I review the 2020 Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Chardonnay Selection. Twelve wines whittled down from dozens submitted that were judged by Cameron Douglas MS to reflect the absolute finest examples created from the 2020 vintage from the Hawke’s Bay region. I love that there’s a healthy sub-regional spread in terms of where they were grown and … Read More
Author: Yvonne
Greywacke Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019
Greywacke Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 $48 Imagine a spiced cherry jus poured across a sizzling venison cutlet, and you’ll have something resembling this glorious thing’s exotic, meaty, savoury scent. The palate is laced with rooibos tea, sweet rhubarb and bright berryfruit soothed and smoothed with silky tannins and refreshing, youthful, buoyant textures. It’s lithe, lusciously … Read More
Trinity Hill ‘125 Gimblett’ Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2020
Trinity Hill ‘125 Gimblett’ Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2020 $80 Golden in the glass and scented with smoky French oak, scorched cashew and brazil nut notes, grilled grapefruit and hints of baked apricot and citrus complexity, this chardonnay is ultra-enticing from the first sniff. Plus delicious depth and mineral layers coexist with a creamy, citrus-centric core, … Read More
Carrick Josephine Bannockburn Riesling 2021
Carrick Josephine Bannockburn Riesling 2021 $34 The name Josephine refers to the decorative variation of the ‘Carrick Bend’ nautical knot which appears on the front of the label. The knot is a metaphor for how the winery brings together viticulture, winemaking and their place. It also includes local landmarks like the Carrick mountain range, the Carrick … Read More
Giesen Clayvin Vineyard Marlborough Syrah 2021
Giesen Clayvin Vineyard Marlborough Syrah 2021 $55 This is one of those young red wines that tastes great on the first pour but tastes amazing the next day. Erupting with dark berries on the nose, blackberry, boysenberry and blueberry notes, alongside a vein of pepper and dark cocoa and smoky oak, this organically-grown wine is … Read More
Blackenbrook Nelson Pinot Rosé 2022
Blackenbrook Nelson Pinot Rosé 2022 $25 I love how this rosé sits up and starts singing from the moment you pour the first glass. Bright pink and bursting with ripe cherry, redcurrant and watermelon notes on the nose and palate, it’s fresh, squeaky-clean and roaring with personality. It’s also got decent weight and presence in … Read More
Blackenbrook Nelson Pinot Gris 2022
Blackenbrook Nelson Pinot Gris 2022 $23 Forget about the common description of ‘pear’ for pinot gris, because this wine is the whole darn orchard! Nashi, Golden Delicious apples, quince, yellow pears and hints of peach all feature in this new release grown in the mineral-rich Moutere Clays of Nelson. Dry, deliciously textural and nicely balanced, … Read More
Te Kano Central Otago Rosé 2021
Te Kano Central Otago Rosé 2021 $30 This is a lipsmacker of a rosé if ever there was. Coral-coloured and crafted from pinot noir grapes grown in the schist-rock soils of their Northburn vineyard, it’s perfumed with red apple, raspberry and pink peppercorn and shows zesty redcurrant, pomegranate and spicy-dry characters on the palate. Deeply … Read More
Elephant Hill Hawke’s Bay Hieronymus 2019
Elephant Hill Hawke’s Bay Hieronymus 2019 $125 A blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, (clone 10), 29% cabernet franc (clone 326) and 11% merlot (clone 181) sourced from predominantly their ‘Stone’ Gimblett Gravels vineyard, this wine is the epitome of what the Elephant Hill team can achieve from an excellent vintage. Inky-dark and glossy, this wine … Read More
Elephant Hill Airavata Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019
Elephant Hill Airavata Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 $125 From what’s fast becoming known as the holy trinity of Hawke’s Bay vintages (19.20,21) Airavata is the absolute pinnacle of what the Elephant Hill winemaking team can achieve with syrah. And I’ll tell you right now, it’s so gorgeously, garnet-hued, glossy and inky-dark, it wins stars on … Read More