Pegasus Bay Waipara Valley Chardonnay 2017 $43 Wow. Wow and triple wow. If the immense punch of grilled grapefruit, buttered crumpet, and hints of smoked bacon and popcorn doesn’t send you sideways, the powerful, weighty, woof-inducing complexity on the palate definitely will. Sourced from old vines and matured on its yeast lees in 30% new … Read More
Giesen Single Vineyard Fuder Series Marlborough Chardonnay 2015
Giesen Single Vineyard Fuder Series Clayvin Marlborough Chardonnay 2015 $49.99 I have literally been doing a months-long Rumplestiltskin dance waiting for this wine to be released. Certified organic and representing the pinnacle of what the team at Giesen can achieve from Clayvin, (one of Marlborough’s most sought-after vineyards), it’s absolutely stunning and worth every cent … Read More
The Last Shepherd Gisborne Chardonnay 2017
The Last Shepherd Gisborne Chardonnay 2017 $19.99 Toast? check. Roast peach? check. Buttery textures? check. Nutty layers? check. Gisborne-ness? Quadruple check. Here’s a chardonnay that literally ticks all the boxes for a good time, especially if you’ve got a hankering for quality, old-school, East coast, toasty, roasty, buttery-chards. What it lacks a little in length … Read More
Gem Gisborne Chardonnay 2005
Gem Gisborne Chardonnay 2005 Golden, glossy and topaz-tinted in the glass, this 14yo, wild-fermented chardonnay from Corey and Meg Hall has butterscotch, weetbix, toasted almond has definitely moved into it’s tertiary spectrum of aromas and flavours – brazil nut, vanilla, caramelised oaky notes and showing a long long flavour still carrying solid acidity. If you … Read More
Smith & Sheth Cru Heretaunga Albariño 2018
Smith & Sheth Cru Heretaunga Albariño 2018 $28 This is New Zealand’s version of the best of what Spain can offer, incredibly focused, pure and dry and heaving with lemon and oyster shells. Sourced from the Bridge Pa region, in their iron-rich, red gravels, the acidity is like all the cutty-grass (or pampas grass if … Read More
Chateau Tour De Luchey Bordeaux 2016
Chateau Tour De Luchey Bordeaux 2016 $18.95 I LOVE the soft, vanilla and smoke scent that rises from the first whiff of this magnificent little merlot. Give the glass a good swirl to unleash further forest-floor and dark berry notes on the nose. That first sip will reveal rich, complex spices (think Christmas pudding), charry, … Read More
Pegasus Bay Waipara Valley Pinot Noir 2016
Pegasus Bay Waipara Valley Pinot Noir 2016 $54 As soon as this niceness from North Canterbury nibbles its way up your nostrils, you’ll need to grab hold of a piece of solid furniture to ensure you remain upright enough to put it in your mouth safely. The wobble factor is a result of the exotically … Read More
Montsable Vin de Pays d’Oc Chardonnay 2018
Montsable Vin de Pays d’Oc Chardonnay 2018 $19.95 You cannot even know how happy I am to see this shiny new vintage of one of my favourite, sip-tastic chardonnays. Typically golden in the glass and heaving with lemon and grapefruity goodness, this gorgeous French chardonnay from the Languedoc (long-wah-dock) region is clean, juicy and jam-packed … Read More
Soljans Estate Fifth Generation Series Kumeu Vineyard Chardonnay 2016
Soljans Estate Fifth Generation Series Kumeu Vineyard Chardonnay 2016 $48 This is the debut chardonnay from the Kumeu vineyard of a West Auckland Octogenarian producer, and it’s an absolute star. Celebrating the welcoming of the fifth generation of Soljan family members (Tyler and Amber) into the family business, this 100% handpicked, 100% barrel fermented, 100% … Read More
Taylors St Andrews Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Taylors St Andrews Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016$65 At the time of labeling, this four-wheel drive of a wine had already scooped 3 international gold medals, so you can deduce that it’s more than a tad flash. With chocolate covered liquorice layers on the nose combined with smoked game meat, dark berry-fruits, seasoned leather and … Read More