Pyramid Valley Colours Collection North Canterbury Rosé 2022 $39.99 The image on the label is of a mallow flower, a plant endemic in Pyramid’s vineyards and gardens, and the wine inside is crafted from some of the oldest, organically, biodynamically-grown pinot noir vines in New Zealand. I love the raspberry leaf layers, and soft, floral … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Two Rivers Clos Des Pierres Marlborough Chardonnay 2022
Two Rivers Clos Des Pierres Marlborough Chardonnay 2022 $30 Crafted from Mendoza, Clone 15 and B95 fruit grown in their Spring and Hawkesbridge vineyards that was wild fermented then aged for 8 months in French oak and given a full malolactic ferment, this chardonnay is a deliciously clean, youthful, saline-laced, and citrus stacked style. Elongated … Read More
Folding Hill Orchard Block Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020
Folding Hill Orchard Block Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020 $45 It’s been a long time between Orchard Block pinots with the last one being back in 2017! The western boundary of this, (the most sheltered part of the vineyard), is an orchard of cider apple trees and the handpicked fruit is fermented in a small … Read More
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2021
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2021 $39 2021 was a sensational year for Gimblett Gravels syrah due to it being cool, even and dry. Remember dry summers? Ah the memories. Each sniff erupts with classic florals and defined blueberry and black pepper notes which provide a ladder climbing down to a spice-saturated palate edged with … Read More
Pegasus Bay VIRTUOSO Chardonnay 2019
Pegasus Bay VIRTUOSO Chardonnay 2019 $65 I love the way this wine smells of popcorn, bacon, grilled grapefruit and roasted peaches drizzled in vanilla and butterscotch sauce. It’s so fresh, energetic and vibrantly nutty. A Virtuoso chardonnay is only attempted in exceptional years, from a selection of Mat Donaldson’s best barrels produced from fruit grown … Read More
Grasshopper Rock Earnscleugh Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013 & 2019
It was a real treat to taste a mini-vertical of a pinot noir that I’ve been a fan of for many years. Phil Handford from Grasshopper Rock sent me a bottle each of his 2013 and 2019 for comparison (and fun) and it was super interesting seeing how an extra six years vine age, tiny … Read More
Loss, Learning and Looking Ahead – A post-cyclone wine capital
Loss, Learning and Looking Ahead by Yvonne LorkinMay 16, 2023 Photo: Florence Charvin [As published in May/June BayBuzz magazine.] It’s a generalisation, but even before Cyclone Gabrielle hit Hawke’s Bay, things out in the vineyards weren’t fabulous. The 2022 harvest was hobbled by Spring frosts and unsettled weather through flowering and fruit set, followed by a … Read More
Saved by the Decibel
Saved by the Decibel by Yvonne LorkinMarch 31, 2023 Daniel Brennan. Photo: Florence Charvin [As published in March/April BayBuzz magazine.] Daniel Brennan was born in New York and grew up in a part of Philadelphia known as Southern New Jersey, or as the locals say, South Jersey. He’d been living in the city, right near the … Read More
Hawke’s Bay is now a World Wine Capital!
Hawke’s Bay joins ranks of elite world wine regions From left: Penelope Radburnd, Lauren Swift, Barry Riwai, Kate Radburnd, Julian Grounds, Alex Hendry. Photo: Brett Phibbs / PhibbsVisuals Hawke’s Bay has been named a Great Wine Capital of the world, a global network of the world’s 12 greatest wine regions, including Bordeaux, Bilbao and Napa … Read More
Elephant Hill Stone Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019
Elephant Hill Stone Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 $60 Just 110 cases were produced of this superb syrah grown in the deep, stony soils of the Gimblett Gravels district (hence the ‘stone’ title) from a vintage that’s fast becoming known as one of the 21st-century greats in Hawke’s Bay. Seductive aromas of peppercorn, violets, red apple … Read More