Urlar Gladstone Pinot Gris 2018 $25 Organically and Biodynamically grown and tended by viticulturist Bevan Lambess, and crafted into wine by Jannine Rickards, this wild, wooly and mineral-edged Pinot Gris will definitely appeal to those who prefer their gris on the dry side. 12% of the blend went in as ripe bunches that were fermented … Read More
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Stonecroft Reserve Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2018
Stonecroft Reserve Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2018 $60 Spots in the internationally-recognised 2018 Gimblett Gravels Annual Vintage Selection aren’t awarded for participating. Oh no. With only 12 places available for dozens of wines submitted by dozens of producers, it’s nail-biting stuff. Add 5 star ratings, Super Classic status from Michael Cooper, and high-90’s points from famous … Read More
Kalex Alex K Five Boroughs Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019
Kalex Alex K Five Boroughs Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 $19.99 Back in 2004, New York natives the Beastie Boys released their monster hip-hop album To the 5 Boroughs in praise of their city. Eleven years later, Kalex releases its first Five Boroughs pinot in homage to the five sub-regions of Central Otago they source … Read More
Pencarrow Martinborough Chardonnay 2019
Pencarrow Martinborough Chardonnay 2019 $23 Palliser Estate’s Pencarrow wines are named in honour of the stories of the famous lighthouse at the entrance to Wellington harbour. This chardonnay acknowledges the heroic Mary Jane Bennet, who single-handedly raised 5 children and took on the vital role of Pencarrow Lighthouse keeper when her husband died in 1855. … Read More
Moutere Hills Sarau Reserve Chardonnay 2018
Moutere Hills Sarau Reserve Chardonnay 2018 $55 Nelson chardonnay is oft overshadowed by the big names from the likes of Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne – but I tell you what, if more people get their chops around chardonnay like this, then Nelson will storm the stage. The Sarau Reserve is Moutere Hills flagship wine, made … Read More
Blackenbrook Nelson Pinot Gris 2020
Blackenbrook Nelson Pinot Gris 2020 $28 If you thought Pinot Gris was a snore-fest then prepare to have your brain blown up by this deliciously dry, mineral-saturated, nashi-induced bottle of niceness. Clean, lean, quartz and laced with lemon pith, nutmeg, apple and pear-packed – this is a gris that’ll gently exfoliate your palate in spectacular … Read More
Jules Taylor Marlborough Grüner Veltliner 2020
Jules Taylor Marlborough Grüner Veltliner 2020 $24.99 If your experiences with grüner veltliner have come tied to more than a decent splash of sweetness, then this little van-load of vavoom with it’s partial wild ferment will be a fabulous face slap of delicious dryness. With mountains of minerality, richness and generosity of texture, the soft … Read More
Coal Pit Tiwha Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019
Coal Pit Tiwha Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 $57 With powerful pomegranate and tamarillo tsunami-ing across the nose and palate, this Anika Willner-crafted pinot noir has buckets of fresh energy, smoked raspberry notes, spiced red apple astringency and tonnes of black tea in the mid-palate. Vibrant yet slippery-textured and showing lovely elongation on the finish, … Read More
Abbey Estate Wild Fermented Bridge Pa Chardonnay 2019
Abbey Estate Wild Fermented Bridge Pa Chardonnay 2019 $30 Yum Yum Yumminny! This is a really interesting, multi-layered lovely from Dermot and his team at Abbey Estate in Hawke’s Bay’s Bridge Pa Triangle Wine District. Bursting with white nectarine, apricot, grapefruit pith, dried herb and nutty, toasty, caramelised characters in the mid-palate, it carries a … Read More
Pegasus Bay Waipara Valley Gewürztraminer 2019
Pegasus Bay Waipara Valley Gewürztraminer 2019 $30 Smell that beeswax character? That’s coming directly from the high proportion of botrytis-infected fruit (the ‘noble’ rot) which adds sweetness and texture to the already ripe, lychee and ginger-soaked sensations present in the gewürztraminer grapes. Slick, smooth, slippery acidity and luscious length of flavour make this a classic. … Read More