Whoever said racehorses were a great way to lose money, clearly didn’t own ‘Under Cover Lover’, the champion racehorse who earned her owners enough cash to start their dream as winegrowers in Waipara’s Weka Pass. Very small amounts of this gewürztraminer were made by legendary winemaker CP Lin, and I love the ginger, musk and … Read More
2016 Archived Columns
Canvas column week commencing 22nd April, 2017
Abraham Lincoln once said “Folks who have no vices, have very few virtues”. I have three vices du jour – hence my virtuousness runneth over… Mon Cheval Waipara Gewurztraminer 2016 $29.99 Whoever said racehorses were a great way to lose money, clearly didn’t own ‘Under Cover Lover’, the champion racehorse who earned her owners enough … Read More
Canvas column week commencing 2nd April, 2016
How long is it until the next census? In the box that asks to what religion I subscribe, I shall write “The Holy Brethren of Broad City and Caitlin Moran”. These women appreciate the creative powers that tasty wines can impart on ones choreography skills; values that count in today’s competitive environment. Henry’s Drive … Read More
Nga Waka Home Block Martinborough Chardonnay 2015 $40
If you’re a fan of buttery chardonnay, this brand new vintage from Martinborough’s Parkinson family will have you grinning. With roasty, toasty, nutty notes gleaned from barrel fermentation, soft, creamy layers from the full malolactic ferment and tangy nectarine and peach flavours soaking through to the finish, it’s a ‘thinkers’ chardonnay. I’m also certain it’ll … Read More
Craggy Range Te Kahu 2014 $27
Craggy Range’s ‘Giants’ winery (located in Hawke’s Bay’s Tuki Tuki Valley) is often enveloped in early morning mist which rises above the river. They’ve named this wine Te Kahu, (‘The Cloak’ in Maori) in homage to this mist. Like the 2013 vintage, this blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, malbec and cabernet franc, has deep colour … Read More
Fontanafredda Le Fronde Moscato d’Asti 2013 $35
At just 5% alcohol, this is a super-light, super-sweet little sip that’ll perk up even the most jaded tastebuds. Forget any past experiences with bad old, mass-produced Asti because this is the genuine article. Pure, uncut awesomeness. With a deliciously delicate, creamy mousse, lifted, musky apricot and honeysuckle flavours and a long, spritzy finish – … Read More
Canvas column week commencing 9th April, 2016
You’ve spent the week working hard to be all things to all people. Maintaining through the demands of family, friends, your workplace and those pesky SocMed platforms that’ll forget you in a click if you don’t ‘like’, ‘share’, ‘regram’, ‘retweet’ or ‘snap’ something every seven minutes. Good wine doesn’t care. It always has your back. … Read More
Greystone Waipara Rose 2014 $25.50
Located at the foot of the Teviotdale Hills on the western side of the Waipara Valley is a series of fossil-studded vineyard slopes known as “the golden mile”. The pinot noir used to make this rose grows here. 100% clone 115 grapes are handpicked, gently pressed and put to barrel to be fermented in barrels … Read More
Bladen Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $21
The thing that I really like about this wine is that it doesn’t have any thing OTT about it. All the citrus layers of lemon, lime and feijoa are contained in layers of sweet, grassy goodness. Elegant and herbaceous, it’s a wine that Christine and Dave MacDonald have done themselves proud with this snazzy, pea-pod … Read More
Matetic Corralillo Chardonnay 2013 $25
Sourced from the region of Rosario in Chiles San Antonio Valley this chardonnay grows in decomposed granite soils studded with quartz and volcanic material; which probably explains the vein of minerality stitching the stonefruit, yellow plum and slivers of grapefruit together. Pronounced ‘matt – eh – cheech’, it’s nutty, slightly creamy on the finish, and … Read More