Alana Estate Freedom Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020 $22 Bold and spice-soaked, this pinot has freshness, feistiness, friskiness and a spine of spice. Rhubarb, baked cherry and buckets of earthy complexity make this a pinot that brings the grins with every sip. Savoury, earthy, edged with dried herbs and leather, it’s a comforting sip. The Alana … Read More
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Zephyr MKIII Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Zephyr MKIII Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 $32 I was fortunate to taste bottle number 1942 of a wine crafted from the Glover Family’s ‘Kersley Estate’ vineyard. This vineyard is in the middle of its conversion to organic certification and winemaker Ben Glover has steered this sauvignon down the wild side of town. Erupting with scorched … Read More
Zephyr Organic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Zephyr Organic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 $24 Roaring with red apple, red capsicum, sweet pea and peachy character, this citrus-stacked sauvignon has gentle herbaceousness, soft acidity, tropical complexity and a lick of salted lime and jalapeno on the finish. Sourced from the Glover family’s ‘Brawn’ vineyard located in the Dillons Point sub-region, it’s a gently … Read More
Carrick The Magnetic Organic Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2021
Carrick The Magnetic Organic Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2021 $80 Righto. Strap yourself in. Or if you don’t have straps, maybe just find yourself some cushions to wedge yourself between, because you could find yourself being taken to unknown dimensions when you start sipping this wine. Named after a gold dredge prominent in the Kawarau River, … Read More
Chateau Garage Orca Corca Bianco 2023
Chateau Garage Orca Corca Bianco 2023 $35 A brand new style from viticulturist-turned-winemaker Ollie Powrie and his tiny team at Chateau Garage, the Orca Corca is sauvignon blanc but not as you’d know it. Sourced from an organic site located out in Maraekakaho, west of Hastings, the fruit was hand harvested and the juice was … Read More
Villa Maria Taylors Pass Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Villa Maria Taylors Pass Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 $30 Awatere Valley sauvignon blanc has its own signature. Florals, fresh nettles, white peach, green apple and bruised basil assail the nostrils and roar around the gums. It’s fresh yet gentle on the palate, so if you’re not a fan of squinty acidity then you’re in luck … Read More
Monowai Hawke’s Bay Brut Rosé NV
Monowai Hawke’s Bay Brut Rosé NV $24.99 If a sparkling wine stacked solid with ripe berries, cherries, creamy complexity and a melon-like finish is a bit of you, then you’ll love this new release from Monowai. Bold, boisterous and laced with herbal notes, it’s got a big personality, loads of texture and a style all … Read More
Alana Estate Freedom Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Alana Estate Freedom Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 $18 Intensely pungent aromas of bruised basil, sweet pea, passionfruit and lime leaf layers merge with seductively squint-inducing textures, and deep citrus and lemongrass notes which stitch together to create a crunchy-crisp, flavour bomb of a sauvignon. The Alana Estate whanau are hellbent on fighting against modern slavery … Read More
Carrick Billet-Doux Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2023
Carrick Billet-Doux Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2023 $39 This no-sulphur, now-iconic style from Rosie Menzies and her team at Carrick has a new poem on the back label from front-label artist Leon Ofsky, and it speaks of new dawns, welcoming a new baby and new stories. Very appropriate. The wine is an unfussy, earth-laced style that’s … Read More
Carrick Unravelled Organic Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022
Carrick Unravelled Organic Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022 $32 (released August 2024) Playing on their knotty branding, this pinot by winemaker Rosie Menzies is a different take on the classic Carrick style. It’s lighter, looser, a little more wild and a little more easygoing. Freshly turned earth, tea leaf, baked cherry and stewed rhubarb all … Read More