Gladstone Vineyard Wairarapa Sauvignon Blanc 2020 ($22) Paired with: Clams with sherry, garlic and parsley in dish Magazine Issue 99 There’s nothing like a softly-textured, peach and passionfruit-scented sauvignon blanc to serve with this classic Spanish clam concoction, and the Gladstone Vineyard Wairarapa Sauvignon Blanc 2020 ($22) is superb. Lime-laced, lemongrassy and lithe on the … Read More
Uncategorized
Butterworth Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018
Butterworth Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018 $55 Harvested on the 28th March 2018 and bottled on the 22nd December 2020, this is a classic, spice-saturated pinot noir with those Martinborough signatures such as dried herbs, dark cocoa characters, cedar, roast beetroot and scorched cherries. It’s still very youthful and is settling into itself. The acidity is … Read More
Valli Waitaki Riesling 2020
Valli Waitaki Riesling 2020 ($30) I am all up in the lime-laden, crunchy-fresh, appletastic awesomeness that is the Valli Wine Waitaki Riesling 2020 ($30). Made by Grant Taylor from grapes grown in on the North Otago/South Canterbury border in Richie McCaw country- it’s got marathon length of flavour and personality in spades. It’s a tonsil-ticklingly, … Read More
Whitehaven Marlborough Pinot Gris 2020
Whitehaven Marlborough Pinot Gris 2020 ($23) Paired with: Pork caper and pinenut empanadas in dish Magazine Issue 99 Balance out the piquancy (love that word!) of the capers, paprika and currants with a goblet of gorgeous nashi and quince-tastic Whitehaven Marlborough Pinot Gris 2020 ($23). It’s ultra-concentrated, apple-infused and all sorts of crunchy-fresh where textures … Read More
Rock Ferry Late Harvest Marlborough Riesling 2018
Rock Ferry Late Harvest Marlborough Riesling 2018 ($33) Paired with Torta Santiago in dish Magazine Issue 99 Wash down this awesome almond and citrus cake with certified organic sweet sippage from the Rock Ferry Late Harvest Marlborough Riesling 2018 ($33). Its candied lemon, honeysuckle and toasted toffee tones are balanced by zesty acidity and gum … Read More
Rock Ferry Central Otago Brut Rosé 2016
Rock Ferry Central Otago Brut Rosé 2016 ($55) Crafted by Allan McWilliams, this certified organic bottle of rose gold gorgeousness packs a punch on the palate right from the get-go. With subtle aromas of berry bagel dough, crushed almonds and lemon pith and a lick of Shrewsbury Biscuit and with flavours leaning toward the deliciously … Read More
Black Estate Home North Canterbury Chardonnay 2020
Black Estate Home North Canterbury Chardonnay 2020 $55 Bright, glossy and golden in the glass, this chardonnay is scented with gunflint, apple, green nectarine and caramelised oak, with a vein of citrus and toast roaring through onto the palate. It’s youthful, frisky and zesty on the palate with a core of spiced peach and buckets … Read More
Tastes Like Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020
Known Unknown Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020 $25 Prepare for a hit of meaty, savoury, classic violet and peppercorn characters on the nose of this new syrah and enjoy how it’s followed by smooth, earthy, dark cocoa flavours and layers of nicely chewy tannins. All that good stuff is boosted with solid acidity as well. It’s … Read More
Monowai Upper Reaches Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir 2020
Monowai Upper Reaches Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir 2020 $35 The ‘upper reaches’ refers to Emma Lowe and husband Marcelo Nunez’ vineyard, which sits high up on the ancient terraces carved out by the mighty Ngaruroro River in the sub-region of Crownthorpe at the foot of the Kaweka Range. Vanilla-dipped cherry and choco-berry aromas lead to … Read More
Bushmere Estate Gisborne Montepulciano 2020
Bushmere Estate Gisborne Montepulciano 2020 $25 Intensely inky, in fact it’s impenetrably purple in the glass and showing a massive lift of bay leaf, blackberry leaf and herbaceous notes, this new vintage has high acidity and tannins with decent chew and grip around the gums. It’s an east coast version of an Italian favourite and … Read More