Tastes of summer

2 February 2016By Yvonne

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

1 February 2016By Yvonne

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

1 February 2016By Yvonne

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

1 February 2016By Yvonne

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

1 February 2016By Yvonne

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

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