If you wanted a crash course in what great tasting ‘natural’ wine tastes like – then here’s your opportunity. Organic and biodynamically certified, this fantastic Francais blend of 40% grenache, 40% syrah and 20% carignan has bright, sweet red cherry, boysenberry and smooth, peppery characters and a juicy, succulent mouthfeel. I absolutely love this wine. … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Fuedi Lacryma Christi Bianco 2013 $30
This wine reminds me of a sea breeze, all crisp, bracing and slightly briny. Lovely lemon pith and peach notes underpin the chalky mineral layers too. Made from Verdeca and Coda di Volpe grapes grown on the fertile lower slopes of Mt Vesuvius, the name ‘Lacryma Christi’ comes from the story of when Lucifer fell … Read More
Canvas column week commencing 30th April, 2016
If you’ve been looking for groovy, interesting wines from faraway climes to satisfy your hankering for a hands-off, artisan approach then stand by… hashtag ‘prayers’ hashtag ‘answered’ Fuedi Lacryma Christi Bianco 2013 $30 This wine reminds me of a sea breeze, all crisp, bracing and slightly briny. Lovely lemon pith and peach notes underpin the … Read More
Two Rivers Wairau Selection Marlborough Pinot Gris 2015 $25
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
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