If you lamented the loss of the old style of champagne saucer, or ‘coupe’ then you’ll be pleased to know that its usurper, the ‘flute’, may also soon be turfed into untrendy territory. For umpteen years the coupe was rumoured to have been modelled on the breasts of a well known female French aristocrat and … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Ash Ridge gets busy…
It is exactly one year since Ash Ridge Wines opened their tiny, tin shed cellar door on State Highway 50, ten minutes drive southeast of Hastings. Offering a handful of wines, coffee, tea and good old gap-fillers like antipasto, cheese platters and lasagne, they’re perfectly poised to snare parched and peckish people speeding north from … Read More
Osawa Sustainable Dots Hawke’s Bay Gewurztraminer 2010
Sustainable Dots Hawke’s Bay Gewurztraminer 2010 $19 If you’re a fan of fabulous, well-priced gewürztraminer then this is for you! It’s a beautiful example with lychee, rose and soft spices on the nose followed by clean, crisp, tangy tropical flavours in the mouth. It’s a wine with fantastic lines and definitely leaves an impression. More … Read More
Tresillian Single Vineyard Akaroa Chardonnay 2009
Tresillian Single Vineyard Akaroa Chardonnay 2009 $23 This is a superb Canterbury chardonnay chock-full of melon, mango and peach notes on the nose all followed by an explosively fresh burst of tropical and citrus flavours in the mouth. Clean, long and linear, it’s a lovely drink indeed. Buy from www.tresillian.co.nz Tresillian Single Vineyard Akaroa Chardonnay
Rochdale Pear Cider
Rochdale Pear Cider 330ml ($15 x 4pk) A lovely, full-flavoured cider that bursts with tangy, pure pear character before finishing with refreshing acidity and excellent length of flavour. Drink super-chilled with snapper slathered in spicy mango salsa. For stockists in your area contact www.mccashins.co.nz
Kidnapper Cliffs Hawke’s Bay Pinotage 2010
Kidnapper Cliffs Hawke’s Bay Pinotage 2010 $45 One of the most sophisticated examples of pinotage on the NZ market, this wine oozes cranberry, redcurrant, rosehip tea and cherry cola aromas yet it has a spicy edge with savoury, dried herb flavours and is soundly built with solid tannins a warming mid-palate and lengthy persistence of … Read More
Church Road Reserve Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2010
Church Road Reserve Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2010 $40 I love the essence of orange oil, quince and wild flowers on the nose and the immediate burst of mandarin, apricot and soft spices in the mouth. Its lusciousness and mid-palate texture is absolutely divine and it’s a superb example of the style. One glass is just … Read More
Shiraz with a bit of Sparkle…
If there’s one thing surer than death and taxes, it’s that by now you’re probably wondering what on earth to do with all that excess Christmas chocolate, the boxes of crystallised ginger that grandad keeps forgetting to take home with him, all the uneaten Round Wine’s or Krispie’s left in the Griffins Sampler tin and … Read More
Framingham F-Series Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2011
Framingham F-Series Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2011 375ml $60 Framingham F-Series Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2011 Wow! I gave this wine a 20/20 score because it is perfect in every way. Masterfully created from dried botrytis-selected individual berries, scented with fresh-baled hay, feijoa jelly and sherbert-like aromas, it oozes super-concentrated marmalade, toffee, and blue-borage honey richness in the mouth. … Read More
Framingham F-Series Riesling Beerenauslese 2011
Framingham F-Series Riesling Beerenauslese 2011 375ml $50 Framingham F-Series Riesling Beerenauslese 2011 Unctuous and silky with toffee, pineapple and candied fruits on the nose and boasting smooth, yet tongue-tingling elegant acidity in the mouth. Beautifully balanced and lengthy.