The team at Richmond Plains produced New Zealand’s first vegan-friendly sauvignon blanc from fully-certified organic and biodynamic grapes years ago, and this new vintage could be their best one yet. Lemongrassy, lighty-structured and showing leafy, herbaceous notes alongside a hint of feijoa that stitches it all together. It’s a ripe, bouncy, citrus-stacked sauvignon blanc that … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Obsidian Reserve Waiheke Island Chardonnay 2017 $48 (5 stars)
The stylish, chablis-like elegance of this wine made it an absolute showstopper for me. I love the purity of fruit, intense citrus and minerality on the mid-palate, its peachy backbone and the dusting of subtle nutty notes on the finish. It’s a beautifully balanced example that will leave you shaking your head in a state … Read More
Le Pont Gisborne Chardonnay 2016 $39.99 4.5 stars
Le Pont Gisborne Chardonnay 2016 $39.99 (4.5 stars) Old school chardonnay fans ahoy! Named in Tribute to the pioneering Irwin family who bought the first Mendoza clone chardonnay to Gisborne in the 1970’s, they went on to found a French restaurant called Le Pont. A combination of French and American oak barrels has injected a … Read More
Te Kano Estate Central Otago Chardonnay 2017 $35 (5 stars)
Aroma-wise this wine absolutely rocks the house with grilled grapefruit, biscuity characters and beautiful creme caramel characters. Chock full of ripe stonefruit, yet it’s restrained, creamy and supremely elegant to drink. It’s an incredibly stylish wine, softly spiced and boasting cashew and brulee layers on the finish. Just gorgeous! www.tekanoestate.com
Giesen The Brothers Marlborough Pinot Noir 2016 $29 (4 stars)
Scooping silver at the NZ International Wine Competition is no mean feat, but this intensely cherry and berry-focused pinot noir hits all the sweet spots. Succulent, juicy mildly spiced and nicely balanced, there’s an earthy, generosity with this wine that I really like. www.finewinedelivery.co.nz
Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2009 $100 (5 stars)
To clarify, Moët rhymes with ‘poet’. So from today. It’s not okay. To say ‘mow-way’. When the Chef de Cave (French for ‘Chief Winemaker’) Benoît Gouez declares a ‘vintage’ it’s something to notice because the quality doth skyrocket. This is the 73rd time in the history of Moët that it’s happened. Aged for 7 years … Read More
Yvonne Lorkin wine column for week beginning May 5 2018
I made the mistake of hauling the heavy wooden box holding all of our family photos down from the top shelf in my wardrobe right when I needed to be knuckling down to work. “I’ll just take a peek at one or two” I said to myself. One or two rapidly became an avalanche of … Read More
Badenhorst Secateurs Swartland Chenin Blanc 2017 $25.99
Hand harvested from nuggety old bushvines growing on grantite slopes, this Swartland chenin blanc is ultra-elegant and saturates the nose and palate with beautiful baked apple and spice, caramelised, creaminess, rich, generous and apple-pie like. The acidity is fresh and frisky and its seriously lovely to drink. South African chenin blanc is now a firm … Read More
Wet Jacket Central Otago Pinot Noir 2015 $39
Named by owner Greg Hay after Wet Jacket Arm in Fiordland National Park, it harks back to nature always having the upper hand. Well the grape gods were smiling on the fruit for this vintage, because its intensely luscious forest floor aromas burst out of the glass and do macarena with cherry, raspberry liquorice, redcurrant … Read More
Thomas Goss McLaren Vale Shiraz 2016 $18.99
Boasting more bling on its grill than Lil Wayne or Lil Bow Wow, or in fact any of the “Lil’s”, this shiraz has clearly shown it’s at the top of its game as far as wine competitions are concerned. Inky dark, glossy in the glass and bursting with boysenberry and blackcurrant characters on the nose … Read More