Angus and Davina Thomson sold up everything they owned in Scotland back in the early 2000’s to find themselves some prime vineyard land, grow grapes, make organic, biodynamically crafted wine, have a tribe of children and live happily ever after on the other side of the world. Urlar is Gaelic for ‘The Earth’ and yet … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Johner Estate Wairarapa Riesling 2016 $20 (4 stars)
Karl Heinz Johner makes wine in opposite hemispheres, with family estates in Baden, (in Germany’s Kaiserstuhl region) AND in Martinborough’s Gladstone sub-region. Riesling is a hero grape for him and he loves the crunchy green acidity, pear notes, baked pipfruit, lime zest and honey characters that Martinborough grapes give. So much so that he’s decided … Read More
Yvonne Lorkin wine column for week beginning Sat Dec 30 2017
The day I wrote this column everything went wrong. That morning, in a rare moment of Nigella Lawson domestic goddessness, I decided to make a cake. I’d creamed my free-range eggs, sugar and butter, had my organic oranges, lemons and sour cream on standby, and I’d even greased the tin. Then I picked up the … Read More
Yvonne Lorkin Canvas Column Dec 23rd 2017
Panicking about not having bought me a Christmas present yet? Fret not. I’ll be quite happy with either of these before New Year thanks… Lawson’s Dry Hills Marlborough ‘Ranu’ 2017 $28 Named after the Maori verb meaning ‘to mix’, a single bin each of riesling, pinot gris and gewürztraminer was hand harvested on April 11th … Read More
Lawson’s Dry Hills Marlborough ‘Ranu’ 2017 $28
Named after the Maori verb meaning ‘to mix’, a single bin each of riesling, pinot gris and gewürztraminer was hand harvested on April 11th from different blocks, blended and fermented wild, to create a wine that commemorates Lawson’s 25th anniversary. It’s a glorious, gussy-up of citrus, peach and musky magic. Juicy and succulent, it’s the … Read More
Moët & Chandon Imperial Golden Sparkle Limited Edition NV $69
I love the aromas of rising dough, biscuity notes, and almond meal drizzled with lemon and a touch of tropical fruit in this festive fizz. On the palate it’s zesty and dry, full, yeasty and edged with a squeak of citrus to elongate the flavour layers. The bead is delicate, it looks and tastes like … Read More
Amisfield RKV Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014 $120
When winemaker Dr Stephanie Lambert decides to take a batch of fruit from Amisfield’s lean, bony, loessial Rocky Knoll Vineyard to create a wine she feels is exceptional, then you should take notice. The RKV was created in 2007 and now it’s a Central Otago icon. Wild strawberry, cherry, dried thyme and tea-like aromas lead … Read More
Yvonne Lorkin Wine Column for Week beginning Sat 23 Dec 2017
Wine Matching for Christmas Feasting So it’s Saturday 23rd and you’ve been nominated to host the main Christmas shindig. You bust a gut preparing the most impressive menu you can, yet experience has it that the guests will arrive bearing less than average wine that’d be more at home in the chilli bin at your … Read More
Longbush Wines Gisborne Pinot Gris 2017 $13.95 (3 stars)
Here’s a bright, tangy, tropical crowd-pleaser of a pinot gris with good cause behind it. Designed to help fund the Longbush Eco-Sanctuary run by Anne and Jeremy Salmond, it aims to create a haven for endangered birds and plants on the banks of the Waimata River, 7kms from Gisborne. So you can enjoy your pear, … Read More
Leveret Estate Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2014 $31 (4.5 stars)
This is my kind of chardonnay! With aromas of peachy nougat, a whiff of grapefruit and creamy, biscuity bonza-ness. On the palate it is developing a gorgeous, caramelised core of stonefruit and toasty, nutty oak. Old school chardonnay lovers will love this and new converts to chardonnay will love the freshness – it’s a really … Read More