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.
Author: Yvonne
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
Riverby Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Semillon 2011
Riverby Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Semillon 2011 $26 An injection of 35% semillon, with its hay fields and herb notes, adds depth and complexity to snappy, citrus-driven sauvignon blanc. This is the debut effort for this style from Riverby, and 8 months in new french oak has led to a lovely amalgamation of white peach, lemongrass, … Read More
Sherwood Estate No.8 Wire Waipara Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Sherwood Estate No.8 Wire Waipara Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $24 There’s a lot of sauvignon blanc planted in the North Canterbury region of Waipara, but it’s good to see some producers testing the boundaries of what it’s capable of, rather than staying in the safe old stainless steel camp. Fermented with wild yeasts in old french … Read More
Selaks Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir 2011
Selaks Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir 2011 $21 The latest edition to the Reserve, or Black Label range from Selaks, and it’s a pleasant drop especially for those new to pinot. Red cherry, rhubarb and upfront spicy notes on the nose are followed by very soft, almost subdued fruit and earth characters on the palate. … Read More