It’s a rare thing in this country to see sauvignon blanc blended with anything. It’s usually pure, crisp, punchy and clean. However, the team from Gladstone Wines in the Wairarapa have opted to get a tad funky on it by creating a co-ferment of Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier in homage to the Dr Doolittle beast, … Read More
Current Columns
Yeastie Boys ‘Pullyu’ 750ml $45 (as part of a gift pack)
Ever tried beer made with wine? Here’s your chance with this white ale that the Yeastie’s have added to their 2014 ‘Spoonbender’ series. Taking a small portion of Gladstone Vineyard’s ‘Pushmi’ white wine (sauvignon and viognier) to create a candy-sugar to use alongside the malts and hops in the brew, the ‘Pullyu’ is a strong, … Read More
Serbal Mendoza Malbec Rosé 2015 $25 (3.5 stars)
If sweet rosé wines are not your thing, fret not. I’ve hunted high and low to address that issue and have found a little star you’ll love because it’s lipsmackingly lean and dry. Malbec rosé is not common and yet the team at Serbal are clearly experts in creating sophisticated, South American style rose that … Read More
Wine Column for Week beginning Sat 29 July 2017
I think anybody can become a great wine taster with training, but some people will always have a very distinct advantage. I’m talking about the people who always stop to sniff the flowers and taste everything put in front of them. Adventurous people who are naturally tuned into their senses, will always find it easier … Read More
Silver Wing Waipara Pinot Noir 2013 $36 (4.5 stars)
Crafted with wild yeasts and as little preservative as possible, this pinot has an earthy, smoky note from being aged in French oak barrels for 19 months, 15% of which were brand new. Chock full of cocoa, red cherry and rhubarb, it’s got real pluck and power behind it, making it a seriously tasty product … Read More
Momo Organic Marlborough Pinot Noir 2015 $24 (4.5 stars)
Just becaue it’s not bright and glossy-looking, don’t let that stop you from leaping into this gorgeous wine. It’s simply un-fined and unfiltered and made as naturally as you can. Aromatically it heaves with hibiscus rosehip, cherry and cranberry, while on the palate it’s a tsunami of taste. Mixed spices, cocoa, raspberry and silky saturation … Read More
Mahana Nelson Pinot Noir 2014 $39.50 (4.5 stars)
Certified organic and produced biodynamically, this pinot has a cloudy appearance due to it not being filtered or fined therefore it’s filled with flavour, the whole flavour and nothing but the flavour. Soft, elegant, truffle-edged and earthy, I love the baked cherry and raspberry layers – fine-grained tannins and fluttery length. It’s got gravitas for … Read More
Flying Sheep Hawke’s Bay Sangiovese 2013 $35 (4 stars)
Crafted by the clever kids over at Osawa Wines in Hawke’s Bay’s Maraekakaho district, this is a lithe, lovely, local example of an Italian classic, which boasts buckets of red cherry, redcurrant and raspberry, all wrapped up in an earthy, suede-like texture on the finish. Juicy, yet dry and smoky, it’s maturing nicely and just … Read More
Melton Estate Canterbury Pinot Gris 2013 $23
Twenty minutes from Christchurch on the West Coast Road (SH73) is a leafy locale known as West Melton, home to a plucky community of winegrowers, including Philip Caunter, a million-miles-an-hour man who doubles as ‘software entrepreneur’ and ‘ardent fan of the West Melton RFC’. His vines grow on free-draining, greywacke-littered soils gifted by ancient braided … Read More
Wine column week commencing 22nd July, 2017
Fifty Shades of Pink. One thing is for certain, this is not a sexy winter. But there’s something about a glass of gorgeously pink rose that lifts my mood even when it’s murky outdoors. And yet it’s this pinkish hue, which unfortunately demotes it to the “don’t go there” list for many people. Ok, by … Read More