Paynter’s The Pict Pear Cider

21 November 2020By Yvonne

Paynter’s The Pict Pear Cider 330ml $88.90 (24 x 330ml btls) New from multi-award-winning cider producers, this pear-predominant sip has a decent splash of cider apples in the mix as well. So you get all pungent pear intensity on the nose and palate yet the ripe apple injection creates a tropical burst of flavour that’s … Read More

Bostock Wines Vicki’s Vineyard Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017

21 November 2020By Yvonne

Bostock Wines Vicki’s Vineyard Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017 $50 I deliberately left this wine for a year from release to taste it because from what I’d read about how it was made, I figured a little time would really elevate things immensely. Sometimes I do actually have ideas that work out for the best because … Read More

Paritua Stone Paddock Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2020

20 November 2020By Yvonne

Paritua Stone Paddock Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2020 $19.95 From the talented hands of Hawke’s Bay’s Merlot King himself, comes Jason Stent’s new rosé for Paritua’s Stone Paddock range. Crafted from merlot grown in the deep, iron-rich, red gravels of the Bridge Pa Triangle district, this rosé has a full, fleshy, peppery tone to it, while … Read More

Lawson’s Dry Hills Marlborough Ranu 2020

17 November 2020By Yvonne

Lawson’s Dry Hills Marlborough RANU 2020 $28 This is only the second RANU produced by Marcus Wright and his winemaking team at Lawson’s, and I for one am very happy to see it. Very happy because I am an unashamed fan of the blended white, and this one happens to be a full, rich, rock … Read More

Masottina Prosecco DOC Treviso Vino Spumante Brut NV

16 November 2020By Yvonne

Masottina Prosecco DOC Treviso Vino Spumante Brut NV $19.99 No joke, when this multi-award-winning wine is first poured, the tiny links of delicate bubbles are wriggling and twisting so energetically, they look like they’re doing a Zumba class inside the glass. With its soft, summer-flowers and lemon blossom aromatics, pillowy texture and generous, suede-like citrus … Read More

Te Awanga Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019

14 November 2020By Yvonne

Te Awanga Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 $24.99 Crafted by Rod McDonald, this coastally-grown chardonnay has unique aromas of seabreezes and custard squares and peach conserve spread on buttered toast with charred edges. It’s creamy, stonefruit saturated and licked with a whisker of white pepper which adds complexity and yumness (should totally be a word) … Read More

Junction Pastime Central Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019

12 November 2020By Yvonne

Junction Pastime Central Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019 $22 One sip and it’s blindingly obvious as to how this wine romped into a trophy spot at the Hawke’s Bay Wine Awards.  With its aromas of crisp apple and nashi and cleansing, dry, white pepper, musky ginger and five-spice characters. Nicely balanced, it’s an apple-edged, aromatic … Read More

Middle Earth Nelson Pinot Gris 2020

11 November 2020By Yvonne

Middle Earth Nelson Pinot Gris 2020 $22  My number-one match for pumpkin soup has always been good pinot gris, and that’s not about to change now that I’ve tasted Middle Earth’s new delish offering. There’s something about the rich, spiced nashi notes and juicy, cleansing, luscious mouthfeel in this wine that makes it perfect with … Read More

Sam Harrop Grand Amateur Merchant Hawkes Bay Cabernet Franc 2018

11 November 2020By Yvonne

Sam Harrop Grand Amateur Merchant Hawkes Bay Cabernet Franc 2018 $39.99 Strap yourself in and steady yourself to collide with blackcurrant aromatics of locomotive proportions. This cabernet franc by local Master of Wine Sam Harrop, injects that hyper-fruity intensity onto the palate as well and shows exactly why this grape is so often used to … Read More