Amisfield Central Otago Fumé Blanc 2016 $45 When people say ‘fumé blanc is sauvignon for chardonnay lovers’, they’re absolutely right. Winemaker Dr Stephanie Lambert and her team have taken what must have been rather snappy sauvignon blanc fruit and opted to ferment it using wild yeasts, in large French oak barrels. This in turn has given … Read More
Domain Road Central Otago Pinot Noir Rosé 2018
Domain Road Central Otago Pinot Noir Rosé 2018 $26 Produced by Graeme and Gillian Crosbie from fruit sourced from their Defiance and Domain Road vineyards, this gorgeous thing is scented with creaming soda, raspberry, sweet cherry and watermelonny wonder. It’s a more substantial rose than most, super-concentrated yet taut, robust and spicy, with waves of … Read More
Judge Rock Central Otago Pinot Noir Rosé 2018
Judge Rock Central Otago Pinot Noir Rosé 2018 $25 Back in 1998 Paul Jacobson was an engineer and his wife Angela managed multiple local kindergartens, plus they were raising three young, Central Otago sons and life was hectic. So that’s why they also become grape growers and winemakers – clearly suckers for punishment! Today their … Read More
Pick & Shovel Central Otago Pinot Gris 2018
Pick & Shovel Central Otago Pinot Gris 2018 $19.99 Created by the good folk at Dry Gully Vineyard in the summer heat-trap of Alexandra, this pinot gris will appeal to anyone walking on the dry side of the street. Sure you have hints of the usual suspects of pear and quince, yet there’s also a … Read More
Churton Marlborough Petit Manseng 2016
Churton Marlborough Petit Manseng 2016 $49 Incredibly rare in New Zealand, Petit Manseng is grown primarily in Jurancon, in the Southwest of France, however the Weaver family are now growing teensy, tiny amounts in their biodynamic vineyard at Churton, in Marlborough’s Waihopai Valley. It produces an intensely delicious, greengage plum and toffee-topped wine which bursts … Read More
Linden Estate Reserve Dam Block 2016
Linden Estate Reserve Dam Block 2016 $48 Trevor Shepherd has finally released his series of Reserve ‘Dam Block’ blends, and this is my favourite so far. Featuring 72.5% merlot, 17.5% cabernet sauvignon and 10% cabernet franc, this savoury black-olive-and-spice fest shouts ‘Make way for the King!’ to a parade of berries and plums on the … Read More
Rabbit Ranch Central Otago Rosé 2018
Rabbit Ranch Central Otago Rosé 2018 $22.95 Crafted from 100% pinot noir, this snappy little rosé resembles the styles of Southern France, skating down the dry and spicy-fresh side of the fence and leaving a comet tail of soft melon, cranberry and pink peppercorn characters on the palate. Clean, crunchy and built for serving super-chilled … Read More
Little X Hawkes’ Bay Syrah 2014
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
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
Music Bay Marlborough Pinot Gris 2017 $16
Music Bay Marlborough Pinot Gris 2017 $16 Here’s a crispy, crunchy little quaffer which shows all the hallmarks of good gris, ie. pear, apple, quince and some spice. It’s not a complicated wine, simple and sippable.