With its clutch of 5-star endorsements from wine critics around the globe, this Rhone-style blend from the mad but brilliant folk at Massena, is just the ticket for hot August nights (yes it’s winter, but I’ve always wanted to weave a Neil Diamond lyric into a tasting note). Inky-dark, earthy, spice-driven and soaked through with … Read More
Columns
Yvonne Lorkin wine column for week beginning Sat 28 July 2018
I’d normally kick off this column with something to do with wine because, well, it’s a wine column. However those that know me, know that I’m also an enormous beer fan – not just ‘craft’ beer either. I’m a fan of well-made beer no matter where it comes from. Through my work at Dish magazine … Read More
The Fifth Innings Limited Release Marlborough Chardonnay 2016 $59
Only 600 bottles were made of this wine and they’re all individually numbered. While numbers are things you can count on, safety is definitely not on the agenda for this chardonnay. It’s huge in every respect and those with a delicate constitution may opt for something more tame because this wine will ruck and maul … Read More
Alpha Domus The Skybolt Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $26.00
This is the second vintage of Skybolt, a chardonnay that’s like a fruity mcfruitface upfront on the palate, yet a tweak of French oak I love how the classic grapefruit and roast peach flavours are edged with hints of coconut and spice and then followed by a long, creamy finish. Winemaker Barry Riwai is a … Read More
Snapper Rock Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $14.99
There’s a really spicy, almost ginger-like kick to this chardonnay, which clearly has the ‘cheap and cheerful, crowd-pleaser’ flag flying from its screwcap. If you’re looking for bags of toasty oak and creamy, buttery bodaciousness then you won’t find it here, this wine is all about the tangy tropical fruit and popcorn pluckiness on the … Read More
Yvonne Lorkin canvas column for Sat July 28th 2018
I bought a $1500 robot vacuum cleaner. Mock all you want, but I’m sipping chardonnay while this thing sucks life’s lint away… Snapper Rock Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $14.99 There’s a really spicy, almost ginger-like kick to this chardonnay, which clearly has the ‘cheap and cheerful, crowd-pleaser’ flag flying from its screwcap. If you’re looking … Read More
Moi Wines Waimauku Cabernet Franc 2015 $32
Young winemaker Renée Dale managed to secure some rare cabernet franc fruit from the Twin Totara vineyard out in Waimauku, and then rose every day at 4am to plunge the ferment before heading over to her other job at Westbrook Wines. Were those red-eye starts worth it? Yessir! The palate has glorious dark berries, blackcurrant, … Read More
Domaine Boutinot Les Six Cairanne 2014 $45
‘Les Six’ is a new, six-grape style of Cairanne (an appellation in the Rhone) featuring Cairanne Noir (Grenache) 40%, Mourvèdre 15%, Syrah 15%, Carignan Noir 10%, Cinsault 10%, Counoise 10%. Hand-picked grapes are co-fermented with wild yeasts aided by manual pigeage (punching down), gentle remontage (pumping over) and maturation in tronconiques (large oak vats) for … Read More
Steininger Langenlois Kamptal Grüner Veltliner 2016 $29
Grüner Veltliner (groo-ner felt-leener) is the signature white grape of Austria, and the Langenlois-based Steininger family have been producing it in the beautiful Kamptal Valley for generations. Incredibly brisk and bracing and bursting with Golden Delicious apple, elderflower, pure white pepper and a flick-flack of fennel on the tongue, this is a crisp, precise and … Read More
Kahurangi Estate Nelson Dry Riesling 2016 $15.80 (3.5 stars)
Wow this riesling is so dry and bony it’s practically skeletal – so those who love masses of lime in their wine will be happy campers with every sip. It has intense green apple notes, buckets of squinty acidity and acres of zesty, quartzy minerality on the finish. www.kahurangiwine.com