Blackenbrook Nelson Pinot Gris 2022

28 December 2022By Yvonne

Blackenbrook Nelson Pinot Gris 2022 $23 Forget about the common description of ‘pear’ for pinot gris, because this wine is the whole darn orchard! Nashi, Golden Delicious apples, quince, yellow pears and hints of peach all feature in this new release grown in the mineral-rich Moutere Clays of Nelson. Dry, deliciously textural and nicely balanced, … Read More

Te Kano Central Otago Rosé 2021

28 December 2022By Yvonne

Te Kano Central Otago Rosé 2021 $30 This is a lipsmacker of a rosé if ever there was. Coral-coloured and crafted from pinot noir grapes grown in the schist-rock soils of their Northburn vineyard,  it’s perfumed with red apple, raspberry and pink peppercorn and shows zesty redcurrant, pomegranate and spicy-dry characters on the palate. Deeply … Read More

Elephant Hill Hawke’s Bay Hieronymus 2019

24 December 2022By Yvonne

Elephant Hill Hawke’s Bay Hieronymus 2019 $125 A blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, (clone 10), 29% cabernet franc (clone 326) and 11% merlot (clone 181) sourced from predominantly their ‘Stone’ Gimblett Gravels vineyard, this wine is the epitome of what the Elephant Hill team can achieve from an excellent vintage. Inky-dark and glossy, this wine … Read More

Elephant Hill Airavata Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019

23 December 2022By Yvonne

Elephant Hill Airavata Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 $125 From what’s fast becoming known as the holy trinity of Hawke’s Bay vintages (19.20,21) Airavata is the absolute pinnacle of what the Elephant Hill winemaking team can achieve with syrah. And I’ll tell you right now, it’s so gorgeously, garnet-hued, glossy and inky-dark, it wins stars on … Read More

Brown Brothers Origins Series Victoria Prosecco NV

21 December 2022By Yvonne

Brown Brothers Origins Series Victoria Prosecco NV $19.99 Brown Brothers rarely disappoint when it comes to crafting great value wines packed with personality and this new prosecco is no exception. Ultra-clean, bright, apple and white peach notes on the nose and palate merge with a hint of honeysuckle and persimmon to create a gently juicy, … Read More

NEW WINE FESTIVAL LAUNCHES IN HAWKE’S BAY APRIL 1 2023

20 December 2022By Yvonne

PRESS RELEASE – NEW WINE FESTIVAL LAUNCHES IN HAWKE’S BAY – TICKETS ON SALE NOW Tickets are on sale for New Zealand’s newest food and wine festival – Harvest Hawke’s Bay. The inaugural event will take place on April 1, 2023, in a spectacular riverside location, nestled beneath Te Mata Peak in the Tukituki Valley. … Read More

Swift Wines Whole Bunch Bridge Pa Triangle Syrah 2019 – retaste

20 December 2022By Yvonne

Swift Wines Whole Bunch Bridge Pa Triangle Syrah 2019 $40 – re-taste 30 Oct 2022 I first tasted this wine back in October 2021 (see notes below) 2019 will always be known as belonging in the Holy Trinity of vintages (2019, 2020, 2021) and three years on, this syrah is really starting to knit together … Read More

Swift Wines Maraekakaho Whole Bunch Gamay Noir 2022

19 December 2022By Yvonne

Swift Wines Maraekakaho Whole Bunch Gamay Noir 2022 $36 The Lucknow Vineyard out west of Hastings in the Maraekakaho sub-region, has some of the oldest gamay noir vines in the country, and Lauren Swift’s taken advantage of those heritage vines for her shiny new vintage. Once harvested the bunches and any loose berries were sealed … Read More

Swift Wines Bridge Pa Triangle Rosé 2022

19 December 2022By Yvonne

Swift Wines Bridge Pa Triangle Rosé 2022 $29 With probably the prettiest rosé label I’ve seen in a very long time, this wine is definitely a feast for the eyes. Winemaker Lauren Swift has a lifelong love affair with syrah, so there was no question it’d be the grape used for her new rosé. This … Read More

Swift Wines Maraekakaho Gamay Blanc de Noir 2022

19 December 2022By Yvonne

Swift Wines Maraekakaho Gamay Blanc de Noir 2022 $36 Sourced from one of the oldest gamay vineyards in the country, Lucknow Vineyard in Maraekakaho, the fruit was lightly pressed immediately after harvest to glean the freshest juice, but the least amount of colour from the skins. Fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel and left … Read More