Two Hands Gnarly Dudes Barossa Shiraz 2013 $38 ★★★★½ There’s something oddly comforting about drinking a wine from a bottle that has a picture of a grapevine so old and gnarly it looks like Treebeard the Ent from Lord of the Rings on the label. Dark, inky-magenta coloured and bursting with dusty leather, eucalypt, ultra-ripe … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Zeppelin ‘Big Bertha’ Barossa Shiraz 2014
Zeppelin ‘Big Bertha’ Barossa Shiraz 2014 $24 ★★★★ Saturated magenta colour and oozing sweet cherry and berry aromas, gentle spices and a palate soaked with fruit, vanilla, pepper and hints of dark chocolate. This is a cracker of a wine that’s smooth, velvety and dangerously easy to drink. For stockists contact Red & White Cellar … Read More
Mojo Barossa Valley Shiraz 2013
Mojo Barossa Valley Shiraz 2013 $24 ★★★★ I love that the label says that the storybookish, fantasy forest creatures artwork was done by GhostPatrol “whilst listening to K Frimpong and his Cubano Fiestas”. This is a very pretty wine inside also. Delicious aromas of dusty spices, leather and cocoa lead to sweet plum and berry-soaked … Read More
Rogue Society Goldi Locks
Rogue Society Goldi Locks $124 Seriously if you’re a gin lover of any significance then you’ll need to beg, steal, borrow or at least sell the soul of your first born to get yourself a bottle of this, the second offering from New Zealand’s own Rogue Society. According to the Rogue team, there are four … Read More
Karikari Estate Calypso Chardonnay 2013
Karikari Estate Calypso Chardonnay 2013 $29 ★★★★ This little cracker from the far north is a new favourite because it hit the right cinnamon, struck match and smoke notes needed to cloak the underlying roast pineapple and peach flavours on the palate. It’s robust enough to nicely pair with anything resembling a roast chook or … Read More
Behave Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014
Behave Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014 $42 ★★★★ Classic aromas of baked berries, cherries and earthy, musky notes lead the way to a super-soft, almost creamy palate that’s generous and gentle. There’s a subtle dusting of spice around the edge of some sweet fruit and stretchy tannins. Nice stuff. www.odysseywines.co.nz
Hazards of the Job
Published NZME Regional Newspapers Sat 12 Sep 2015 About two years ago I almost lost my left eye in a champagne cork accident. I was opening a bunch of bottles to write my notes for the Christmas issue of Dish magazine and I forgot the golden rule. “Always keep your hand firmly on the cork … Read More
Oh September
Published NZME Regional Newspapers Sat 5 Sep 2015 It feels like I’m only just getting my head around secondary cuts in the slow cooker, constantly wiping the dogs feet before she comes inside, digging out the spencer and woolly tights every day and then you’re on my doorstep with your promises of all things bright … Read More
Wine is Bottled Poetry
Published NZME Regional Newspapers Sat 29 Aug 2015 So we’ve all heard how famous artists are often asked to design wine labels, well here’s something a wee bit different. Sam Hunt, New Zealand’s favourite poet, and the owner of the best set of black stovepipe pants this side of Castor Bay, has partnered with wine … Read More
Are you New Zealand’s next wine professional?
Published NZME Regional Newspapers Sat 22 Aug 2015 If you have the skills to pay the bills in the wine department, then have I got a competition for you. Auckland’s upcoming Wine and Food Celebration (Sept 13-15) sees the return of the New Zealand Sommelier of the Year, Junior Sommelier of the Year and the … Read More