Saorsa Cornerstone Vineyard Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2016 $30 Pronounced “Sore-Sha”, the name Saorsa is a Scottish Gaelic word that not only means but also represents a radical sense of freedom, liberty and salvation according to owner Alex Hendry, one of Hawke’s Bay’s most exciting and ‘one-to-watch’ winemakers. Crafting just viognier and syrah, his 2016 vintage … Read More
Matahiwi Holly Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 $28.99 The ‘Holly’ is a wine that I eagerly anticipate every year. ‘Anticipate’ is a polite way of saying I basically stood outside the cellar door and yelled until they threw it at me and told me to leave them alone. It’s a wine that just gets better and … Read More
Central Otago’s Archangel Wines sells to Australia’s Joval Wine Group. MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Premium Central Otago wine brand and vineyard, Archangel, has been sold to the Australian Family owned Joval Wine Group. The New Zealand Overseas Investment Office (OIO) approved the sale last week. The purchase includes the Archangel … Read More
Seresin Marlborough Pinot Gris 2016 $24 100% organic, this gris has had a couple of quiet, sleepy years in the bottle to integrate the baked apple and poached quince characters alongside the deeply fragrant spices, layers of caramelisation and on the finish, it’s boasting bracing acidity and a firm spine. It has fantastic persistence on … Read More
The Last Shepherd Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2017 $22.99 I’m buzzing to see a syrah added to The Last Shepherd stable. Crafted from fruit grown in the iron-rich soils of the Bridge Pa region, this is an easy-breezy example that’s got all the signature boysenberry, plum, pepper and spicy oak influence. It’s not a honkingly dry … Read More
Catalina Sounds Sound of White Marlborough Chardonnay 2017 $35 The ‘Sound of White’ vineyard in the Waihopai Valley boasts rich, clay soils and chardonnay just loves that. Fermented wild (with indigenous yeasts) in large oak vessels, the nose has that gorgeous dichotomy of grapefruit, smoked citrus, hints of pineapple and peach, alongside a nutty, smoky, … Read More
Lamb and Chorizo Sausage Plait (dish Aug Sept 2019) A fruit-forward, soft, plush pinot noir is exactly what this spicy, family-sized sausage roll. The Mischief Waipara Pinot Noir 2017 ($28) ticks all those boxes and more. Ripe cherry, raspberry and even a tiny squeak of beetroot all erupt from the glass and the flavours are … Read More
Mischief Waipara Pinot Gris 2018 $22 Like a sensory cirque de soleil, this gris has impeccable balance, poise, bounce and bravery – just like the previous vintage but betterer. Some natural sweetness accentuates the nashi and apple notes on the nose and palate, yet the acidity is brisk and bracing, injecting delicious minerality into the … Read More
Mischief Waipara Riesling 2018 $22 If that’s not masses of mandarin and apricot leaping out of the glass and up your nostrils, then I’ll swallow a screwcap. The steampunk-attired, frisky fantail on the label stands atop a lemon tree and beside a buzzy bee, which is a dead giveaway for the fact that this riesling … Read More
Main Divide Pokiri Reserve North Canterbury Late Picked Pinot Gris 2014 $24.99 If you’re looking for indulgence on a 750ml scale, then you’ve come to the right cul-de-sac. With it’s intense, rose-gold colour, it looks like money in the glass and the nose explodes with toasty toffee, musky spices and baked stonefruit. Caramel and butterscotch … Read More