Just ten years on from launching his Tarras label, Hayden Johnston knows the trophy cabinet is already in need of reinforcement, groaning under the weight of increasingly hefty hauls of trophies and medals for his left-of-centre style of pinot noir. The canyon has a distinctly meaty personality, black tea and toast notes, alongside comforting cherries … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Jules Taylor Marlborough Gruner Veltliner 2016 $21.90
With its seductive aromas of ambrosia apple, winter cole pear, caramelized quince, custard apple and peaches, this gorgeous little groo-vee is tangy, crisp and packs a squeak of sunshine into these chilly afternoons. Edged with a dusting of white pepper and crushed seashells, it’s an excellent local example of an Austrian native. Sip with: sweetbreads … Read More
Canvas column week commencing 24th June, 2017
Gruner. Pinot. Malbec. So different, so darn tasty, so definitely your weekend… Jules Taylor Marlborough Gruner Veltliner 2016 $21.90 With its seductive aromas of ambrosia apple, winter cole pear, caramelized quince, custard apple and peaches, this gorgeous little groo-vee is tangy, crisp and packs a squeak of sunshine into these chilly afternoons. Edged with … Read More
Rivera Negroamaro Salento 2015 $16.99
Down in southern Puglia, negromaro is the most common red grape in the ground and it’s easy to see why its so loved. Juicy, succulent, red cherry and berry layers combine with sweetly-spiced flavour saturation and terrifically taut texture in the mid palate. Sip with: Italian shredded beef sandwiches www.glengarrywines.co.nz
Heron’s Flight Matakana Dolcetto 2014 $60
Ultra-glossy in the glass, this tiny little outfit in Matakana specialise in inky-dark, Italian reds, sangiovese and dolcetto. Only 100 cases were produced of this brightly fruited, herb-heavy wine, bursting with boysenberries, black olive, leather and a tweak of tobacco. Fresh, tantalisingly toasty and boasts a deliciously chewy finish. Sip with: Pork cheek ragu on … Read More
Karikari Estate Pinotage 2013 $42
Winemaker Alan Collinson has unleashed a wine that literally had me leap around yelling at people in my office to taste it. Perfumed, plush, plump and packed with sexy berries and concentrated cocoa, spices and sarsaparilla characters, it’s my new favourite thing. Fresh acidity and soft, stretchy tannins and luscious length of flavour. Gorgeous. Sip … Read More
Canvas column week commencing 15th July, 2017
Your ususal reds appearing a tad samey-samey? Get wallet, grab keyboard and let your fingers take a walk on the wild side… Karikari Estate Pinotage 2013 $42 Winemaker Alan Collinson has unleashed a wine that literally had me leap around yelling at people in my office to taste it. Perfumed, plush, plump and packed … Read More
Sugar Loaf Marlborough Riesling 2016 $20
This such a lovely riesling I just had to tell you about it pronto! Crafted by genius young winemaker Kate Acland, this deliciously juicy riesling has a splash of natural sweetness, luscious lime and crunchy granny smith apple characters. This is modern Marlborough riesling at it’s best. Beautifully structured and ultra zesty, it’s one of … Read More
Chard Farm Central Otago Riesling 2016 $25
How do I love thee Chard Farm riesling? Let me count the ways. For starters your honeysuckle, baked apple, mandarin and seriously slamming citrus flavours are mouth puckeringly perfect. Then it’s the twang of toffee which combines with awesome acidity to give me goosebumps. And THEN it’s the sneaky splash of lime that lingers on … Read More
Ataahua Waipara Riesling 2016 $26
There’s a really intense, lemon-pith, lime zest, honeysuckle and apple skin character on the nose of this mineral-driven, chalk-and-citrus laden riesling. With a whiff of crushed seashells and a whack of acidity in the mid palate, it’s a bottle of niceness from North Canterbury. Cheek-slappingly dry and citrusy to taste, the texture is the thing … Read More