Q Waitaki Valley Pinot Noir 2021 Sipping this wine gave me a flashback to a dream I had recently, in which I remember swirling, sniffing, and sipping a pinot, then saying, ‘This is delicious. I’ll take a bottle!’ to which someone replied, ‘Ms Lorkin, this is a church. Let go of the cup and sit … Read More
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Q Waitaki Valley Barrel Reserve Pinot Gris 2023
Q Waitaki Barrel Reserve Valley Pinot Gris 2023 $34 What a gris this turned out to be, with its apricot and quince paste perfume that merges with notes of Golden Delicious apple and scorched nashi to create rich, lengthy lusciousness on the palate. It’s energetic, exciting, a little raunchy, and a lot like a Guy … Read More
Q Waitaki Valley Chardonnay 2021
Q Waitaki Valley Chardonnay 2021 $42 Never heard of Q? It’s a tiny producer growing grapes in Waitaki’s deep limestone soils, only making wine when the fruit is perfect. The Waitaki wine region sits right on the southern edge of Canterbury and the northern lip of Otago, and it’s one of the most inhospitable climates … Read More
Q Waitaki Chardonnay 2023
Q Waitaki Chardonnay 2023 $42 Incredibly golden in the glass and glowing with tropical tantalistic intensity. I love its fresh apricot and pineapple punchiness, rich viscosity and generosity of flavour. A slip of toasty oak injects complexity and another delicious dimension. Beautifully balanced, this is an excellent wine! Q Wine
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Tempranillo 2022
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Tempranillo 2022 $39 The team at Trinity Hill have been growing Tempranillo in their Gimblett Gravels vineyard since forever ago, and if I had a dollar for how many times this wine has scooped gold medals and trophies in the ‘other reds’ category in local wine shows, I’d probably have enough … Read More
Taylors St Andrews Clare Valley Chardonnay 2021
Taylors St Andrews Clare Valley Chardonnay 2021 $49 Hands down and no holds barred, this is one of the loveliest versions of St Andrews chardonnay I’ve ever tasted. Energetic lemon, grapefruit and white peach punchiness merge with popcorn, toasted macadamia and a hint of gunflint on the palate. Beautifully balanced, mouthwateringly textural, softly smoky and … Read More
Alexia The Weaver Wairarapa White Blend 2024
Alexia The Weaver Wairarapa White Blend 2024 $28 So what’s in a white blend? Where the Weaver’s concerned, it’s a blend of co-fermented gewürztraminer, pinot gris, and riesling from winemaking legend Jane Cooper. Super-fragrant blossoms, apples, lemon verbena, white pepper, brisk nashi, lychee, and honeysuckle heave forth. I really like the freshness of this wine … Read More
Alexia Family Tree Wairarapa White Pinot Noir 2024
Alexia Family Tree Wairarapa White Pinot Noir 2024 $32 Pink diamond in the glass and roaring with energetic raspberry, quartzy minerality and licks of freshly cut apple, this shiny new white pinot noir from winemaker Jane Cooper at Alexia is all sorts of special. Cleansing yet highly textural and showing great generosity of flavour, hints … Read More
Alexia Gentle Girl Wairarapa Rosé 2024
Alexia Gentle Girl Wairarapa Rosé 2024 $28 If you’re a fan of cleansing red apple, raspberry, soft cherry and sarsparilla notes in your rosé then you’ve driven down the right cul de sac my friend. Winemaker Jane Cooper and partner Lesley Reidy have named this wine in honour of all the strong, creative, influential and … Read More
Petane Mangatahi Valley Gamay 2023
Petane Mangatahi Valley Gamay 2023 $36 Grown organically in Ian and Linda Quinn’s Two Terraces vineyard where the vines wind their roots around stones so big they’re called the “Mangatahi Swedes”, this hand-picked Gamay arrives on the market just in time for all the Spring flings being planned. Scented with dried herbs, beech bark, crushed … Read More