Rock Ferry Orchard Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Rosé 2020 $25 Five different organically grown pinot noir clones from this one single vineyard are used to create this pale coral-coloured rosé. Allan McWilliams and Jordan Hogg were the winemakers responsible for shepherding it into the bottle and they’ve crafted it in a dry, full-bodied style. So if … Read More
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Astrolabe Wrekin Marlborough Chenin Blanc 2018
Astrolabe Wrekin Marlborough Chenin Blanc 2018 $32 Simon Waghorn and his wife Jane Forrest-Waghorn set up Astrolabe in Marlborough back in 1996 after years of making wine in Australia and Gisborne. I love that they’ve taken a leap and planted chenin blanc because it produces an apple and honeysuckle-scented dry white wine that’s rarely seen … Read More
Rock Ferry 3rd Rock Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Rock Ferry 3rd Rock Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 $25 This certified organic sauvignon blanc is carefully crafted from fruit grown in Rock Ferry’s Corners and Orchard vineyards. One portion of the juice went into stainless steel and the other portion was hand harvested, whole bunch pressed and fermented in an old 3800ltr oak cuve for … Read More
Butterworth Estate Martinborough Layline Pinot Noir 2017
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
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