Published NZME Regional Newspapers Tue 9 Feb 2016 Clos Marguerite Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $27 ★★★★½ For me, sauvignon blanc’s like this absolutely scream their sense of place. From a mile away you can tell it’s from the Awatere Valley because of the gorgeous elderflower, lemon blossom, peach and lime perfume typical of the … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Three soothing bottles
Published NZ Herald Sat 6 Feb 2016 If you’re finding you’re struggling to cope with the TPPA, the threat of ISIS, the shambolic weather this week and those ubiquitous, eye-stabbingly annoying ‘Be Like Bill’ posts on your Facebook timeline – help is at hand. You can thank me later. Gemtree Bloodstone Shiraz 2013 … Read More
Tastes of summer
Published NZME Regional Newspapers Tue 2 Feb 2016 Hands up if you’re one of the 340-odd thousand people who viewed the clip on YouTube of Australian woman Cheryl Marshall, making her own sparkling wine from a 5ltr cask (or ‘goon bag’ as they say in OZ) of Berri ‘Fresh Dry White’ in her soda … Read More
Music Bay ‘Summer’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Music Bay ‘Summer’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $15 ★★★ This is one of those super-easy, ‘drink it, don’t overthink it’ wines that ticks all the boxes for all those good things like passionfruit, peach, hints of fresh herb, capsicum and cut grass flavours. It’s definitely a sauvignon to savour now – don’t go stashing it … Read More
Allan Scott Cecilia Brut Vintage 2011
Allan Scott Cecilia Brut Vintage 2011 $28 ★★★★ The Scott family have been making wine in Marlborough since way back in 1990, however it’s only been in recent years that their sparkling wines have really started to make a real impact, well on my palate anyway. This vintage Methode Traditionnelle is crafted from chardonnay only … Read More
Church Road Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2013
Church Road Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2013 $20 ★★★★★ I really, really, really, really like this wine for loads of reasons. It’s not just its elegant aromas of peppercorn, plum, violet and red fruits freshly dusted with cocoa powder, or its buoyant acidity and ethereal texture or even its sandy, emery-like tannins with just the right … Read More
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Merlot 2014
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Merlot 2014 $33 ★★★★½ Cleverly crafted by winemakers Matt Thomson and Hamish Clark (who has a background in microbiology, zoology and forensic science interestingly enough) from fruit grown in the Gimblett Gravels, this is a wine with deeply earthy aromas of chocolate, liquorice and cured meats. Those same characters … Read More
Mahana Clays and Gravels Nelson Riesling 2014
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
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
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