Spicy reds are drops to savour

12 January 2016By Yvonne

Published NZME Regional Newspapers Tue 12 Jan 2016   By now so many of you will be back at work, watching the clock and making little sculptures out of blu-tac at your desk. You’ll be shuffling paper, sticking PostIt notes to things and walking purposefully from your desk to the staff loos every 30 minutes … Read More

Sacred Hill Orange Label Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015

11 January 2016By Yvonne

Sacred Hill Orange Label Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $19 ★★★★½ You can buy this wine pretty much everywhere, which is a good thing if you’ve a hankering for pungent, classic cut grass, lemony, limey notes, a twang of snappy acidity and a mid-palate rich in lemongrass, passionfruit, peach, pepper and a burst of basil.  It’s … Read More

Pegasus Bay Sauvignon Semillon 2013

11 January 2016By Yvonne

Pegasus Bay Sauvignon Semillon 2013 $30 ★★★★★ The Donaldson family in Waipara, North Canterbury, have been crafting this quirky version of sauvignon since AGES ago, and it’s now got something resembling a cult following for its incredibly complex, toasty, tropical and herbaceous flavours.  A splash of semillon imparts a distinct ‘moist hay’ and roasted almond … Read More

Amisfield Central Otago Fumé Blanc 2014

11 January 2016By Yvonne

Amisfield Central Otago Fumé Blanc 2014 $35 ★★★★★ If you’ve never ventured further south than Marlborough for your sauvignon blanc, then woah nelly!  Prepare yourself for latitude 45 in all its loveliness.  Smooth, toasty, biscuit and magic, mealy notes are stitched through incredibly rich, nectarine and lemon-like layers of flavour in this outstanding, barrel fermented … Read More

Richmond Plains Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2015

11 January 2016By Yvonne

Richmond Plains Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $21 ★★★★ Fact: Richmond Plains produced New Zealand’s first sauvignon blanc from fully-certified organic and biodynamic grapes years ago, and they’re still doing excellent work.  Floral and forward, it’s stacked with peach and passionfruit, tangy citrus and even a squeak of feijoa makes it in there.  It’s a sauvignon … Read More

Waipara Hills Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015

11 January 2016By Yvonne

Waipara Hills Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $20.90 ★★★★★ This is a massive, tropical, truckload of tastiness powered by sweet lemon and passionfruit sorbet.  It has all that crispy, crunchy acidity that we know and love in Marlborough sauvignon, yet it’s incredibly rich and complex and has strong, textural length of flavour.  Simon McGeorge heads the … Read More

Soho Betty Riesling 2015

11 January 2016By Yvonne

Soho Betty Riesling 2015 $22 ★★★★½ There’s just 9.4% alcohol here, so expect a shwing of sweetness in this absolute cracker of a riesling that smells and tastes like crunchy green apple and lime sorbet.  Named after the elegant Betty Ford this is an elegant wine indeed.  With its intense, snappy acidity, sweet honeysuckle and … Read More

Tohu Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015

11 January 2016By Yvonne

Tohu Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $20 ★★★½ This is a highly fruity and tropically-scented sauvignon that’s packed with passionfruit, peach and lovely lemony goodness on the palate as well.  At just 10% alcohol it’s definitely one of the more generously proportioned low-alcohol styles I’ve tried and it has good length of flavour too.  Widely available … Read More

Avaniel Tempranillo 2013

11 January 2016By Yvonne

Avaniel Tempranillo 2013 $22 ★★★½ Sourced from Spain’s Ribero del Duero region is this ultra-smooth, plush and velvety red that seeps cocoa, cola, black olive, blackcurrant and all sorts of light, earthy, liquorice-like characters.  It’s got personality and an easy mouthfeel and I’m sure if you whip this out for your guests at the next … Read More

Beresford Bell Tower McLaren Vale Shiraz 2013

11 January 2016By Yvonne

Beresford Bell Tower McLaren Vale Shiraz 2013 $20 ★★★½ Who doesn’t love a big, rich, Australian shiraz that radiates ripe, dark, dusty berries, sweet plum and chocolate?  This is one of those wines that I warmed to straight away because the price is right and it held it’s flavours for a decent length of time … Read More