Renaissance Craftsman Chocolate Oatmeal Stout 500ml $10 With a hefty addition of oatmeal and dark roasted cocoa nibs this has a thick, foamy, coffee-coloured head, aromas of espresso and smoky treacle. In the mouth it is smooth, silky and has an almost meaty richness and a long, persistent finish. www.renaissancebrewing.co.nz
Author: Yvonne
Yalumba ‘The Reserve’ 2001
Yalumba ‘The Reserve’ 2001 $128 Impenetrable, squid ink colour, and for an 11 year old wine it’s still so incredibly fresh with sweet cocoa, christmas pudding spices, exotically rich and densely concentrated dark fruit flavours. A blend of Barossa-sourced Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz which is only made in exceptional vintages, it’s a wine that’s really … Read More
Neudorf Home Vineyard Moutere Pinot Noir 2010
Neudorf Home Vineyard Moutere Pinot Noir 2010 $79 Wow! Scented with exotic baking spices, cinnamon, black guava, cocoa, rhubarb, succulent tannins and beautifully balanced acidity and lush, sexy length of flavour. A little more time in the cellar and it’ll be a showstopper for sure. www.neudorf.co.nz
Balthazar Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Franc 2010
Balthazar Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Franc 2010 $25 Inky and glossy in the glass, it’s a deep, brooding, earthy wine which is stitched together with violet, dark berryfruit, pepper, smoke and hints of graphite. Succulent, solid tannins add to its chewy length of flavour and its potential to cellar nicely indeed.
Incognito Prestige Awatere Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Incognito Prestige Awatere Sauvignon Blanc 2011 $15 This is a definite new favourite for me – aromas of freshly chopped herbs, fennel, lime and pineapple lead to a juicy, flavoursome palate that’s tangy but not tart and has layers of concentrated citrus all the way through to the finish. An absolute steal and it’s available … Read More
Riverby Estate Marlborough Syrah 2011
Riverby Estate Marlborough Syrah 2011 $27 These syrah grapes have been in the ground for 20 years, making them some of the earliest planted in the Marlborough region. Boysenberry, black cherry and soft spices ooze through on the nose and it’s a very gentle, warming, comfortably textural wine with slippery-soft tannins. www.riverbyestate.com
Riverby Estate Noble Sauvignon Semillon 2011
Riverby Estate Noble Sauvignon Semillon 2011 $35 Deeply golden colour with hints of musky, dusty notes underneath the honeyed, toffee-like aromas. There are lovely sweet marmalade and peach concentrate flavours on the finish which has good, solid length. www.riverbyestate.com
Riverby Estate Marlborough Noble Riesling 2011
Riverby Estate Marlborough Noble Riesling 2011 $35 375ml Golden and brassy and wow what an incredible wine! Delicious rose-toffee, caramelised peach, marmalade, and tangy, tantalising, ultra-sexy flavours – can’t fault it, more please!! Buy from www.riverbyestate.com
Riverby Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir 2010
Riverby Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir 2010 $28 Soft strawberry and cherry notes on the nose and in the mouth the fruit is very gentle to the point of being perhaps a touch subdued. It’s a pleasant pinot, very easy to drink and one that will be great for those new to the style, but I … Read More
Riverby Estate Marlborough Chardonnay 2010
Riverby Estate Marlborough Chardonnay 2010 $25 A really nice, nectarine-laden chardonnay with attractive stonefruit, grapefruit pith and toasty flavours to top off a lovely, lean, textural mouthfeel. Just the thing for a bowl of salt and pepper squid. www.riverbyestate.com