Theory & Practice Gisborne Chardonnay 2014 $19.95 ★★★★ Crafted by Ant McKenzie, (wine consultant to the stars) and his viticulturist brother Bryce, this is a cracker of a chardonnay that’s jam-packed with juicy tropical fruit and grilled citrus notes alongside caramelised, toasty characters and edged with creamy, custard square pastry-like notes. Fresh and tangy. To … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Taylors Clare Valley Shiraz 2014
Taylors Clare Valley Shiraz 2014 $18.50 ★★★★ Wow! Steady yourself for intense clove and Christmas cake spices on the nose alongside heady florals and sweet sandalwood notes. In the mouth it is smooth, fleshy and generously fruity, oozing berries and chocolate characters. It’s outstanding value and deeply satisfying. Widely available.
Codorniu Cuvée Barcelona 1872 NV
Codorniu Cuvée Barcelona 1872 NV $31 ★★★½ Soft, chalky, seashell-like aromas merge with lemon and white peach to make this a lovely example of Spanish cava which is super-delicate in the mouth. Made from macabeu, xarello and parellada grapes and weighing in at a demure 11.5% alc, it’s a lipsmackingly light and crisp sip that’s … Read More
Bellbird Spring Home Block White 2013
Bellbird Spring Home Block White 2013 $30 ★★★★ 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 … Read More
Marisco Pride and Glory Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Marisco Pride and Glory Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011 $65 ★★★★★ Yes, you saw it correctly, a four year old sauvignon blanc that’s a new release! For Brent Marris and his team this has been a special project to produce a sassily complex sauvignon sourced from the Waihopai Valley that oozes white peach, lemon verbena, creamy … Read More
The Family Gisborne Merlot 2013
The Family Gisborne Merlot 2013 $25 ★★★★ Pioneer winemaker John Thorpe and his family are really making a name for themselves with this family brand and lovers of soft, plummy and plush merlot will fall all over themselves when they taste this wine. Bright berries, cherries chocolatey spices and a long, silky finish make this … Read More
Brookfields Indulgence Dessert Viognier 2014
Brookfields Indulgence Dessert Viognier 2014 $25 ★★★★★ Beware. At a heartstoppingly huge 250g/l of residual sugar, you’ll be needing to get those cavities seen to before you even think about sipping this sexy thing. With incredibly intense aromas of candied mandarin, creamed honey and orange toffee and incredibly luxurious, yet crisp and tangy on the … Read More
CJ Pask Declaration Syrah 2013
CJ Pask Declaration Syrah 2013 $50 ★★★★★ An ultra-bright, intensely aromatic example, which oozes fruitwood smoke, cracked pepper, rose and violet notes alongside an underlying earthy character on the nose. Flavour-wise it boasts juicy dark fruit, vanilla and cocoa, tannins with grip and chew and a long, warming finish. It’s an incredibly satisfying drink now, … Read More
New style, plenty of substance
Published NZME Regional Newspapers Tue 5 Jan 2016 Bubbles causes a real raquet… For the next fortnight, fans of backhands, forehands, faults and aces, loves, deuces, advantages, serves, volley’s, outs and on-court tantrums will be going bats and balls over the ASB Classic in Auckland. Usuallly tennis is the domain of pimms and cucumber … Read More
Big Sky ‘Provenance’ Te Muna Road Pinot Noir 2013
Big Sky ‘Provenance’ Te Muna Road Pinot Noir 2013 $54 ★★★★★ The ancient Te Muna Terraces are home to some of New Zealand’s most prestigious pinot noir vineyards. There’s something about those soils which impart such huge depth of character into the wines – so prepare yourself for masses of sweet black tea, baked cherry, fresh … Read More