Butterworth Estate Martinborough Layline Pinot Noir 2017 $35 If Martinborough pinot noir had a LinkedIn profile, I’m certain we’d have a thousand mutual connections. There’s something about those ancient, river-gravel soils that inject seriously savoury characters into its pinot noir and it’s a joy to drink with lamb. With fruit supplied by a clutch of … Read More
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Zaria Hawke’s Bay Malbec Rosé 2021
Zaria Hawke’s Bay Malbec Rosé 2021 $20 With bright, energetic, red apple and raspberry layers, cherry and zesty citrus characters and a long, vibrant, citrus-stacked finish, it just bursts with redcurrant and spice. Fresh and crunchy and punchy in all the right places, I really like this wine. A lot. Zaria
Zaria Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019
Zaria Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Franc 2019 $25 If you’re looking for a softly-styled, berry, tobacco and toast-filled, fresh-as-a-daisy red wine, then you’ve come to the right place. Bright bay leaf and bouquet-garni herbs combine with cocoa, plum and a lick of blueberry to create a rather joyous thing to drink. Smooth velvety and exciting. … Read More
Neck of the Woods Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019
Neck of the Woods Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 $31.95 Neck of the Woods is the brainchild of AJ Johnson, who segwayed sideways into winegrowing during his successful television production career. Employing the formidable talents of Jen Parr as his winemaker, has meant that his wines are now in hot demand because they’re so damn … Read More
Zaria Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020
Zaria Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020 $30 Beautifully balanced and straight out the gate with soft grapefruity, apricot-edged loveliness, creamy, caramelised oak, perfumed with white peach and unveiling perfectly poised acidity on the finish. It’s so elegant and stylishly structured. Crafted by Bryce Edmonds, a winemaker with volcanic talent, this chardonnay is a darn lovely thing. … Read More
Neck of the Woods Central Otago Chardonnay 2019
Neck of the Woods Central Otago Chardonnay 2019 $25 Created as a nod to the ‘poster boy of plants’ — the famous naturalist Sir Joseph Banks (had to make doubly sure I’d typed ‘naturalist’ and not ‘naturist,’ as that could have been a tad awkward) — this new vintage carries the Neck of the Woods … Read More
Rapaura Springs Rohe Rapaura Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Rapaura Springs Rohe Rapaura Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 $27.90 Holy jalapenos! The 2021 vintage is turning out the whopping aromatics in Marlborough sauvignon and this new Rohe release from Rapaura Springs is no exception. It’s a mouthful of flavour fireworks and that’s no exaggeration. Luscious lime, bruised basil, punchy passionfruit and peach, layers of red … Read More
Dona Fátima Cheleiros Jampal 2019
Dona Fátima Cheleiros Jampal 2019 $39.99 Hands up if you’ve ever tried wine made from the Jampal grape. No one? No surprises there, It’s an extremely rare and ancient grape grown solely on the west coast of Portugal. It was bought back from near extinction by winemaker André Manz when his family purchased an old … Read More
Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020
Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020 $45 Made by Malcolm Rees-Francis, the most dapperly-dressed man in all the land, this bright-as-a-button new release features a combo of 85% Parkburn Vineyard fruit and 15% Gibbston Valley fruit which knits together buckets of fresh spices, perky red fruits and lush, dark floral notes. Cherry, redcurrant and rhubarb … Read More
Valli Bendigo Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019
Valli Bendigo Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 $69 If soft, pillowy, savoury, meaty notes in your pinot noir is what gets your juices flowing then get out the fluffy towels because this wine will have you leaking all over the place. Fabulous forest floor and mushroomy layers cloak wild cherry, black tea, pepper and … Read More