Sam Hunt Gisborne Pinot Gris 2014 $21.95 ★★★½ Rich nashi pear and spicy apple strudel aromas sit alongside caramelised stonefruit flavours and a creamy, toasty complexity on the finish of this deliciously dry drink. This would be a great match for a smoked chicken and almond salad. www.lacantina.co.nz
Author: Yvonne
Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013
Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013 $39 ★★★★ This’ll probably sound really weird, but I love that this pinot smells like moss-covered tree trunks in the rain, lush and earthy, with a layer of black tea, cherry and baking spices. Fresh and juicy to drink, with pleasantly drying tannins, this well-crafted pinot has lovely fruit … Read More
Craggy Range Te Muna Road Riesling 2014
Craggy Range Te Muna Road Riesling 2014 $25 ★★★★½ Crunchy green apple, mandarin and lime flavours leap out of the glass in this ultra-tangy riesling. Vibrant, zesty acidity, a twang of lemon in the mid palate and a cleansing, chalky-dry texture on the finish will awaken even the most jaded of tastebuds. Terrific stuff. www.craggyrange.com
Greenhough Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Greenhough Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2014 $28 ★★★★ I love the clean-cut, snappy, summer fragrance of lucerne fields, white pepper and passionfruit and the rush of rich citrus, crushed basil leaves and watercress on the palate. Beautifully balanced and lengthy, it’s a delicious example from sunny Nelson. www.greenhough.co.nz
Real Compania De Vinos Tempranillo 2013
Real Compania De Vinos Tempranillo 2013 $16 ★★★½ Super-fruity and packed with dark berries, cocoa nib and smoky, coconut and coffee notes, there’s a gentle, spicy, velvety mouthfeel in this Spanish sip which finishes with solid, chewy tannins. www.winesale.co.nz
Fantini Farnese Sangiovese 2013
Fantini Farnese Sangiovese 2013 $19 ★★★½ Prepare yourself for really unusual aromas of smoky ham hock, vanilla, nutmeg and pepper, which all merge into a rich, leathery palate. Smooth and savoury, it’s an interesting, meaty sip sourced from Italy. www.atouchofitaly.co.nz
Pirramimma McLaren Vale Petit Verdot 2012
Pirramimma McLaren Vale Petit Verdot 2012 $32 ★★★★ Petit Verdot is one of just six permitted varieties allowed in Bordeaux, but it’s a rare find outside of France, and even more so as a single example. With aromas of dusty tobacco leaf, white pepper, cherry and dried herbs, followed by blueberry and fruitcake spice flavours … Read More
La Crema Monterey Chardonnay 2013
La Crema Monterey Chardonnay 2013 $30 ★★★★ Fans of big, buxom, oaky chardonnay will love this California girl. Creamy, mango and spicy peach-driven aromas lead to a flood of fig, dried pineapple and cinnamon-buttered toast flavours. Soft, coconut characters round out the finish. Make sure there’s a corkscrew in the house when you snap this … Read More
Elephant Hill Reserve Chardonnay 2013
Elephant Hill Reserve Chardonnay 2013 $45 ★★★★½ An ultra-creamy example which washes caramel, marshmallow and roasted peach characters across your tastebuds. There’s a hint of honeyed toast in there too. Slippery and silky to drink and finishing with a splash of melon and mango, it’s a gentle giant. www.elephanthill.co.nz
The Humble Apple
Published NZME Regional Newspapers Sat 8 Aug 2015 The humble apple is a tight package of huge potential, you can bake, stew and fry them, juice, crumble and mousse them. Thankfully we also have a hugely innovative craft cider industry, so there’s no shortage of people out there who are dedicated to fermenting them. When … Read More