. Made from merlot grapes, this has … Read More
Anciano Old Vines 35yo Garnacha 2015
Anciano Old Vines 35yo Garnacha 2015 $19.99 Here’s a comfortingly rich, round and rumpty Spanish Garnacha made from 35 y.o. vines from Calatayud. Made by Norrel Robertson MW, it’s scented with cough drop characters, Irish Moss, anise, dutch cocoa and hints of saddle leather – all of which saturate onto the palate. The acidity is fresh, finely tuned … Read More
Matahiwi Estate Wairarapa Pinot Gris 2018 $22.90 (4.5 stars)
I am head over heels with this wine. Not because I naturally have the hand-eye coordination of a one legged pirate with glaucoma and a bad case of OOS, but because the exotic, pear strudel and apple pie richness of this gris has seriously got me in its grip. White peach, soft spices and a … Read More