Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2023 $24.99 2023 was a really tricky year for Hawke’s Bay grapegrowers as Cyclone Gabrielle struck with devastating force just as harvest was about to begin. Yet the folk at Trinity Hill managed to craft a snappy, richly-structured, dry-styled gris laced with classic nashi notes and a hint of … Read More
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Huia Organic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Huia Organic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024 $36 From one of New Zealand’s oldest and most respected organic pioneers, this sauvignon will appeal to anyone keen on a little less of Sauvignon’s signature squinty acidity and a little more of a softer, creamy side. Scented with gentle bruised basil, lemongrass and jalapeno notes, it has a … Read More
Blank Canvas Anandale Farm Marlborough Riesling 2023
Blank Canvas Anandale Farm Marlborough Riesling 2023 $32 This snappy-sweet, beautifully balanced Kabinett-style Riesling is sourced from a vineyard located in the Blind River sub-region in Marlborough’s Awatere Valley. The nose roars with ripe lime, homemade lemonade and freshly cut Ambrosia apples. All of those elements osmose across the palate, leaving an ultra-vibrant, zesty-textured finish … Read More
Brookfields Back Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2023
Brookfields Back Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2023 $22 Peter Robertson is an ex flatmate of the Wizard of Christchurch. He also began making wine in Hawke’s Bay in the early 1970s and purchased Brookfields Vineyards in 1977, forty years after it was founded in 1937. He was one of the first to leap onto the … Read More
Jenny Dobson Florence Hawke’s Bay Fiano 2023
Jenny Dobson Florence Hawke’s Bay Fiano 2023 $45 Having been involved with crafting Fiano from fruit grown in tiny amounts in the Bridge Pa subregion since 2010, Jenny Dobson is easily New Zealand’s foremost expert on Fiano production. Fiano is an ancient, white grape with its spiritual home in Campania in Southern Italy. Still, it … Read More
Huntress Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2023
Huntress Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2023 $48 This is the first time Jannine Rickards has released a syrah from Hawke’s Bay, and she sourced her fruit from the Herringbone Vineyard in Bridge Pa. Taking a third of the grapes and fermenting them as whole clusters (rather than the traditionally crushed berries) has created a wine with … Read More
Saorsa Hawke’s Bay Rosê 2023
Saorsa Hawke’s Bay Rosê 2024 $32 Built on a backbone of Bridge Pa-grown syrah, this is a bright, peppery rosé, dry and rich and spicy. In a dimpled punt, it’s a fleshy, feisty style with good richness. And excellent length of flavour. Complex and rich.
Cardrona Distillery The Falcon Single Malt Whisky
Cardrona Distillery The Falcon Single Malt Whisky 700ml $353 This is the flagship single malt from the clever kids at Cardrona and it’s a blend of portions taken from an ex-Olorosso butt, and ex-Bourbon barrel and an ex-Central Otago Pinot Noir barrel. Grilled nectarine, creamed manuka honey, buttery, boozy, raisin and sultana-soaked Christmas cake batter … Read More
Cardrona Distillery American Barrel Single Cask
Cardrona Distillery American Barrel Single Cask 700ml 52% $353 Ex-Bourbon American seasoned barrels are the most commonly used vessels used in Whisky maturation, and the 200l cask that this example comes from has injected something exotically seductive, something almost emotional and something almost, dare I say it, spiritual. It’s intensely scented with smoked butterscotch, vanilla, … Read More
Cardrona Distillery Single Sherry Cask
Cardrona Distillery Single Sherry Cask 700ml 52%abv $353 Crafted using a 500l oak, ex-Olorosso Sherry butt from Southern Spain that’s been lightly charred, and it adds incredible intensity and nutty, fruity richness to this single-cask whisky. Lifted and lusciously scented with caramelised sultanas and raisins, brown butter, hazelnut and smoked nougat, on the palate it … Read More