There’s a sea of pinot gris out there and it can feel like a bit of a lottery trying to find one that ticks all your boxes. Yet here’s one that somehow manages to pack ripe, musky pear, quince and strudel spices into the bottle alongside a canon of crunchy-crisp nashi notes, a bright, mineral … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Sacred Hill Halo Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 $25
Holy moly! How do I even begin describing how glorious this wine smells? Here goes: Vanilla bean, ultra-ripe berries, dark cocoa powder and plum – almost like a liquid Jelly-Tip inside the glass. To drink, it’s incredibly fresh, vibrant and boasts sinewy, muscular tannins and a marathon-like finish. Sip with: Garlic studded Roast Lamb www.caros.co.nz
Nga Waka Martinborough Dry Riesling 2013 $25
Lemongrass, lime and tangelo zest aromas osmose onto the palate in a wave of cheek-puckering dryness in this tang-fest of a wine. There’s also a waft of beeswax and honeysuckle sneaking through as you take the glass away from your lips. A couple of years in the bottle has this wine developing nicely into a … Read More
Canvas column week commencing 7th May, 2016
Ah it’s the weekend. My Soc Med-mad teens will no doubt “dab” their way through loads of “lit” YouTube clips, the best of which will be dubbed “legit-ness”. And when I unplug the wifi and demand they go out and get a job, apparently I’ll just be telling a “cool story”. Time to sip and … Read More
Allan Scott Marlborough Riesling 2014 $18 ★★★½
Aromas of green apple, carrot cake spices and musky, honeysuckle and apricot kernel characters all merge together on the palate and crash into a wave of sweetness. There’s a soft, grainy texture to the finish of this tangy example that’ll definitely appeal to those who prefer a more honeyed style of riesling. Sip with: spicy … Read More
Neudorf Rosie’s Block Nelson Chardonnay 2015 $33 ★★★★
Five different clones were hand harvested, fermented with wild yeasts and blended to create this buttered-crumpet-smelling chardonnay, which quickly unveils a backbone of grilled nectarine and grapefruit pith alongside deliciously textural, creamy almond characters in the mid palate. It’s a juicy, cheek-puckering style that pretty much makes everything you consume with it positively bounce around … Read More
Canvas column week commencing 14th May, 2016
People think wine writing is glamourous. My diary today has ‘worm the cat’, ‘get dog’s anal glands drained’, ‘buy school shoes for jake’, ‘sort Southern Cross receipts’ and ‘buy new tweezers’ written in it. So yeah. Jealous much? Neudorf Rosie’s Block Nelson Chardonnay 2015 $33 ★★★★ Five different clones were hand harvested, fermented with … Read More
Matahiwi Estate Hawke’s Bay Blanc de Blanc NV $22
I love the melon and nectarine notes and the deliciously fine bubbles. Lemon and peach flavours ooz through to something deliciously dry and fruity – it’s a nicely structured sparkling wine crafted by Jane Cooper and her team at Matahiwi Estate. It’s a sip that hits the spot in every way and has ‘celebration’ written … Read More
Nikau Point Reserve Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014 $15
The fact that this is just $15 a bottle, absolutely blows my mind. Cherry, black tea and attractive spices, alongside red fruits, raspberry and soft plummy characters make this an incredibly drinkable, excitingly affordable pinot noir. A recent makeover of the label has given this extra table-appeal. It looks like money. It tastes like money. … Read More
Gunn Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $17.99
Intensely herbaceous on the nose with hints of jalapeno, basil and ripe passionfruit, this is a banging, boldly aromatic wine that’s gently juicy on the palate with nice acidity and length. It’s a superb wine that (luckily for us) is available in supermarkets around the country. If you’re a fan of crunchy-crisp sauvignon that hits … Read More