If the slick, metallic black, Fifty Shades of Grey, B&D-style packaging doesn’t tickle your fancy then brace yourself for a massive palate tease as soon as you sip. Despite the label implying it’s going to be a lolly-fest, this Champagne is actually more balanced and creamy than I expected. Macadamia nuts, rising brioche dough and … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Johner Estate Gladstone Viognier 2015 $26 (4.5 stars)
One thing I’ve been treating myself to, as my family scoffs its way through our enormous 10+kilo Christmas ham, is some really excellent viognier. Viognier has the spicy floral aromatics of say, pinot gris, combined with the tropical, toasty richness of chardonnay, which makes it absolutely divine with any type of swine. This is one … Read More
Riverby Estate Marlborough Noble Riesling 2014 $35 (5 stars)
The glossy coppery-topaz colour of this wine is exactly the type of sparkly-type of thing that lures women like me into all sorts of potentially un-ladylike activity. It smells like that glorious mélange of mixed peel, currants, raisins and sultanas soaking in masses of melted butter and booze that is ones traditional Christmas cake batter, … Read More
Gibson Bridge Reserve Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2014 $28 (4 stars)
If you thought that gewürztraminer was always going to be blousy, sweet and musky; then prepare for an eye-popper in every sip. Dry, tangy, yet lean and lithe on the palate with an edge of lychee, manuka honey and a sprinkling of dusty, chalkiness on the finish. It’s a style of gewürztraminer grown on the … Read More
Gibson Bridge Barrique Ferment Marlborough Pinot Gris 2013 $46.99 (4.5 stars)
Howard and Julie Simmonds have made it their mission to turn out tiny amounts of stylish, complex wines with truckloads of character. Only 1800 bottles of this gris were produced and it’s crafted in a dry, toasty style which amps up the interest. Fresh tropical and quince characters on the nose, lead to musky, chai … Read More
Wine column for week beginning Sat 7th Jan, 2017
My name is Yvonne Lorkin and I’m a chronic hair twirler. Sitting on the mat or at my desk at school, I’d be twirling my hair. Watching tv at home, I’d be twirling my hair. Waiting for someone to pass to me at netball, I’d be twirling. Reading books, at the movies, shopping, eating, the … Read More
Ohinemuri Estate Kapaki Reserve ‘Taniwha’ 2014 $30 (2.5 stars)
Horst and Wendy Hillerich reside in quite possibly New Zealand’s cutest little winery deep inside the Karangahake gorge, high above the Ohinemuri River. Horst sources fruit from different regions for his wines and this blend of cabernet franc, pinotage and merlot is on the herbal end of the spectrum, so prepare for menthol, spearmint and … Read More
Millton Te Arai Gisborne Muskats @Dawn 2016 $20 (3.5 stars)
On these sun-soaked summer days, sometimes all you want is a glass of something super-chilled and something that’s not going to knock you sideways. Well here’s your answer. At a positively demure 8.5% alcohol, this organic, biodynamically-produced, musky, peachy white is a fruity, trop-fest of a wine that’ll keep everyone happy. Light, lovely and luscious … Read More
Silver Wing Nada Reserve Waipara Chardonnay 2015 $38 (3.5 stars)
Think you’ve tasted every kind of chardonnay? Well this’ll have you scratching your head while nodding at the same time. This wine is called NADA because of what it doesn’t contain and that’s absolutely no preservatives (sulphites) or any other chemical additions were used by winemaker Andrew Fox in this chardonnay. Hand-picked, whole bunch pressed … Read More
Colombo Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 $20 (4 stars)
Beg, steal, borrow, do whatever it is you need to do in order to secure yourself a bottle of this ultra ripe, plump passionfruit and peachy wine produced by Swiss-Irish couple Carolyn Irwin and Baptist Sieber. I love the herbaceous elements and layers of lemongrass on the finish and it’s just perfect with mussel fritters … Read More