Opting to preserve every smidge of natural purity of flavour that viticulturist Richard Flatman has managed to coax into the pinot noir from Tom’s Block, winemaker Todd Stevens has bottled this wine without fining or filtration. It’s paid off in that it’s bursting with black tea, wild raspberry and cherry layers that wrap around zesty … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Domaine Servin Chablis 2015 $41.99
The Servin family has been crafting light and lovely, citrus-soaked Chablis since 1654. 1654! So they know a thing or three about growing great chardonnay and guess what. They’re French and they’re using screwcaps! Chablis is a style of chardonnay where oak is downplayed or not used at all. Fresh as a daisy and erupting … Read More
Yvonne Lorkin Canvas Column Sat Oct 14th 2017
Red, white and sweet – it’s a smorgasbord of treats this weekend! Domaine Servin Chablis 2015 $41.99 The Servin family has been crafting light and lovely, citrus-soaked Chablis since 1654. 1654! So they know a thing or three about growing great chardonnay and guess what. They’re French and they’re using screwcaps! Chablis is a style … Read More
Bellbird Spring Home Block White 2015 $32 (4.5 stars)
Guy Porter has blended together an eyebrow-raising combo of riesling, muscat, gewürztraminer and pinot gris from his family vineyard on Georges Road, Waipara to create a wine redolent of yellow roses and grandma’s overnight bag – perfumed and sweet on the nose. In the mouth it has juicy white peach and persimmon notes, refreshing creamy … Read More
Hawkes Ridge Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir 2013 $30 (4 stars)
One thing the RD9 district does supremely well, is grow great pinot noir. It’s where a large chunk of pinot is grown for some of New Zealand’s most famed sparkling wine bases. Julie and Douglas Haines have created a HUGE pinot noir here, with more meat on its bones than is typical, but it’s a … Read More
The Family Company ‘Cosmos’ Methode Traditionelle $25 (3.5 stars)
“All life begins with a bang” says winemaker John Thorpe of his fun, Gisborne-grown sparkler. Cosmos is made from 100% Chardonnay aged for just over two years in bottle before being released, it’s scented with lemon, breadcrust and yellow plum, and also boasts tangy citrus pith, nutty notes and creamy complexity on the finish. www.gisbornegourmet.com
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Syrah 2015 $37.90 (4 stars)
A couple of years ago, the Marlborough-based, Ibbotsen family managed to secure a prime piece of grape-estate in the middle of Hawke’s Bay’s Gimblett Gravels district and they have rocked it ever since. Their winemaking team have fully got their talents around the big, gutsy, northern reds and that’s a great thing. This syrah is … Read More
Trinity Hill Homage Syrah 2015 $130 (5 stars)
100% Gimblett Gravels fruit has been used to craft an incredibly floral wine that absolutely erupts with violets, red rose, lavender, dark berry and a whiff of toasted, roasted oak. The mouthfeel is elegant, ethereal even, with finely-tuned acidity, fruit saturation and finished with deliciously dusty, sweet smoke notes. It’s a joy to drink. www.trinityhill.com
Yvonne Lorkin wine column for week beginning Sat 7th Oct 2017
IN HOMAGE TO HOMAGE “2017 was an exceptional summer and the 150ml of rain we had in February was soaked up by super-dry soils. Sure we had intermittent showers after that, but I tell you what, we’ve ended up with exceptional samples of syrah, cabernet sauvignon and tempranillo” says Chief Winemaker Warren Gibson at a … Read More
San Marzano ‘Talo’ Primitivo di Manduria 2014 $25
Primitivo swings both ways and this sexy little sip errs on the sweet, spicy and super-smooth side as opposed to the more dusty, masculine, leathery examples out there. Named after the Talo family who grew the grapes which made the majority of the wine in this bottle, it’s a red that sings sweetly but has … Read More