Giesen The Brothers Marlborough Chardonnay 2017 $19.99 (4 stars)

30 April 2018By Yvonne

Chardonnay lovers ahoy!  This new vintage of a Marlborough favourite, is heaving with fresh, toasty oak that wraps itself around the core of grapefruit, pineapple and peach perfectly, just like one of those ballerina cardigans.  Fresh, generously tropical, bursting with character and has a sexy, caramelized spice note to the finish.  Yum!! www.vinofino.co.nz  

Yvonne Lorkin wine column for week beginning Sat 28th April 2018

28 April 2018By Yvonne

  I love to share my thoughts on how a wine tastes and I can rattle off things like ‘this wine has delicious plum/peach or berry flavours – yadda yadda.  However because of that, people tend to ask me “Yvonne, how and when do the winemakers add the plums/berries/peaches to the wine?”  and the answer … Read More

Cypress Terraces Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2013 $42

28 April 2018By Yvonne

2013 had winemakers across Hawke’s Bay fizzing.  It was perfection, especially if you were making syrah.  Gus Lawson knew the fruit he’d harvested from his steep hillside site overlooking the Gimblett Gravels was gold and 4 years on, the proof is in the sipping.  Velvety smooth and layered with the lightest pepper, violet and cocoa … Read More

Fuedi Bizantini Passofino Pecorino 2016 $24.99

28 April 2018By Yvonne

Sourced from the Terre di Chieti ICP of Abruzzo, this is the top example of Pecorino that the team at Bizantini produce each year. Sometimes known as ‘vissanello’, pecorino’s are known for having a lick of salinity, green herbs, apple, lemon zest and almond-like characters, and ultra-tangy acidity on the finish.  It’s not something we … Read More

Nobody’s Hero Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017 $19.99

28 April 2018By Yvonne

Crafted by the good folk at Framingham, Nobody’s Hero is a rather punked up pinot with a bullet belt, tight tartan pants and a Sid Vicious bum flap, but texts his mum every day and has more showers than is deemed cool.  Packed with cherry-cola characters, tamarillo and rosehip tea and a dusting of cocoa, … Read More

Yvonne Lorkin Canvas Column for Saturday April 28th 2018

28 April 2018By Yvonne

The serviette was wrapped too tightly around my cutlery in the café the other day and it took ages to get it undone.  It’s a battlefield out there.   Nobody’s Hero Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017 $19.99 Crafted by the good folk at Framingham, Nobody’s Hero is a rather punked up pinot with a bullet belt, … Read More

Ara Resolute Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $22.99 (5 stars)

25 April 2018By Yvonne

Oh wow! This is the kind of sauvignon blanc that gives me goosebumps. Absolutely heaving with herbaceous, lemongrassy lusciousness, passionfruit and sweaty, grassy goodness. Ripe, rich and rocking the lemonade and lime notes in every sip. Sourced from fruit grown in the confluence of the Wairau and Waihopai Rivers in Marlborough, it’s lifted and lovely … Read More

J. Riehl Vin D’Alsace Riesling 2015 $19.99 (3.5 stars)

24 April 2018By Yvonne

Classic Germanic riesling style here, with loads of green apple and manuka honey notes, a layer of herbaceousness and white pepper and a long, tangy finish. It’s a great introduction to Alsatian riesling that’s on the crisp, dry scale of the spectrum and it’s a good choice to sip with chickpea and paneer korma. www.winedirect.co.nz

Supper Club Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016 $22.99 (3.5 stars)

24 April 2018By Yvonne

If you’re looking for a lightly-styled, lush, plush pinot noir that’s sewn together with spice, and rosehip tea, then this may be for you. It’s slippery and soft, with an earthy undertone and decent length of flavour and if you’re magicking up some creamy mushroom pasta then here’s your match. For stockists near you phone … Read More

Young Estate Bettie Bubbles Methode Traditionelle NV $34 (3.5 stars)

24 April 2018By Yvonne

Hayley Young is the talent behind this golden, Gisborne-grown fizz which has had a couple of years to develop in the bottle. Subtle aromas of crushed cashews and rising dough surrender to soft citrus and caramelized characters which follow through on the palate. It’s a lightly-styled sparkles that has notes of baked apple on the … Read More