Great dry pinot gris isn’t the easiest thing to find here in NZ, yet Nadine Cross and her team at Peregrine have nailed it. The unusual thing here, is that while its dry, this wine (sourced from their vineyards in Bendigo and Pisa) also has a rich, creamy character from 3 months sitting on its … Read More
2016 Archived Columns
Peregrine Central Otago Chardonnay 2015 $37 ★★★★½
I love that old-school, buttered crumpet and classic golden queen peach and grapefruity goodness in this chardonnay. Here’s an example of how you merge fresh fruit from across the tropical, citrus and stonefruit spectrum, with finely tuned French oak and a burst of buttery bliss. Nadine Cross is the winemaker at Peregrine and her skills … Read More
Peregrine Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc 2016 $27 ★★★½
Anyone thinking central otago was simply pinot noir country clearly hasn’t had the pleasure of sipping their sauvignon. Softer in style, with basil, peach and lemongrass characters that wash across the palate with the most subtle hit of white pepper and fresh passionfruit. Softly fruited and refreshing, this little gem from Gibbston will leave a … Read More
Astrolabe Province Marlborough Chardonnay 2015 $26 ★★★★
Although it might confound you to understand how someone could chuck in a scintillating study path in the physiology of seaweed (phaeophycology in case you’re curious) to embark on a career in wine – that’s exactly what Simon Waghorn did. Thank heaven because we wouldn’t have this tangy, grapefruit pith, peach stone and toasty, textural … Read More
Kalex Bendigo Terrace Central Otago Riesling 2014 $32 ★★★★½
Wow! Lime alert! This southern star smashes through the palate with green apple and quartz-powder, minerally mouthfeel that lingers long and will send your saliva glands into overload. Dry and bony, but packed with character – here’s a wine that’ll work
Wine column week beginning 7 Oct, 2016
Occasionally, if I happen to be in Auckland, and it happens to be a slow news week, I’ll be asked to scoot over to the TV3 building with a couple of bottles of something tasty and talk about them with Paul Henry live on his show. The Paul Henry Show is a dual-purpose telly and … Read More
Mt Maude Central Otago Dry Riesling 2015 $25 ★★★★½
If you were to meet winemaker Sarah-Kate Dineen whilst sipping this wine, you’d be struck by a sudden urge to shout, “Wow! If this wine were a person, it’d totally be her!” Crisp, vivacious, toothsome and tangy, it bounces around with incredible intensity, presence and depth. The hand-picked, foot-stomped fruit for this citrus-soaked riesling, comes … Read More
Bernard Schurr Organic Cote du Rhone Villages 2014 $30 ★★★½
Bernard Schurr’s wines are now made at his friend Laurent Delaunay’s estate, Domaine de Lambisque, in the northern reaches of the Cotes du Rhone appellation. This softly spiced, earthy red is a blend of 50:50 Grenache and Syrah, aged for 9 months in large, seasoned oak vessels. It’s got a lovely forest-floor character alongside fragrant, … Read More
Howard Park Margaret River Miamup Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 $30 ★★★★
An instant hit of crushed blackberry and blackcurrant that’s edged with rooibos tea and hints of tobacco means it’s clearly an overachiever in the aroma stakes. It ranks up with the prefects in palate-weight too with dark, elegantly structured , smoky, cedary oak, chewy cabernet tannins and a choco-spice finish. ‘Miamup road’ runs between Cowaramup and Wilyabrup, … Read More
Folding Hill Ballasalla Central Otago Pinot Noir 2015 $32 ★★★★½
Straight away you’ll be struck by the stunning ruby-garnet colour of this Bendigo-grown pinot – but despite the prettiness of the colour, this wine is quick to grip you around the gumline and shake you into submission. Exotic rosehip, cherry and smoked sandalwood aromas lead to a palate packed with rhubarb, cranberry, black tea and … Read More