Looking for the ultimate sweet red wine? Deep in the heart of Jumilla in Spain grows a patch of ancient, ungrafted, monastrell vines owned by Bodegas Olivares. The bunches are left on the vine long into the autumn to naturally begin to raisin. This concentrates the blackcurrant intensity and spicy, caramelized characters, resulting in a … Read More
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Kaimira Estate Brightwater Nelson Gewurztraminer 2016 $25
Certified organic, this wine is one huge high-five as to why Nelson is considered New Zealand’s spiritual home of the aromatic white wines. ‘Kaimira’ is named after an old flour mill built near the site of the original winery, but today it’s all about the grapes. Perfumed with nectarine and jasmine and sultry, dusky, musky … Read More
Yvonne Lorkin Canvas Column Saturday August 12 2017
So you’re 40-something, female and finding whiskers in weird places on your face? Fret not. Sip these and forget the horror. Vidal Legacy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $59.99 Oh lordy, what a wine! With its alluring aromas of grilled grapefruit, roast peach, toasted almonds and a hint of smoke, I struggled to peel the glass … Read More
Silver Wing Waipara Pinot Noir 2013 $36 (4.5 stars)
Crafted with wild yeasts and as little preservative as possible, this pinot has an earthy, smoky note from being aged in French oak barrels for 19 months, 15% of which were brand new. Chock full of cocoa, red cherry and rhubarb, it’s got real pluck and power behind it, making it a seriously tasty product … Read More
Linden Estate Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2015 $48
In 2010 Trevor Shepherd talked his way into a job at Linden, where for four years he toiled (unpaid mostly) to restore the vines and get the decrepit, but legendary winery back up to scratch. It’s clearly worked. There’s a bold, buxom, plum and cocoa character to this wine, complete with grippy tannins, smoky warmth … Read More
Babich has just won the inaugural organic masters!
Organic Masters 2017: results and analysis
Tony Bish Skeetfield Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $56
Prepare for heaping wads of hazelnut, citrus pith, white peach and nutmeg on the nose followed by gorgeous, grapefruit, smoked pineapple and waves of juiciness which flow constantly across the palate. Crafted from old vine, dry farmed, Mendoza-clone chardonnay from a vineyard named after Brick Gunn, champion NZ Skeet Shooter, this wine is beautifully balanced … Read More
Wine column week commencing 15th April, 2017
One of the bazillions of things that I love about wine, is that when I’m doing my tastings sure as eggs something’s going to surprise me. Something will step up, stand out and shake the old foundations of what I think is stylistically ‘normal’. I love that I’m seeing WAY more sauvignon blanc that’s been … Read More
Nikau Point Reserve Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014 $15
The fact that this is just $15 a bottle, absolutely blows my mind. Cherry, black tea and attractive spices, alongside red fruits, raspberry and soft plummy characters make this an incredibly drinkable, excitingly affordable pinot noir. A recent makeover of the label has given this extra table-appeal. It looks like money. It tastes like money. … Read More
Wine and food matching 2016
Wine and food matching. The fact that it’s even a thing is the relatively recent result of American neo-prohibitionists in1970’s demanding that if alcoholic beverages were to be served anywhere, then suitable food needed to be provided. So canny restaurateurs clicked rather quickly that if you’re going to do it, do it well and put … Read More