Little X Hawkes’ Bay Syrah 2014 $14.99-$20 Pepper and berries and cherries and all things merries. This is a cracker of a syrah with a ripe core of black fruits, violets, buckets of spice and a hint of cocoa. Made by Tim Adams from a small parcel of fruit from a vineyard located in the sun-trap … Read More
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Petane Station Hawke’s Bay Pét-Nat Chardonnay 2018
PETANE STATION HAWKE’S BAY PÉTILLANT NATUREL 2018 $38 “Pet Nat” is the thing. Everyone’s doing it – but not everyone is doing it well. Petane Station have crafted their debut example from chardonnay and while it’s got citrus hallmarks of classic chard, grapefruit, lemon et al, there’s a soft funkiness and spritzig. In fact beware the … Read More
Snapper Rock Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2016 $16.99
Snapper Rock Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2016 $16.99 Sweetly fruited on the nose, this is, like its namesake, a snappy little red blend that’s a great value quaffer. Smooth, velvety and showing plum, cherry and redcurrant characters on the finish. Simple, yummy and dangerously drinkable. trade $11.08
Julicher Martinborough Pinot Noir 2014
Julicher Martinborough Pinot Noir 2014 $45 It’s like inhaling the interior of a horse float, just after all the hay and other ‘stuff’ has been swept out. It’s leathery and sweaty and feral, yet underpinned with wild strawberry, cherry and a hint of rhubarb. Plush, plump and so incredibly smooth, it’s quite a gorgeous thing … Read More
Cambridge Road Martinborough Pinot Noir 2013
Cambridge Road Martinborough Pinot Noir 2013 $60 Lance Redgwell is a pinot master, and from his tiny, biodynamically-grown vineyard on the Martinborough terraces comes this juicy tsunami of black tea, Cherry Ripe bars, camphor, sandalwood, earthy leather notes and layers of mushroomy complexity merge with finely chiseled tannins to produce a slick yet succulent and … Read More
Dry Gully Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017
Dry Gully Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 $29 Pinot Noir grown in Alexandra has its own personality and pluck. Dry Gully are totally dependable to produce solid, cheek-slappingly glorious pinot noir year after year. Intense cherry, tamarillo, tea leaf and rosehip tea all crash across the palate and leave a comet-tail of spice on the … Read More
Montana Reserve Gisborne Chardonnay 2016
Montana Reserve Gisborne Chardonnay 2016 $16.99 On the nose this chardonnay has creme brulee, Mackintosh’s ‘Harrogate’ and roast peach perfume, while on the palate it’s rich, decently structured and shows solid juiciness right through to the finish. It’s extremely gluggably good. Widely available.
Morton Estate Black Label Gisborne Chardonnay 2016
Morton Estate Black Label Gisborne Chardonnay 2016 $19.99 So here’s where things get really tricky because Lion, (the company that sent me this wine to review) say that it’s recommended retail price (rrp) is $19.99. Yet when you Google this wine, some websites, like www.thegoodwine.co.nz say “rrp $34.99 – but our price $16.99”. www.blackmarket.co.nz have … Read More
Giesen Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Giesen Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014v While I’m pretty sure the 2018 is out in the market now, there’s still a fair bit of the 2017 lurking around, so I thought I’d taste it again. While the aromas are quite attractive (think bruised basil, capsicum, passionfruit, peach) – the palate is all a bit meh. There’s … Read More
LV Marlborough Chardonnay 2016
LV Marlborough Chardonnay 2016 $48 Straight off the bat, this is by far the most delicious chardonnay I’ve tasted in aeons! Aromas of creme caramel and freshly cut grapefruit and grilled stonefruit lead to the most elegant and statuesque palate that’s oh so concentrated and saturated with citrus and stonefruit. Winemaker Louis Vavasour has gone … Read More