Black Estate North Canterbury Treble Rosé 2020 $32 It’s called the ‘Treble’ because to craft this wine, the team at Black Estate have blended five varieties of grapes (pinot noir, riesling, chenin blanc, cabernet franc and chardonnay) harvested from their three, certified organic vineyards together. Wild fermented with cultures kick-started in the vineyard itself, this … Read More
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Kalleske Parallax Barossa Valley Grenache 2018
Kalleske Parallax Barossa Valley Grenache 2018 $39 approx I’m told that Kalleske (who are certified organic and biodynamic) pick the fruit for the Parallax around 2 to 3 weeks earlier than they normally would for fruit for their other wines. They then ferment the juice on its stalks and give it a brief maturation in … Read More
Chard Farrm Mata-Au Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018
Chard Farm Mata-Au Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 $47 Whenever the Chard Farm family release a ‘Mata-Au’ (pronounced martar-oh) I do a little dance because it’s a floral, flavour-packed, rhubarb-infused sip with buckets of spice, exotic textures and yet has a silky, subtle mouthfeel. Crafted from fruit grown in Chard Farm’s vineyards in Parkburn and … Read More
MKIV Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018
MKIV Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $23 (tbc) This export-only sauvignon is the little brother to the much bolder and much brasher MKIII. It’s like a lovely second child, a more quirky, worldlier, row-my-own-boat little brother. Worldlier in that it decided to ditch New Zealand and sail to the UK where it’s used its charming fennel, … Read More
144 Islands Northland Chardonnay 2018
144 Islands Northland Chardonnay 2018 $28 Northland has a knack for turning out chardonnay with richness and tantalising creamy textures, and under the watchful eye of Jake Dromgool, one of New Zealand’s star young viticulturists (he’s been on TV and everything!), it takes on extra personality. The roast peach and mango are edged with grapefruity … Read More
Drummond Farm Back Block Martinborough Pinot Noir 2017
Drummond Farm Back Block Martinborough Pinot Noir 2017 $29 Bricky-red in the glass, this 3yo pinot noir is cantering along nicely. Showing layers of savoury spices, freshly-turned earth, smoked rhubarb, wild strawberries, redcurrant and there’s even a slight creamy complexity underlying the spices. Unfined, unfiltered and crafted with minimal sulphur additions, it’s a rumpty, robust … Read More
Drummond Farm Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018
Drummond Farm Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018 $31 Just a baby, this pinot noir crafted by Alex Muir, is dedicated to his Dad “for all the words of wisdom and reassuring arm over the shoulder moments”. He’s two rows of each clone planted and co-fermented them together to create a signature style from their land. Plump … Read More
Drummond Farm Back Block Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018
Drummond Farm Back Block Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018 $29 Alex Muir has crafted an unfined, unfiltered pinot noir with only the bare minimum of sulphur added from his Back Block vineyard and it’ll definitely appeal to those who like their pinot light and spicy. Its a softly-styled example with a slightly funky vein running through … Read More
Drummond Farm Martinborough Pinot Noir 2017
Drummond Farm Martinborough Pinot Noir 2017 $31 I really love how on the label of this bottle it says very succinctly “harvested in 2017, matured in barrel until 2018 and finally bottled in July 2018”. It gives you a quick scan of how their winemaking season runs for pinot noir. Unfined and unfiltered, with only … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2020
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2020$20 This Provençale-style rosé from French winemaker Guillaume Thomas is lipsmackingly dry, layered with soft redcurrant and cherry characters and stiched together with attractive spices. Ultra-fresh acidity and a super-succulent texture make for a sunny day in your mouth no matter what the weather. Cleansing, feisty and full of personality. … Read More