Omata Estate Russell Chardonnay 2022 $48 Gorgeously golden in the glass, this Bay of Islands-grown chardonnay gushes with creamy-dreamy cashew, grilled grapefruit, baked peach and popcorn aromas which all osmose across to the palate. Buttery and softly smoky, it’s a generously juicy style with hints of bacon to finish. Lovers of classic, creamy, bold chardonnay … Read More
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Omata Estate Russell Rosé 2023
Omata Estate Russell Rosé 2023 $34 If you’re looking for rosé that resides down the richer end of the street, then this is your mansion in the cul-de-sac kids. Aromas of Pink Lady apples, nashi notes, soft spice layers and a ribbon of quince give this rosé immediate appeal. Generously proportioned and very very plush, … Read More
Pask Declaration Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2021
Pask Declaration Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2021 $49 You don’t get picked as one of the elite twelve wines to represent the Annual Vintage Selection of red wines from the Gimblett Gravels just by being nice. Oh no. You need to be powerful, yet soothing, assemble of lifted florals, soft smoke and char. You need to … Read More
Jules Taylor Marlborough Grüner Veltliner 2023
Jules Taylor Marlborough Grüner Veltliner 2023 $24 Paired with: Figs, Endive & Hazelnuts in the NZ Herald Canvas Magazine Sat March 2 2024 The combination of subtle sweetness of ripe, juicy figs, moreishly toasty hazelnuts and the crispy, bitter, crunch of the endive leaves is all sorts of excellence in the mouth, but take a … Read More
Whitehaven Block 11 Barrel Fermented Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Whitehaven Block 11 Barrel Fermented Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2022 $32 How excellent that the team at Whitehaven have chosen to launch their new Single Vineyard series with the release of a shiny new barrel-fermented sauvignon blanc. Fruit from their Paul’s Road vineyard has been wild fermented and aged for 13 months in old French Oak … Read More
Ballasalla Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022
Ballasalla Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022 $30 The talented team at Folding Hill are responsible for turning out one of my favourite, always reliably tasty, Central Otago pinot noirs. The Ballasalla. This new vintage is perfumed with poached rhubarb, pot-pourri, red cherry and soft, earthy spices. It washes across the tongue and gums with fresh, … Read More
Folding Hill Bendigo Central Otago Chardonnay 2021
Folding Hill Bendigo Central Otago Chardonnay 2021 $32 I’m telling you right now, the vertigo-inducingly steep, sun-baked slopes of the zero-humidity sub-region of Bendigo is my new chardonnay spot to watch. While Tim Kerruish, his wife Nikki and their Folding Hill team are new to chardonnay, (their first vintage was the 2020) this second vintage … Read More
Maison Noire Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2022
Maison Noire Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2022 $35 Glossy-dark and inky in the glass, this new syrah from winemaker Guillaume Thomas has a distinct, pepper-soaked sarsparilla note on the nose, with black guava, tea leaf and tamarillo characters sashaying their way nostrilward also. To taste, it’s incredibly fresh and youthful, stitched together with peppercorn and … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2023
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2023 $24 Using 100% cabernet franc grapes grown in his home block high on the Waimarama Road behind Hawke’s Bays Te Mata Peak, Guillaume Thomas has fashioned a crunchy-crisp rosé that’s easy on the eye, but injects zing and ping into to the palate. Red apple and wild raspberry aromas … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Puketapu Chardonnay 2022
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay Puketapu 2022 $35 Sourced from the Puketapu (sacred hill) subregion of Hawke’s Bay inland west of Napier, winemaker Guillaume Thomas has opted to create a creamy, barrel-fermented, 12-month barrel-aged style that will please anyone partial to a twang of buttered toast in their glass. Grilled stonefruit, a splash of creamed … Read More