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
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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
Nevis Bluff Merrils Block Central Otago Pinot Blanc 2015 $35
Nevis Bluff Merrils Block Central Otago Pinot Blanc 2015 $35 4stars I bet if I’d popped round to your place before now, there is no way you’d have any pinot blanc stashed away. It’s one of those rarely grown grapes that I harbour a lot of love for, so when I come across one, especially … Read More
NZME Regional Newspapers Column Saturday March 18 2017
Despite the semi-glamourous image that the wine industry has around its edges, winemakers are essentially farmers. They can only harvest their crop once a year, during a tiny window of optimum fruit ripeness (between March and May) in order to extract the best possible quality juice with which to make the best quality wine they … Read More
Bisquertt Riserva Petirrojo Carménère
Bisquertt Riserva Petirrojo Carménère 2014 $18 Chilean’s had no idea why much of their merlot tasted so different to the rest until a canny Ampelographer (google it) came along and said “that’s because it’s carménère”. Previously one of the 6 varieties permitted in red Bordeaux, this Colchagua-grown example oozes black berryfruit, tobacco-box oak, dried herb … Read More
Eradus Marlborough Pinot Noir
Eradus Marlborough Pinot Noir $18 Bold, fruity aromas of black guava, black tea and layers of black forrest all burst from the glass in this tasty new favourite of mine. Lush, gently juicy, red fruits like raspberry, cherry and pomegranate tumble forth into a soft, yet zesty young pinot which boasts a gamey, savoury finish. … Read More