Loveblock Organic Riesling 2012 $25 ★★★★ Aroma-wise, this wine is leaning into that mealy, biscuit-like, kerosene character and yet when you sip, it is bright and banging with lime, mandarin and crunchy apple flavours. It’s a wine that has two totally different sides and I like that – the length of flavour is impressive too. … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Loveblock Noble Chenin Blanc 2014
Loveblock Noble Chenin Blanc 2014 500ml $29 ★★★★★ Here’s the thing. Do not under any circumstances attempt to drink this wine if you know that you’re in possession of untreated tooth decay or cavities of any description. At over 230g/l residual sugar and 12g/l titrateable acidity, this sticky-sweet treat is dangerously delicious. Golden-bronze in the … Read More
Elephant Hill Hieronymus 2013
Elephant Hill Hieronymus 2013 $95 ★★★★★ Named after a famous ancestor of the Weiss family, Hieronymus Ebner von Eschenbach (Lord Mayor of Nuremberg 1514-1524 apparently) – this inaugural release of a flagship red is a blend of the best Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Malbec (20%) and Merlot (20%) from their Gimblett and Bridge Pa Triangle Vineyards that they … Read More
Elephant Hill Airavata Syrah 2013
Elephant Hill Airavata Syrah 2013 $95 ★★★★★ This wine was 3.5 years in the making. Choosing the best possible syrah rows, adopting a specific canopy management strategy to grow ‘super syrah’ and then working on it with kid gloves in the winery to create the first ‘Icon’ syrah since 2009. This Airavata (meaning ‘the king-god of … Read More
Elephant Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013
Elephant Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013 $69 ★★★★★ According to winemaker Steve Skinner, they did 33 different picks across their syrah vineyards, which, for a smallish, 200-odd tonne winery is a huge effort “but it was so worth it because we were able to single out some absolutely stunning parcels to make wines like this … Read More
Saint Clair Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013
Saint Clair Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013 $23 ★★★½ Being a pioneering Marlborough producer hasn’t stopped the Saint Clair crew from forging further into northern climes to nab themselves some prime red wine territory in Hawke’s Bay. This syrah has all those classic plum, violet and pepper-driven spice characters that you’ll be asking for, alongside good … Read More
Craggy Range Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Rosé 2015
Craggy Range Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Rosé 2015 $29 ★★★★ Parcels of merlot and syrah were chosen and blended from Craggy Range’s vineyard in the sun-baked Gimblett Gravels district in Hawke’s Bay, gently pressed and slow-fermented to create a coral-pink wine packed with watermelon, guava and raspberry freshness. On the palate there’s that zing of … Read More
Joiy Sparkling Riesling NV
Joiy Sparkling Riesling NV (4x250ml) $25 ★★★ Bees, butterflies, exotic birds and mythical creatures adorn the storybook-ish, duck-egg blue label of this riesling-based wine spritzer. It’s been on the market for a couple of years and is going gangbusters according to winemaker Chris Archer. Twist the cap, pour and you’re met with sweet, musky stonefruit, … Read More
Brightwater Lord Rutherford Nelson Pinot Gris 2014
Brightwater Lord Rutherford Nelson Pinot Gris 2014 $30 ★★★★½ So if you’ve never entertained the thought of spending $30 on a bottle of pinot gris then it’s probably about time you started saving some coin because there’s a huge leap in complexity to be gained when you upgrade. I love the luscious lychee, quince, baking … Read More
Waimea Estate Nelson Grüner Veltliner 2015
Waimea Estate Nelson Grüner Veltliner 2015 $23 ★★★★ Grüner Veltliner (groon-er velt-leener) is to Austria what sauvignon blanc is to us – but I tell you what, this snappy white wine is absolutely loving our kiwi, cool-climate environment and settling in quite nicely, Nelson being no exception. This example has light peach, crushed shells, summer … Read More