Increasing numbers of wineries around New Zealand are becoming Certified Sustainable operations. Essentially, complying with certification means they’ve adopted holistic programmes to manage their vineyard and winery practices in order to protect the environment while efficiently and economically producing the best wines they possibly can. But there’s always one kid that likes to build the … Read More
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Wine column for week beginning Sat 22 Oct, 2016
The passing of Labour weekend is always a happy turning point of the year for me. It’s the start of beach season and by ‘beach’ I mean the husband starts looking for every opportunity to get the boat out. He’ll hunt around for lucky cray pot spots, drop a line or three in the hope … Read More
Neudorf Nelson Pinot Rose 2016 $25 (4 stars)
Isn’t it just the prettiest trout pink colour in the glass? The pinot noir for this dry and seriously spry rosé is grown on Moutere Clay soils (which produce wines with real spark and spice). Once a little squeak of colour from the skins is bled through the juice, 10% is fermented with indigenous yeasts … Read More
Wine column for week beginning Sat 29 Oct, 2016
Uses for leftover wine… It’s been bought to my attention that some people have been cursed with an affliction known as ‘leftover wine’ – and they don’t know what to do with it. This is something which to be honest, I’m not an authority on as it never happens in my house. But as wine … Read More
Pask Small Batch Sur Lie Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2013 $25 (4 stars)
Just 250 cases were made of this juicy, light, unoaked style of chardonnay designed to highlight and enhance the natural, clean, tropical and stonefruit flavours present in those gorgeous grapes. Extended time on its yeast lees has added a subtle layer of creaminess to the bold,grapefruity backbone of this wine. Creamy with Crayfish mornay… www.pask.co.nz
Black Estate Circuit Waipara Pinot Gris 2016 $24 (4 stars)
Tangy quince and japonica jelly notes on the nose lead to a fat, juicy, sassy apple and pear smashup in the mouth. It’s bursting with freshness, attitude and natural sweetness that’s balanced by racy, gum-numbing acidity. Thinking of demolishing some deliciously aged crumbly cheddar? This will be awesome. www.blackestate.co.nz
Wine column for week beginning Sat 1 April, 2017
Smoky Sauvignon from the South A package arrived on Thursday morning from Greystone wines (always exciting) and inside it housed three bottles of the same wine. On closer inspection they all represented different vintages of one of winemaker Dom Maxwell’s favourite styles – their Barrell Fermented Sauvignon Blanc. “We’ve been fermenting our sauvignon wild since … Read More
Wine column week beginning Sat 26 Nov, 2016
The Kaikoura earthquake on Monday, 14th of November had me thinking that there’d be smashed and toppled tanks all over Marlborough and North Canterbury, and with word coming from Foley Family wines that serious damage had been done to their storage tanks at their Grove Mill winery, things weren’t looking flash. Photos of enormous stacks … Read More
Prunotto Fiulot Barbera D’Asti 2014 $23.99 (4 stars)
Made by Marchesi Antinori, this smooth, soft, pillowy red from Italy’s Piedmonte region is one of those easy reds that may even convert the most hardened ‘I only drink whites’ wine lover. Grown in calcerous marl soils of the Costamiole vineyard in the town of Agliano, the Barbera grapes ripen to create sweet, savoury berry … Read More
Wine column for week beginning Sat 31 December, 2016
If I had a dollar for every time someone said to me, when quizzed on their thoughts about a wine, “I dunno, I’m useless at wine tasting, it’s kind of just winey”, then I’d probably have enough for a night on the town. Now I’m the first to admit that I tend to go overboard … Read More