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
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Brookfields Ohiti Estate Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Brookfields Ohiti Estate Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 $20 If I were going to choose the most exciting cabernet sauvignon wines from New Zealand that swing in for $20, then the Ohiti Estate from Brookfield’s would be right up there. Bold, plummy, bursting with earthy, roasting pan meatiness and showing a plumpness on the finish … Read More
Squawking Magpie Stoned Crow Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2014
Squawking Magpie Stoned Crow Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2014 $49.95 Well dip me in pepper and call me spicy! This Gimblett Gravels pioneer just blasts past the competition when it comes to solid syrah. How? For starters the peppercorn, violets, blueberries, cherry and tobacco notes, earthy shadows and layers of leather mean it delivers on the … Read More
Elephant Hill Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2017
Elephant Hill Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2017 $54 If anyone knows how to make exceptional syrah, it’s Steve Skinner. He’s been shepherding Elephant Hill’s fruit from their Bridge Pa, Gimblett Gravels and home vineyard at Te Awanga into the bottle for many many years and his skill is on show here. Blueberry, black pepper, dried … Read More
Maison Noire Home Block Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2019
Maison Noire Home Block Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2019 $28 If you’re looking for a fresh, creamy, apple-packed wine that delivers a cleansing slap around the chops then this Hawke’s Bay grown chenin is just the ticket. Ultra-juicy and stitched together with a solid, mineral thread and finishing with a squeak of peardrop and almond. … Read More
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot Malbec 2018
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot Malbec 2018 $24.95 Shiny and new from the Mills Reef crew (love me a wine rhyme) is this cracking blend of 61% merlot and 39% malbec from Hawke’s Bay’s superstar Gimblett Gravels sub-region. Cold-soaked for 5 days after being gently crushed has maximised extraction of colour and texture from … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 $23 This is one of my absolute favourite new release chardonnays from Hawke’s Bay. Grown in the limestone-rich soils behind Te Mata peak, on the Waimarama Road, it’s a succulent, citrus-soaked style that shows skilled use of oak and great attention to detail. Grapefruit, pineapple and peachy punchiness on … Read More
Podere dell’Anselmo Terre di Bracciatica 2018
Podere dell’Anselmo Terre di Bracciatica 2018 $39.99 Well, well, well, if it isn’t my old friend malvasia bianca. Previous vintages of this wine have been blended with trebbiano, but this is 100% MB, baby. Huge lemony notes mean it’s rather chardonnay-like up front, yet there’s a vanilla and briôche note bursting through onto the mid-palate … Read More
Eaton Thistle Hill Single Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Eaton Thistle Hill Single Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $48 The Hickman family have been growing grapes on their farm ‘Taimate’ since 2006, and their sauvignon has been singled out by winemaker Mike Eaton as being ‘so good, it deserves ‘single vineyard’ status.’ Delicately hand-harvested, the whole bunches are gently squashed in a traditional basket-press … Read More
La Vedetta Swanti Barbaresco 2018
La Vedetta Swanti Barbaresco 2018 $35.90 A savoury, juicy, slightly peppery blend of 85% nebbiolo and 15% freisa (a lesser-known red grape) from Barbaresco in the Langhe region, that will definitely appeal to those who like an earthy yet tart style of red. Aged in stainless steel, the fruit notes (cherry, raspberry, cranberry) are firm … Read More