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
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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
Petane Mangatahi Valley Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2023
Petane Mangatahi Valley Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2023 $42 Organically and biodynamically grown out on Linda and Ian Quinn’s Two Terraces vineyard in Mangatahi, where the boulders that push their way up through the earth between the vines are called the “Mangatahi Swedes”, this chenin blanc is hand-picked and 100% barrel fermented and rolls down … Read More
Kumeu River Rays Road Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir 2020
Kumeu River Rays Road Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir 2020 $40 High acidity and some red apple and earthy characters, but lacks dimension and generosity. The fruit appears to have dropped away and it lacks charm. Not a wine I’d pay $40 for sadly. Kumeu River
Obliix Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2022
Obliix Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2022 $24 Grown in the Gimblett Gravels and crafted by the superstatus talent of Michelle Richardson, this deeply earthy, tobacco and toast-edged blend of 69% cabernet sauvignon, 26% merlot and5% malbec is superbly smooth, soothing, sewn together with bay, cocoa and plum plumpness. Warming, deliciously balanced, licked with dried … Read More
Tony Bish Fat & Sassy Chardonnay 2023
Tony Bish Fat & Sassy Chardonnay 2023 $23 When Cyclone Gabrielle destroyed much of the vineyards Tony normally uses to create the Fat & Sassy, right before harvest kicked in, he wasted no time calling on friends from Marlborough to purchase some superb southern fruit, making this a blend of 25% Hawke’s Bay and 75% … Read More