24 September 2024By Yvonne

Atypical and super-sippical – Bay Buzz Magazine Sept/Oct 2024 by Yvonne LorkinSeptember 24, 2024 Greg Collinge, Supernatural. Photo: Florence Charvin [As published in September/October BayBuzz magazine.] Hawke’s Bay is New Zealand’s oldest and second-largest wine region boasting over 200 vineyards and 76 wineries. It’s also an incredibly diverse region and one that I unashamedly call ‘the … Read More

Petane Maraekakaho Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2023

7 September 2024By Yvonne

Petane Maraekakaho Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2023 $31 If you’re a fan of crispy-dry pinot gris sourced from a lovingly-tended organic vineyard grown in the shelter of the Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges, then you’ve driven down the correct cul-de-sac my friend. Aromatically it sings with green apple, soft pear, a lick of lime, feijoa zest … Read More

Bostock Airini Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2022

5 September 2024By Yvonne

Bostock Airini Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2022 $48 Māori princess Airini Karauria was one of Hawke’s Bay’s most highly respected and influential women, and in her honour the Bostocks created this impactful organic rosé. This is the second vintage and it’s crafted from syrah and merlot grapes grown in the iron-rich soils of Bridge Pa, her … Read More

Q Waitaki Pinot Noir 2022

3 September 2024By Yvonne

Q Waitaki Pinot Noir 2022 $65 Waitaki is one of the hardest places in the world to grow grapes, the climate is extreme, it’s a harsh environment but grapevines thrive in that ‘treat em mean, keep em keen’ situation and who are we to judge? This pinot noir has a gentle earthiness, baked cherry and … Read More

Q Waitaki Valley Pinot Noir 2021

3 September 2024By Yvonne

Q Waitaki Valley Pinot Noir 2021 Sipping this wine gave me a flashback to a dream I had recently, in which I remember swirling, sniffing, and sipping a pinot, then saying, ‘This is delicious. I’ll take a bottle!’ to which someone replied, ‘Ms Lorkin, this is a church. Let go of the cup and sit … Read More

Q Waitaki Valley Barrel Reserve Pinot Gris 2023

3 September 2024By Yvonne

Q Waitaki Barrel Reserve Valley Pinot Gris 2023 $34 What a gris this turned out to be, with its apricot and quince paste perfume that merges with notes of Golden Delicious apple and scorched nashi to create rich, lengthy lusciousness on the palate. It’s energetic, exciting, a little raunchy, and a lot like a Guy … Read More

Q Waitaki Valley Chardonnay 2021

3 September 2024By Yvonne

Q Waitaki Valley Chardonnay 2021 $42 Never heard of Q? It’s a tiny producer growing grapes in Waitaki’s deep limestone soils, only making wine when the fruit is perfect. The Waitaki wine region sits right on the southern edge of Canterbury and the northern lip of Otago, and it’s one of the most inhospitable climates … Read More

Q Waitaki Chardonnay 2023

3 September 2024By Yvonne

Q Waitaki Chardonnay 2023 $42 Incredibly golden in the glass and glowing with tropical tantalistic intensity. I love its fresh apricot and pineapple punchiness, rich viscosity and generosity of flavour. A slip of toasty oak injects complexity and another delicious dimension. Beautifully balanced, this is an excellent wine! Q Wine

Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Tempranillo 2022

2 September 2024By Yvonne

Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Tempranillo 2022 $39 The team at Trinity Hill have been growing Tempranillo in their Gimblett Gravels vineyard since forever ago, and if I had a dollar for how many times this wine has scooped gold medals and trophies in the ‘other reds’ category in local wine shows, I’d probably  have enough … Read More

Taylors St Andrews Clare Valley Chardonnay 2021

30 August 2024By Yvonne

Taylors St Andrews Clare Valley Chardonnay 2021 $49 Hands down and no holds barred, this is one of the loveliest versions of St Andrews chardonnay I’ve ever tasted. Energetic lemon, grapefruit and white peach punchiness merge with popcorn, toasted macadamia and a hint of gunflint on the palate. Beautifully balanced, mouthwateringly textural, softly smoky and … Read More