Godelia Bierzo Mencia 2008 $28 This is the first time I’ve tried a wine made from the Mencia grape and I was quite taken with it. Grown in Spain’s newest wine region Bierzo is a Spanish DO (DenominaciÓn de Origen) for wines located in the northwest of the province of LeÓn. Scarlet-black, this Mencia has … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Alluviale Gimblett Road Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
ALLUVIALE GIMBLETT ROAD MERLOT CABERNET FRANC, CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 $30 A cracker of a red created by sickeningly handsome winemaking couple, Kate Galloway and David Ramonteau – this wine has beautifully fragrant rosemary, roast beef, dark chocolate, espresso, plum, berry and molasses characters. I love the texture of this wine in the mouth with finely-grained … Read More
Seifried Nelson Gewurztraminer 2011
SEIFRIED NELSON GEWURZTRAMINER 2011 $12 – $17 Tried this for the first time yesterday and thought it was pretty darn nice. All those classic aromas of Turkish delight, spicy ginger and peach lead to a juicy, fresh finish. Not overly sweet, but just enough to make an impression. Seifried are legends at making gewürztraminer, and … Read More
Radio NZ National Wine Recommendations 4th November 2011
Spent a superb couple of days in Marlborough last weekend at the bi-annual Marlborough Wine Weekend celebrations where wine fans like me got the chance to immerse ourselves in very focused, specialised tastings of different styles and wines from various sub-regions in some absolutely spectacular locations. It’s a great way to see how diverse our … Read More
Cheap and not so cheerful
Even if you’re only drinking the occasional glass of wine with dinner, the acidity and tannins will play havoc with your enamel. However in my job, where I’m tasting a couple of dozen wines a week (or up to a hundred wines a day if I’m judging), it’s like I’ve declared all-out war on my … Read More
Mt Difficulty Long Gully Central Otago Pinot Noir 2009
Mt Difficulty Long Gully Central Otago Pinot Noir 2009 $90 You can’t be a pinot noir fan in New Zealand without having heard of Mount Difficulty (or “Mount D” as the cool people in the trade say) The Long Gully vineyard used to be the old ‘oat paddock’ for Kawarau Station before the Dicey family … Read More
Matawhero Gisborne Chardonnay 2010
Matawhero Gisborne Chardonnay 2010 $25 Scented with popcorn, candyfloss, peach and mango cream, it’s a style that’s out on its own but I like it. Definitely a food-friendly example that has good length of flavour and presence on the palate. www.matawhero.co.nz
Pasquale Waitaki Gewurztraminer 2010
Pasquale Waitaki Gewurztraminer 2010 $30 Lovely lifted aromas of lychee, greengage plum and ginger. In the mouth it is elegantly crisp, well balanced and has a deliciously tangy finish. www.pasquale.co.nz
Tukipo River Estate ‘Fat Snapper’ Chardonnay 2010
Tukipo River Estate Fat Snapper Chardonnay 2010 $20 A collective ‘Oh wow!’ rose from the table as soon as my guests started sipping this new Central Hawke’s Bay chardonnay. With incredibly concentrated guava, peach, grapefruit and pineapple aromas combined with elegant acidity, power, freshness and vitality on the finish it’s sensational stuff for the price. … Read More
Invercargill Brewery Men’n Skuurts Scottish Ale
Invercargill Brewery ‘Men’N Skurrts’ Scottish Ale 330ml $6 This gutsy, malty, frothy-headed Scotch ale tips its hat to Invercargill’s pioneering forefathers with a splash of peat smoke. It’s a solid, Southland beer that’ll warm the cockles and shiver your timbers – but only for a limited time. Visit www.invercargillbrewery.co.nz for how and where to buy. Invercargill Brewery’s … Read More