Nineteen Sixty Six Nelson Chardonnay 2019

June 9, 2020By Yvonne

Nineteen Sixty Six Nelson Chardonnay 2019 $19.80 Hold the phone, pause the Netflix, and get out the good goblets because how good is this wine! Named after the birth year of Rusty & Lisa, (the awesome twosome responsible for crafting this wine), it’s a chardonnay that’ll have your knees a’wobblin and your lips a’puckering with … Read More

Moutere Hills Nelson Rumer 2016

June 9, 2020By Yvonne

Moutere Hills Nelson Rumer 2016 $55 Here’s a sensational, smoked-berries-and-leather layered lovely from one of our favourite Nelson-based producers. Unusual in that it’s predominantly merlot, winemaker Rusty Rayne (cool name) has also blended syrah and cabernet sauvignon alongside it, to give inject extra, peppery gravitas.  Named after Rusty’s much-loved vineyard Kelpie dog, this rockin’ red … Read More

Brass Knocker Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019

June 9, 2020By Yvonne

Brass Knocker Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 $21.90 Scarlet-bright in the glass and showing soft spices, black tea, blueberry and cherry on the nose and palate.  The acidity is firm and fresh (as you’d expect from its youth), however it’s got good ‘pinosity’ or pinot-presence in the mouth.  It’s a very attractive, glossy wine in … Read More

The Darling Arnst Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2017

June 8, 2020By Yvonne

The Darling Arnst Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2017 $27.20 Famous for what it doesn’t contain, this organic, unfined, unfiltered, vegan-friendly gewürztraminer is snappy and dry and heaving with ginger, citrus and spice.  It’s on the edge, it’s running through the night, it’s got a haircut that’d earn a detention at school and chances are, it’s not the … Read More

Bostock Vicki’s Vineyard Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2017

June 8, 2020By Yvonne

Bostock Vicki’s Vineyard Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2017 $70 Grown at Ngatarawa in Hawke’s Bay’s Bridge Pa Triangle district, this organically produced merlot is incredibly elegant and stylish and shows classic cocoa, plum, espresso, dark berries and plump, velvety textures.  Named after the lovely Vicki Bostock, organic agriculture champion and late wife of Johnny Bostock, this … Read More

Coxhead Creek Inlet Red Matakana Cabernet Franc 2013

June 8, 2020By Yvonne

Coxhead Creek Inlet Red Matakana Cabernet Franc 2013 $18 That waft of vanilla smoke on the nose indicates that winemaker Warren Knudsen has made excellent use of a combination of French and American oak.  That oak wraps around the bay leaf, blackcurrant, and leather layers in this strapping wine from our northern climes.  Solid tannins … Read More

Jules Taylor OTQ Marlborough Pinot Noir Rosé 2019

June 8, 2020By Yvonne

Jules Taylor OTQ Marlborough Pinot Noir Rosé 2019 $39 Can you even believe the gorgeousness of this bottle? It shouldn’t matter, but lordy! It looks like money on the table, right? Happily the wine inside is just as crisp, crunchy, yet also opulent and exotic. I love the highwire elegance of the aromatics and the … Read More

La Vigne Di Zamò Friuli Colli Orientali Ribolla Gialla 2018

June 5, 2020By Yvonne

La Vigne Di Zamò Friuli Colli Orientali Ribolla Gialla 2018 $40 The Friuli Colli Orientali appellation is an area in the Northeast of Italy located in the municipality of Manzano which is in the province of Udine (get out your maps kids) and it’s famous for producing crisp, apple and lemon-laden white wines using Ribolla … Read More

Cusumano Alta Mora Etna Bianco DOC 2018

June 5, 2020By Yvonne

Cusumano Alta Mora Etna Bianco DOC 2018 $40 Crafted from a secretive native Sicilian grape called Carricante planted at 1200m above sea level, (the Mt. Etna DOC has the highest altitude vineyards in Europe), this new vintage hits with almond, lemon, fennel and tarragon notes on the nose while the palate reveals crunchy, green apple … Read More

Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018

June 4, 2020By Yvonne

Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 $24.95 Green peppercorn, violet and blueberry aromatics stand shoulder to shoulder with bright plum and cherry flavours  and then they hold hands and do the Gay Gordons (remember primary school folk-dancing?) with smooth, fine-grained oak and skin tannins accentuated by beautifully balanced acidity.  Nicely made. http://www.millsreef.co.nz