Mazuran’s on Lincoln Road, West Auckland have been crafting port wines since the early 1940’s, and magnificently, have vintage ports still available to buy dating back to 1942. They are the only New Zealand winery to distil its own grape brandy for fortifying its wines, many of which are made using 79-year-old vines. 79! I … Read More
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Stonecroft Gimblett Gravels Rosé 2017 $22 (3.5 stars)
Certified organic syrah grapes have been used to craft this dry and mineral-driven rosé that’s light and lean and best served super-chilled. Not overly full or spicy, it’s a tangy, fruity, refreshing quaffer. www.stonecroft.co.nz
Pulpoloco Campo De Borja Rosado 2015 $9.99 (3 stars)
Created from 100% Grenache grapes grown in Spain’s Campo de Borja D.O, this is a super-fruity, raspberry and cherry-saturated rosé that smells and tastes like peppercorns soaking in a glass of creaming soda. Spicy-sweet, yet nicely balanced acidity – tangy and a good little quaffer for sure. www.advintage.co.nz
Castaño Yecla Monastrell Rosado 2015 $10.99 (3 stars)
Made at high altitude in Spain’s Yecla D.O district, this has the most gorgeous colour, almost like a negroni cocktail colour and has aromas of quince, yellow fruits, ultra-clean, tangy pomegranate and redcurrant. Complex tannins – beautifully complex, full, delicious, lovely. www.thegoodwine.co.nz
Lone Goat Canterbury Ehrenfelser 2012 $18 (4 stars)
As soon as you smell this wine you’ll have a throwback to some of those crazy, hybrid varieties of the 1980’s – toasty, creamy, hints of peach and lemon – pronounced ‘air-en-fel-zer’ is a German variety from the 1920’s and Lone Goat have got the only 1.2ha of the stuff in the ground here. Honey, … Read More
Jip Jip Rocks Padthaway Shiraz 2015 $18.99 (4.5 stars)
It’s an absolute blackcurrant fest on the nose, blackcurrants marinating in a bowl made from eucalyptus leaves. Bright cherry and raspberry and boysenberry and practically every berry you can think of is in this wine. Pepper, refreshing acidity, furry tannins and fabulously warm, fuzzy length of flavour. It’s an elegant as opposed to sweet and … Read More
Yvonne Lorkin wine column for week beginning Saturday 11 Nov 2017
Great pinot noir is what I turn to when I need salvation from social media. When my Instagram feed becomes clogged with pictures of tanned, lycra-clad young things showing sneaky side-boob whilst doing yoga poses on clifftops and rocky outcrops with waves a-breaking or windswept beaches somewhere exotic and unaffordable. They have skinny arms, glossy … Read More
Quinta Da Romaneira Late Bottled Vintage LBV 2012 Unfiltered $54.90
This Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) is made from Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesca and Tina Cão grapes harvested in 2012. Then it spent around five years in oak cask before being bottled without filtration (to preserve the fruit intensity). I love the crazy walnut and blackcurrant aromas that wash into a rich, seriously spicy, … Read More
Quinta Da Romaneira 10 Year Old Tawny Port $64.90
Da Romaneira are one of the oldest Quintas in Portugals’ Douro Valley and this 10 YO Tawny is produced from a blend of old ports made from Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Barroca that have an average age of 10 years before bottling. Russet-coloured, perfumed with caramelized raisin, roasted, nutty notes, dried … Read More
Yvonne Lorkin canvas column for Sat Nov 11 2017
You know the old saying, make sure you have a port in every girl… Quinta Da Romaneira 10 Year Old Tawny Port $64.90 Da Romaneira are one of the oldest Quintas in Portugals’ Douro Valley and this 10 YO Tawny is produced from a blend of old ports made from Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Touriga … Read More