Zaria Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018 $25 I love how winemaker Bryce Edmonds has such devotion to merlot. He always lets the vintage speak for itself, which is why each new release, to me, is so surprising and interesting. The 2018 is new to the market, but tastes like it’s been in the bottle for years. … Read More
Peckham’s Cidre de Glace
Peckham’s Cidre De Glace 375ml 9.8% abv ($14.99). It’s like an ‘ice wine’ made with special Jonagold cider apples. The juice is frozen then allowed to thaw, but only 35% of the thawed liquid is kept to ferment and the result is incredibly intense and toffee-tastic. Super-sweet, yet zesty and crisp, there’s a purity and … Read More
Smith & Sheth Cru Mangatahi Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018
Smith & Sheth Cru Mangatahi Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 $60 In a word. Phenomenal. They call the boulders that litter the soils of the Mangatahi sub-region, west of Hastings, ‘Mangatahi swedes’, which is a bit of a dig at the ‘Gimblett Gravels’ or ‘Te Awanga pebbles’ monikers out there. The vines thrive on sun-saturated, … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2017
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2017 $22 If it’s the soft, peppery, violet-soaked style of syrah that wets your whistle and shivers your timbers, then get set for some shakin’ because this new release from the good folk at Maison Noire is the business. Lightly-styled and luscious (rather than a spicy, tannic, muscle-bomb) it’s a … Read More
Peckham’s Phantasmic 2018 Artisan Cider 750ml
CIDER PHANTASIES The multi-award winning folk at Peckham’s cider have really gone spiritual on it and created ‘Phantasmic 2018’ a truly wild cider available in 750ml ($19.99) where Kingston Black, Knotted Kernel, Browns, Harry Master’s Jersey and Chisel Jersey Cider apples are fermented on their skins with Torulaspora Delbrueckii and Prise de Mousse yeasts, then … Read More
Junction Wines Central Hawke’s Bay Persistence 2017
Junction Wines Central Hawke’s Bay Persistence 2017 $22 A top-secret blend of white grapes grown on the limestone-packed Takapau Plains in Central Hawke’s Bay has been crafted into this incredibly stylish, sophisticated sparkling wine by Leith Ashworth. Soft marzipan and lemon notes on the nose merge with silky-soft citrus, clean biscuity complexity and a pillowy, … Read More
Mount Michael The Mountaineer Central Otago Pinot Gris 2019
Mount Michael The Mountaineer Central OtagoPinot Gris 2019 $24.99 While it’s been crafted in a ‘dry’ style, this new addition to the Mountaineer range is actually incredibly rich and shows great nashi, apple and peachy intensity on the nose and palate. Clean, precise, focused and flavoursome, it’s perky and pure and has great cellaring potential … Read More
Blank Canvas Escaroth Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017
Blank Canvas Escaroth Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017 $49 Here’s a wine showing total class and elegance and you should own it immediately because that’s you in a nutshell right? Grown by Andy and Kyna Laurie, in their dry-farmed, north-facing Taylor Pass vineyard (named after the fictional lake town where the elves in The Hobbit sourced … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Arneis 2019
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Arneis 2019 $22 Hailing from northern Italy and nicknamed ‘little rascal’ because of it being notoriously tricky to grow, Guillaume Thomas has given it a very happy home in the limestone and clay soils behind the Te Mata Peak range on the way to Waimarama Beach. Chock full of floral intensity, … Read More
Odyssey Wines Hera Gisborne Chardonnay 2018
Odyssey Wines Hera Gisborne Chardonnay 2018 $70 Hera is winemaker Rebecca Salmond’s flagship chardonnay. Rebecca is a chardonnay obsessive, so if she deems fruit worthy of ‘Hera’ status then chardonnay lovers like me sit up and take notice. Before I launch into telling you how much I love this wine, here’s a quick Greek mythology … Read More