Stone Paddock Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2014 $25 (3.5 stars)

13 January 2018By Yvonne

With its attractive aromas of baked lemon cheesecake, creamy almonds and white peach, this is a delicate, focused chardonnay with a fine line of clean acidity and a long quartzy, citrussy finish. Get set for a zesty-fresh, Bridge Pa-grown glass of goodness as soon as you uncap this wine. Terrific with creamy smoked chicken and … Read More

Ash Ridge Doppio MS & Chave Bridge Pa Syrah 2014 $150 (twin pack)

13 January 2018By Yvonne

I’ve never featured two wines in the same review before, but it’s the only way to tackle these bottles of salubrious syrah from Bridge Pa, in what I think is a first for New Zealand. Dubbed ‘Doppio’ after the Italian word for ‘double’, Ash Ridge have opted to keep their two clones of syrah separate … Read More

Yvonne Lorkin wine column for week beginning Sat 20 Jan 2018

13 January 2018By Yvonne

Take it to the Bridge… When I was really little we had cousins, who had grandparents who lived in Bridge Pa, a tiny (and I mean tiny), sleepy, little settlement just a few minutes southwest of Hastings. I remember going to stay with them at the grandparents’ house sometimes. It was a house where every … Read More

Babich Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $14.95

13 January 2018By Yvonne

With aromas of marshmallow, nougat, nectarine and a squeak of butterscotch, this is a rather tasty, tropically-inclined chardonnay that’s edged with grapefruit on the finish. Balanced, tangy, toasty and fresh, it’s a good, all-purpose, crowd-pleaser. Sip with: Hot roasted salmon. www.moorewilsons.co.nz

Yvonne Lorkin Canvas Column for Sat Jan 13 2018

13 January 2018By Yvonne

Babich Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $14.95 With aromas of marshmallow, nougat, nectarine and a squeak of butterscotch, this is a rather tasty, tropically-inclined chardonnay that’s edged with grapefruit on the finish. Balanced, tangy, toasty and fresh, it’s a good, all-purpose, crowd-pleaser. Sip with: Hot roasted salmon. www.moorewilsons.co.nz Mud House Marlborough Chardonnay 2016 $18.99 Sourced from … Read More

Mud House Marlborough Chardonnay 2016 $18.99

13 January 2018By Yvonne

Sourced from Marlborough’s Omaka sub-region, this chardonnay has creamy cashew and roast peach characters, layers of citrus and spicy, caramelized oak and buttered crumpet notes. There’s a hint of textural ‘chew’ to add a little somethin’ somethin’ to the finish as well. Sip with: gurnard and macadamia nut burned butter. www.blackmarket.co.nz  

Easthope Family Winegrowers Skeetfield Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2015 $39

13 January 2018By Yvonne

Sourced from Denis and Sally Gunn’s legendary vineyard, Rod Easthope has crafted a beautifully complex, whole-bunch-pressed (yes it makes a difference) chardonnay, fermented with wild yeasts in French oak, and it’s scented with a twang of smoke. Sip with: crayfish burgers. www.finewinedelivery.co.nz

Jules Taylor Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $19.99 (5 stars)

8 January 2018By Yvonne

Bright, herbaceous and with honkingly good length of flavour, it’ll come as no surprise upon your first sip why this wine walked away with a gold medal at the 2017 Air New Zealand Wine Awards. Classic passionfruit, lemonade and lime curd characters’ jostle with jalapeno, blackcurrant leaf and peapod notes to create a glass of … Read More

Hunter’s Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $21 (4.5 stars)

8 January 2018By Yvonne

I really love the elderflower, lemon pith and passionfruit aromas and its plethora of deeply punchy and pungent flavours. Hunter’s are an absolute aristocrat when it comes to creating darn delicious sauvignon blanc, because they’ve seen it all and been through everything nature could possibly throw at them, so they know how to ensure that … Read More