Mahana Clays and Gravels Nelson Riesling 2014

1 February 2016By Yvonne

Mahana Clays and Gravels Nelson Riesling 2014 $30 ★★★★ Arriving in a slimline, classic germanic blue-green bottle, this ultra-pure, intense lime and crabapple-scented riesling has a steely dry, lip smacking texture and a finely-tuned, length finish.  Just the faintest seam of honeysuckle adds complexity and juiciness.  Great drinking now but give it another 2-3 years … Read More

Mahana Clays and Gravels Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2014

1 February 2016By Yvonne

Mahana Clays and Gravels Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2014 $25 ★★★★ Previously known as ‘Woollaston Estate’, this is sauvignon blanc made ‘off road’ in that it’s about as far removed from the clean, green, crispy-clean style that New Zealand is famous for.   Ripe fruit was fermented on its skins (to extract chew and astringency for texture), … Read More

Bannock Brae Goldfields Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014

1 February 2016By Yvonne

Bannock Brae Goldfields Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014 $30 ★★★★ This is one heck of an exotically perfumed pinot made for the Bannockbrae team by world-class winemaking wahine, Sarah-Kate (SK) Dineen.  Boasting plum, black tea, hedgerow fruits, savoury, peppery notes and a chunk of cherry on the palate, it has freshness, buoyancy and real character.  … Read More

St John’s Road ‘Line & Length’ Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

1 February 2016By Yvonne

St John’s Road ‘Line & Length’ Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 $20 ★★★½ Here’s a bottle of banging Barossa cabernet that’ll tick all your boxes if you’re looking for bolshy sweet plum and blackcurrant notes, chocolate, peppercorn and classic minty characters.  There’s a plush, fleshy sweetness, fruitcake spices and a smoky, toasty finish that just cries … Read More

Beach House ‘The Levels’ Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2014

1 February 2016By Yvonne

Beach House ‘The Levels’ Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2014 $35 ★★★★★ Crafted from the ‘Stony Beach Gravels’ of the Te Awanga coastline, this is a stonkingly good chardonnay that oozes smoked grapefruit, roast peach, juicy stonefruit intensity all rugged up in a blanket of vanilla, buttered cinnamon toast and cashew characters.  Fresh, funky and quite simply … Read More

Giesen ‘The Brothers’ Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2014

1 February 2016By Yvonne

Giesen ‘The Brothers’ Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2014 $29.80 ★★★★ An explosion of lychee and ginger, peach and plush, musky sweetness is going to hit you in this ripe, rumpty gewürztraminer that’ll have you asking for another glass pronto.  If the tropical, spicy, juicy flavours don’t wow you, then the pure, refreshing, finish definitely will.  While it’s … Read More

Don’t slip into a rut

30 January 2016By Yvonne

Published NZ Herald Sat 30 Jan 2016   Well that’s it then.  January’s over, the kids head back to school next week and routine will reign again.  But this is no time to get all normal when it comes to your wine however.  Push the boat out with these babies…   Champagne Lanson Black Label … Read More

Tropical tang for sipping

26 January 2016By Yvonne

Published NZME Regional Papers Tue 26 Jan 2016   It’s a rare thing, (seeing as the modern New Zealand wine industry is still so very young in the bigger scheme of things) that anyone gets to sit down, taste wine and chat with a person whose been making wine at the same company for over … Read More

A white flight

23 January 2016By Yvonne

Published NZ Herald Sat 23 Jan 2016   During these summer days it’s okay to be a bit of a white wine snob — but be warned, overchill and you’ll kill the aromas, dull the flavours and ruin everything.   Mahurangi River Estate Albarino 2015 $28 I’m really excited about Albarino and the potential it … Read More

Orlandi Contucci Rubiolo Montepulciano D’Abruzzo 2013

20 January 2016By Yvonne

Orlandi Contucci Rubiolo Montepulciano D’Abruzzo 2013 $24 ★★★½ I LOVE that this Italian wine smells like Christmas cake, all cloves, mixed peel, allspice and cranberry.  In the mouth it is savoury, smooth, juicy and ultra-earthy, with hints of leather and pepper.  Light & fleshy. For stockists near you contact Macvine International 09 5797451