Marisco Diamond Heart Waihopai Cuvée 2017 $40 Created as a luxury sparkling addition to his range of classic Waihopai wines, Brent Marris has crafted a cushion-soft blend of chardonnay and pinot noir that has all the hallmarks of a fine Champagne. Diamond Heart is deliciously rich, round and finely tuned and I’m absolutely smitten with … Read More
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Marisco Diamond Heart Blanc de Blancs 2017
Marisco Diamond Heart Blanc de Blancs 2017 $40 Crafted entirely from chardonnay, this long-in-the-making style shows heightened bready, yeasty aromatics, soft peachy tones in the mid-palate, roast cashew characters and a gorgeous, nutty, creamy complexity to the finish. Love it! http://www.marisco.co.nz
Blackenbrook Nelson Pinot Noir 2019
Blackenbrook Nelson Pinot Noir 2019 $29 Matched with: Moroccan Lamb Meatball Pockets Annabel Langbein CANVAS in http://www.nzherald.co.nz on Sat April 10th 2021 The super-approachable Blackenbrook Nelson Pinot Noir 2019 ($29) hails from vines growing in Moutere clay soils near the sun-soaked Tasman Village. Saturated with spices, wild cherry, and sarsaparilla, it has oodles of earthy tones and … Read More
Zephyr Organic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Zephyr Organic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 $23 Certified organic and seriously smashable, this shiny new release from the Glover Family of the Dillons Point subregion, is a lipsmackingly lush, lemongrassy lovely that pings around the palate with basil, tomato leaf, red capsicum and a squeak of sexy, salty, upper-lip sweat. The acidity is zesty and … Read More
Wairiki The Matriarch Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020
Wairiki The Matriarch Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020 $29 A rather sexy chardonnay from possibly the newest and tiniest winery you’ve never heard of. Scented with creme caramel, soft peach, almond and grapefruit pith, the palate is fresh, soothing and edged with citrus. Grown high on the ancient, free-draining Ngaruroro River terraces, west of Hastings, this … Read More
Ash Ridge Premium Late Harvest Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019
Ash Ridge Premium Late Harvest Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 $29 375ml It’s not a common thing finding a dessert-style chardonnay, but Lauren Swift and her team at Ash Ridge seem to be able to regularly turn out sweet, sticky superstar examples on the regular. Scented with grilled pineapple, roast peach, lemon meringue and marmalade all … Read More
Ash Ridge Ariel Hawke’s Bay Blanc de Blanc 2018
Ash Ridge Ariel Hawke’s Bay Blanc de Blanc 2018 $45 This classy Blanc de Blanc (100% Chardonnay), was crafted in the traditional vintage Champagne method where the initial base wine was barrel fermented and left on lees for 1 year before being bottled and re-fermented to build its ultra-fine mousse (bubbles), and then left again … Read More
Ash Ridge Premium Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Ash Ridge Premium Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 $32 There were rumblings and rumours and all manner of murmurs on the grapevine, that 2018 would be a pretty yowza year for cabernet sauvignon in Hawke’s Bay’s Bridge Pa sub-region. I’m pleased to report the gossip was true and correct. This Lauren Swift-crafted cabernet is … Read More
Ash Ridge Alti Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2020
Ash Ridge Alti Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2020 $29 There’s very little of this bony-dry, funky, mineral-heavy Pinot Gris left, so if you’re a fan of natural, skinsy, quartzy styles then this needs to be on your shopping list. Alti in that its made in an alternative style to conventional Pinot Gris and it’ll definitely … Read More
Ash Ridge Premium Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017
Ash Ridge Premium Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017 $32 Very, very toasty with hints of sawdust and spice: the caramelised characters in this Lauren Swift-crafted wine will definitely appeal to those who love old-school roastiness and nutty, creamy layers in their chardonnay. That was a long sentence — almost as long as the finish on this … Read More