Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2015 $25 Cabernet Franc is just the sexiest wee red grape, and yet it’s very rarely made into wine on its own. Crafted by Guillaume Thomas from his tiny vineyard on the Waimarama Road, this new 2015 vintage is ultra-floral and rock-solid with spices and racy, raspberry/cranberry characters. The … Read More
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Jules Taylor Marlborough Pinot Gris 2018
Jules Taylor Marlborough Pinot Gris 2018 $21.99 Hoping to find a pinot gris with freshness, zing and dryish deliciousness out there? Then hop back into your comfortable cubby hole, because this wine will hit that balance for you no problemo. Dry yet generously proportioned with nashi pear, green apple, a whiff of white pepper and … Read More
Rapaura Springs Bull Paddock Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Rapaura Springs Bull Paddock Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $22.99 Peach, peach and more peach right here folks! Easy and lemongrassy, luscious and easy to imbibe, it’s got that classic armpitty notes (in the nicest possible way) Dillon’s Point is a micro-region that really punches the tropical fruit into the stratosphere. Soft, generous, juicy, lemonade … Read More
Paddy Borthwick Falloon Block Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2014
Paddy Borthwick Falloon Block Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2014 $22 The Borthwick’s are Wairarapa pioneers in farming and grapegrowing and that they’re able to produce such fresh and fabulous pinot noir at this price is testament to their vast experience on the land. Classic black tea, seasoned leather, black guava and spicy cherry flavours merge with … Read More
Matahiwi Estate ME Wairarapa Rosé 2019
Matahiwi Estate ME Wairarapa Rosé 2019 $19.99 Ultra-pretty in the glass, like bright, sparkly watermelon and raspberry-coloured, and while you’re sidetracked looking at it, the perfume of wild redcurrant and strawberry will sneak up and seduce you. SO mouthfilling and satisfying – it’s a fruit fest of plum, guava, buckets of berries, juicy spices and … Read More
Ellero Pisa Terrace Central Otago Riesling 2015
Ellero Pisa Terrace Central Otago Riesling 2015 $25 Gleaned from the last letters of Californian’s-cum-Central Otagians, Roberta Manell Montero and John Montero, Ellero is a 16ha operation in the Pisa Terrace sub-region, an area famed for injecting intense minerality and character into every grape grown there. This riesling has soaked up all that and more. … Read More
Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019
Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019 $21.99 A squeak of skin contact has given this gris a super-sexy rose-gold blush in the glass and aroma-wise it ticks all the boxes in terms of quince, baked pear, peachy notes and all sorts of fresh spices that also osmose across the palate. The acidity … Read More
Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $17.99 I was tasting this wine whilst looking at a recipe for Spinach, Pea & Parmesan Risotto and sauvignon blanc immediately springs to mind the second I see spinach and peas in any recipe. But you don’t want just any old sauvignon, oh no. You need … Read More
Matahiwi Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018
Matahiwi Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 $18-$22 If I was giving out ribbons and bells for the most consistent, value-for-money-under-the-radar-chardonnay over the last 4 years the Matahiwi would be a veritable morris dancer of a sip. Shiny and new, with tropical fruit up the wazoo, expect an extra lash of peach, rockmelon, guava, grapefruit, toast … Read More
Tohu Whenua Awa Marlborough Pinot Blanc 2018
Tohu Whenua Awa Marlborough Pinot Blanc 2018 $29.99 Definitely an alternative for anyone who loves chardonnay, this pinot blanc (a clonal offshoot of pinot gris) shows beautiful white pepper, roast stonefruit, zesty acidity, toasty layers, crispness and great mid-palate richness. Textural complexity and it has that kind of mysterious, alluring, sexiness that keeps you sipping … Read More