Te Kairanga WPF Martinborough Pinot Noir 2020

19 November 2023By Yvonne

Te Kairanga WPF Martinborough Pinot Noir 2020 $175 Created by long-time winemaker John Kavanagh and his team as a tribute to William Patrick Foley (or Bill Foley to his mates) the owner of Te Kairanga and head of the Foley Family Wines group. Using only their best Abel clone fruit, this pinot has huge aromatic … Read More

Mt Difficulty Ghost Town Lowburn Valley Chardonnay 2019

9 November 2023By Yvonne

Mt Difficulty Ghost Town Lowburn Valley Chardonnay 2019 $33-$43 Gorgeously golden in the glass and glowing with cashew and grilled peach aromas, this chardonnay has a beautifully edgy energy to it. Named after the deserted relics of the goldmining era dotted around Central Otago’s river valleys, this wine washes gold across the nose and palate. … Read More

Riverby Estate Marlborough Chardonnay 2021

9 November 2023By Yvonne

Riverby Estate Marlborough Chardonnay 2021 $28 Deeply golden in the glass and groaning with toasty, roasty, peachy goodness in the glass. Classic baked apple, grilled citrus and stonefruit notes wash across the nose and palate, hints of pineapple wrap around a core of caramelised oak to create a super-fresh impression. Bright, energetic and a joy … Read More

Brookfields Sun-Dried Hawke’s Bay Malbec 2022

9 November 2023By Yvonne

Brookfields Sun-Dried Hawke’s Bay Malbec 2022 $26 Winemaker Peter Roberston and his team hand-harvest their malbec and then lay the grapes out on racks to partially dry in the sun, much like the Italian appassimento technique to concentrate the flavours and accentuate the rich, fruity aromatics. The nose reveals rich, blueberry, boysenberry, cocoa and liquorice … Read More

Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2022

9 November 2023By Yvonne

Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2022 $35 Cabernet franc is a rare thing to see on its own here in New Zealand, so it’s exciting whenever I see one, particularly one from one of the tiniest vineyards in Hawke’s Bay. Very new and youthfully fresh, it boasts a huge lift of bay leaf, blackcurrant, … Read More

Maison Noire Home Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2021

9 November 2023By Yvonne

Maison Noire Home Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2021 $70 The ‘Home Block’ for Maison Noire’s winemaker Guillaume Thomas, is a tiny, 1.5ha vineyard growing on limestone laden soils on the winding road out to Waimarama Beach. Just 80 cases of this syrah was made, so it’s super-limited, but super-tasty. Inky-dark and glossily gorgeous, and boasts … Read More

Zephyr Organic Marlborough Riesling 2022

9 November 2023By Yvonne

Zephyr Organic Marlborough Riesling 2022 $28 Ben Glover, winemaker at Zephyr, has an unslakeable thirst for great riesling, which is why he pours his heart and soul into every bottle he makes. He also pours buckets of pixie dust and secret magic and sparkly starlight in there as well. The result is a classically dry … Read More

Brookfields Back Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2022

9 November 2023By Yvonne

Brookfields Back Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2022 $22 From a challenging vintage comes a highly approachable, friendly, softly fruited, softly peppered syrah grown at Ohiti on the banks of the Ngaruroro River. Classic florals and blackcurrant characters lead to iron sands tannins and a suede-like mid-palate texture and finish. Brookfields

Brookfields Fiesta Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2023

9 November 2023By Yvonne

Brookfields Fiesta Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2023 $22 Crafted from free-run syrah juice (that’s the highest quality, delicately fresh juice which runs from the grape press before any pressing starts), this pretty, trout-pink rosé has summer days and warm sunsets written all over it. Generously flavoured with red apple, raspberry and a hint of creaming soda, … Read More

Brookfields Robertson Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2023

9 November 2023By Yvonne

Brookfields Robertson Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2023 $22 From a crazy vintage involving (amongst other things) a cyclone which almost wiped Brookfields out, this pinot gris has emerged triumphantly fresh and clean and crammed with Brookfields signature notes of nashi juice, poached quince and soft baking spices on the nose and palate. Textural and dry … Read More