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
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Coxhead Creek Inlet Red Matakana Cabernet Franc 2013
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
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
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
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
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
Urbn Vino Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 500ml
Urbn Vino Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 500ml $28 Classic Central Otago characters of black tea, cherry, redcurrant and cranberry burst forth from fruit trucked directly into the Dunedin CBD and made into wine in New Zealand’s first urban winery. Brendan Seal is the winemaker responsible for the Urbn Vino venture and he’s secured sensational … Read More
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2016
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2016 $24 Re-tasted on June 3rd 2020, this vintage (if you still have it in your cellar or spot one in a shop) is drinking rather superbly. Lashings of plum, chocolate, cherry and berry characters lead to soft, suede-like textures, warm, velvety notes and a long, smooth finish. … Read More
Cappella Sant Andrea Clara Stella San Gimignano Vernaccia 2018
Cappella Sant Andrea Clara Stella San Gimignano Vernaccia 2018 $39.99 From the San Gimignano appellation in Tuscany comes this lean, lovely, lemony white wine made from 100% organically grown vernaccia grapes, that opens up in the glass and with every swirl and sip gives you something different to enjoy. Dry yet generously proportioned and shows … Read More
Moana Park Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 (2nd batch)
Moana Park Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 (2nd batch) $14.99 (http://www.winecentral.co.nz) – $25 One thing Dan Barker knows how to do is make darn nice chardonnay. This is a second batch of later-bottled chardonnay created from 100% Clone 95 fruit from 13 year old vines. It has a different flavour spectrum to the previous 2018 Moana … Read More