Valli Bannockburn Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021

17 August 2023By Yvonne

Valli Bannockburn Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021 $65-$75 One of the most silky, smooth, precisely structured Central Otago pinot noir’s I’ve experienced in a long time. Soothing, savoury and bursting at the seams with roasted rhubarb, wild berries, crabapple complexity and tannins that lurk in the background like a shy kid at the school … Read More

Neudorf Rosies Block Moutere Chardonnay 2022

16 August 2023By Yvonne

Neudorf Rosies Block Moutere Chardonnay 2022 $50 I’m doing the jazz-hands of joy over the shiny new Rosie’s Block Moutere Chardonnay by Neudorf Vineyards. It’s sublimely structured, saturated with clean, peach & citrus tones, soft toasty, nutty notes and has soothing, creamy textures and an elegantly balanced finish. It will only become more delicious with … Read More

Huntress Waikura Wairarapa Rosé 2023

10 August 2023By Yvonne

Huntress Waikura Wairarapa Rosé 2023 $30 ‘Waikura’ is a reference to the crimson-red glow in the sky in sunrise and sunset in Te Reo Māori, and as soon as you pour this into your glass you’ll see how the colour is deep and glowing. Crafted using Abel clone fruit which has been soaked on its … Read More

Foxes Island Artist Series 2014 Release La Lapine & Pinot Noir

10 August 2023By Yvonne

It’s not every day you get to taste 9yo Marlborough sauvignon blanc and pinot noir – but if the opportunity presents itself then leap on it I say! Foxes Island has just released The Artist Series – two limited edition library wines designed to profile a talented local artist but also to raise funds to … Read More

Neudorf Tiritiri Nelson Chardonnay 2022

7 August 2023By Yvonne

Neudorf Tiritiri Nelson Chardonnay 2022 $28 Paired with Annabel Langbein’s Greek Lemon Chicken Traybake in the NZ Herald Canvas Mag Aug 12 2023 Grown on the Moutere Clay Gravels, crafted inside a 100% solar-powered winery then packaged in a new, lightweight glass bottle, this gorgeous chardonnay is absolutely crammed with brightness, energy and electric flavour … Read More

Colere Fractal Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020

7 August 2023By Yvonne

Colere Fractal Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020 $60 Paired with Annabel Langbein’s – Mushroom Risotto recipe in the NZ Herald Canvas Magazine Aug 12 2023. If you’re considering pairing anything other than pinot noir with a mushroom risotto then I’m afraid we can’t be friends. Just jokes. But not really. In fact I’d urge you toward … Read More

Moy Hall Martinborough Viognier 2021

6 August 2023By Yvonne

Moy Hall Martinborough Viognier 2021 $50 For the life of me, I do not know the significance of having a beenie-hatted trout dressed in a Swandri carrying an axe on the label, but hey, I’m honestly not caring, because the wine inside is so so good. I love the way the 2021 has a cleansing, … Read More

Moy Hall Martinborough Viognier 2020

6 August 2023By Yvonne

Moy Hall Martinborough Viognier 2020 $50 Phill and Carolyn McArthur are the power couple behind Moy Hall and they’re responsible for my newfound obsession with Martinborough Viognier. Grown on the Martinborough terrace, the fruit was fully barrel fermented and aged on its lees for a long, sleepy, 11 months to inject a gorgeous creamy undertone … Read More

Koerner Gullyview Vineyard Clare Valley Rolle 21 Vermentino

5 August 2023By Yvonne

Koerner Gullyview Vineyard Clare Valley Rolle 21 Vermentino $45 Depending on how nerdy you are, the word Rolle could either describe a complicated mean-value theorem of differential calculus, or, the French name for the Italian grape vermentino. Damon and Jo Koerner are not ones for making ‘normal’ wines and their Clare Valley version of this Corsican … Read More

Chateau Garage runs on Powrie Power

5 August 2023By Yvonne

Garage Days Revisited by Yvonne LorkinAugust 1, 2023 Photo: Florence Charvin [As published in July/August BayBuzz magazine.] “Bruno, our schnauzer, may greet you with a bark,” was the text from Ollie Powrie a few minutes before I pulled up for our interview. So I was prepared, as I noodled up the driveway of his 1920s … Read More