I first tasted this deliciously unusual, sparkling semillon outdoors on the Alpha Domus lawn, on a scorchingly hot Saturday during the Bridge Pa Triangle Wine Festival. The brainchild of owner Paul Ham’s daughter Beatrix, I was wowed by the aromas of barleygrass, dried lucerne, citrus and biscuit dough. On the palate it is bracingly fresh, … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Elephant In the Room Palatial Pinot Noir 2017 $17.99 (3.5 stars)
Crafted from fruit sourced from South Australia, this is a slippery, spicy and seriously succulent little pinot noir with buckets of berry notes that literally leap up the nasal passages and leaves masses of cherry and truffle flavours plunging across the palate. Sweetly-styled and slippery. Widely available.
Yvonne Lorkin wine column for week beginning Sat 24th Feb 2018
As I type this column, the ferocity of Ex-Cyclone Gita is about bearing down on Marlborough, the engine room of our wine economy. In fact Marlborough grows the fuel which drives our industry, turning out 77% of New Zealand’s total wine production. Yet across New Zealand, tropical cyclones seem to have become all the more … Read More
Yvonne Lorkin Wine Column for week beginning Sat Feb 3 2018
Cast your minds back if you will to the mid 1980s. Apple Computers released the first Macintosh, John McEnroe was tantrumming his butt off on the tennis court, Michael Jackson did a commercial for Pepsi and his hair caught fire, thought-provoking tunes such as Wake Me Up Before You Go Go were rocketing up the … Read More
Askerne Hawke’s Bay Dessert Cabernet 2015 $22.90 375ml (3.5 stars)
Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown in the sandy soils of their lower terrace, and fortified to 16.5%alc, this is a whopper of a wine. Scented with blackberry, bay leaf, pepper and dark cocoa, then chock full of spice and sweet, dried herb and nutty notes on the palate, it’s a wine with grip … Read More
Misha’s Vineyard The Cadenza Late Harvest Gewurztraminer 2016 $31 375ml (3.5 stars)
If you’re partial to a bit of musky magic then this luscious little lovely from Central Otago will be right up your cul-de-sac. A lick of lychee combined with a hint of ginger, mango and spiced peaches make this a lighter-styled dessert wine that’ll rock with a chunck of aged cheddar. www.mishasvineyard.com
Palliser Estate Martinborough Noble Riesling 2016 $29 375ml (4.5 stars)
I was completely seduced by the sexy, orange-gold liquid that slinks into the glass, so to then be met by gorgeous, citrus-toffee notes, caramelized stonefruit and peach compote characters – just sent me into swoon territory. Fresh, zesty acidity perks up a hefty 70g/l of natural residual sugar and makes this a beautifully balanced sweet … Read More
Torlesse Cassis Liqueur 375ml $20 (4 stars)
Oh wow! Blackcurrant alert! This 18% alc liqueur is super-fresh, incredibly precise, pure fruit and a lovely, grippy, tangy texture to finish. Delicious on its own as a sexy little tipple, or mix it with lemonade or soda water, enormous ice cubes and a sprig of mint or basil to boost it. Gorgeous stuff indeed. … Read More
Torlesse Reserve Tawny Port 375ml $20 (3.5 stars)
Kym Rayner at Torlesse in North Canterbury began a port solera system in 1992 meaning that today, his non-vintage tawny port releases contain wine components from barrels that are up to 25 years old! Think rich, dried sultanas and currants, sweet leather and buckets of spice that lead to a long, caramelized finish. www.torlesse.co.nz
Coal Pit Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $24.95
Coal Pit Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $24.95 I love the aromas of freshly steamed broad beans, sweet peas, passionfruit curd and lemon in this wine. They’re followed by the same and more on the palate, including herbaceous, lemongrassy goodness from their Gibbston site on the finish. Winemaker Lynn Horton has captured all the good … Read More