Alongside the bog standard technical stuff written on the notes that accompanied my sample of this bottle (things like acidity, alcohol, pH etc…) the winemaker has added ‘Occasion = Late Night’. I concur. Dark chocolate, seasoned leather, cigar box and blackcurrant compote notes followed by cockle-warming, juicy, spiciness on the finish, makes this the perfect … Read More
2016 Archived Columns
Crafters Union Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2016 $21 ★★★½
Ultra-pretty and bright like a pink diamond in the glass and shows fresh watermelon, light raspberry and soft peppercorn characters in the glass. Here’s a dry, crisp and refined Rosé that’ll have you singing in the summer in seconds flat. Sip with old fashioned curried sausages – yum! Available in supermarkets nationwide
Crafter’s Union Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 $21 ★★★★½
I love the fact that on the outside the packaging is so whimsical, so extravagant, so wild, yet when you slip the bottle out, the labelling on the bottle is a simple white and silver crest. But it’s what’s inside that bottle that counts, and if you’re craving a hit of nettles, lime, passionfruit, pinprick … Read More
Redmetal Vineyards Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2015 $20 ★★★½
Intense blueberry and bay leaf aromatics, stacks of peppercorn, cocoa and plummy notes. Warming and velvety in the mouth – plump and saucy yet elegantly poised. Baking spices and smoky, nutty notes on the finish. Give it a few minutes to open up in the glass and you’ll be rewarded for sure. www.redmetalvineyards.co.nz
Soho Stella Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 $25 ★★★★★
Wow! How’s this for a passionfruity punch in the face. Lemongrass, basil, and lashings of lime just tornado themselves across the palate, leaving a zingy, perfectly prickly texture in their wake. Winemaker Dave Clouston is an absolute guru when it comes to sourcing and saucing the best sauvignon blanc Marlborough has to offer – so … Read More
Brookfields Hawke’s Bay Bergman Chardonnay 2015 $20 ★★★★
Peter Robertson has owned Brookfields since the 1970’s so he’s seen a thing or two in the evolution of chardonnay. He’s also decided that good, old fashioned creamy, tropical and citrus fruit is what makes it magical. Taking its name from the Bergman roses which sit at the end of every row, this chardonnay is … Read More
De La Terre Hawke’s Bay Barbera 2014 $43 ★★★★½
‘De La Terre’ means ‘of the earth’, which fits as they have New Zealand’s only earth brick winery building up on the Taihape Road. ‘They’ are Tony and Kaye Prichard, who’ve been working on their own label following Tony’s departure from Church Road a little over a decade ago. Barbera is super-rare and the Prichard’s … Read More
Matawhero Gisborne Merlot 2016 $22 ★★★★
For a red that’s only just been bottled and released, this is drinking darn gorgeously. Ripe, round, plush plum and milk chocolate notes on the nose and palate, it’s dangerously smooth and velvety in the mouth and boasts a long, warming finish. Subtle fruitcake spices, pepper and hints of red berry add to the fruit … Read More
Stonecroft Gimblett Gravels Crofters Syrah 2015 $22 ★★★½
If you’re after pure peppercorn and light violet layers in your syrah then you’ve come to the right place. A brisk, sandy texture in the mid-palate and some punchy plum and boysenberry fruit forces its way across the tongue and around the back teeth. The finish is juicy and bright, moderately spicy and definitely nicey. … Read More
Cloudy Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 $36 ★★★★½
This new vintage of what’s become an Antipodean icon, has all the hallmarks of becoming another stunner. I say ‘becoming’ because despite this wine already boasting punchy basil, sweet pea, passionfruit and crunchy-fresh citrus and floral characters – I personally really love drinking this wine in the height of summer, a few months on from … Read More