This blend of 90% Sangiovese, 7% Canaiolo Nero and 3% Colorino is a lightly-styled, spicy red that will clear the nose and soothe the throat on the first smiff and sip. Wild strawberry, cherry and peppery notes on the nose lead to a soft, fruit-saturated mouthfeel and a suede-like finish. Sip with: Minestrone with prosciutto … Read More
Yvonne Lorkin Canvas Column Saturday 31st March 2018
True fact. A “fiasco” is name of the raffia basket found attached to the base of old-school Chianti bottles. Take that to your next pub quiz… Vinetti De Fiorini Chianti Superiore DOCG 2014 $25 Grapes for a Superiore can come from any of the sub-regions within the region of Chianti. Superiore wines must be aged … Read More
Yvonne Lorkin wine column for week beginning Sat March 31 2018
Fans of the fizz will have noticed in recent years, a wave of new and highly affordable sparkles flooding into New Zealand from the likes of Spain and Italy. Us New Zealanders, we love our sparkling wine and have always ranked highly on the ‘bubbles consumption per capita’ stakes. I’m not sure why that is, … Read More
Tosti Prosecco DOC NV $17.99 (3.5 stars)
Pouring this wine into your glass, it looks like liquid meringue, so fluffy, creamy and pillow-like as it fills. Scented with soft coconut, guava and white peach characters and leaving a lick of lemony lightness on the palate. It’s a beautifully balanced prosecco with just enough natural sweetness and good, racy acidity to keep it … Read More
Mas Candi Cava Brut Nature NV $23 (4 stars)
Cava is the Spanish version of Champagne, it’s made in exactly the same way and it’s the perfect way to welcome the cooling down of the seasons. This is a blend of 60% xarel.lo, 20% macabeo and 5% parellada, alongside 15% that’s comprised of other indigenous Penedès grape varieties. Maturation time of at least two … Read More
Nautilus Southern Valleys Marlborough Pinot Noir 2015 $39 (4 stars)
Blended from a selection of Nautilus Wairau Valley vineyard sites, this is delicately scented, and elegantly poised on the palate. It is seriously smooth and supple, with red fruits like pomegranate, raspberry, red cherry and redcurrant just peaking their pretty faces above the core of savoury, earthy flavours. Soft, plush and perfect with duck liver … Read More
Nautilus Clay Hills Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014 $69.99 (5 stars)
Nautilus Clay Hills Vineyard is located on the ridge that divides the Brancott and Omaka Valleys and it’s divided into 6 separate blocks with differing aspects, elevation and slopes. Pinot noir grown on clay-based soils seem to possess a unique depth of flavour and I’m a huge fan. Matured for 11 months in 33% new … Read More
Nautilus Awatere River Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014 $62.99 (4.5 stars)
Nautilus’ Awatere River vineyard is a small, terraced site approximately 25 kilometres upstream on the north bank of the Awatere River and Pinot was planted there in 1999. Nineteen years on, those vines are turning out super-concentrated fruit that just dances into the bottle. Silky and seductive, there’s a sniff of toast from 11 months … Read More
Whistling Buoy Half Acre Vineyard Banks Peninsula Pinot Noir 2016 $42 (4 stars)
The Half Acre vineyard grows on a north-facing, sun-soaked site located on the southern flank of Lyttleton Harbour and the vines were only 16 years old when this vintage was produced. Vibrant wild berry and hedgerow aromas lead to a palate awash with spice and smoky notes. The tannins have grip which get the saliva … Read More
Whistling Buoy Kokolo Vineyard Canterbury Pinot Noir 2016 $36 (5 stars)
Wow. Here’s one ultra-juicy, exotically-scented, super-charged pinot noir from under the southern sun. Kokolo is a vineyard on a sheltered site at the head of Lyttleton and clearly the grapes live the dream there, because the resulting wine is a smile in a bottle. Fresh, luscious, spice-infused and dusted with cocoa, it’s tannins are plucky … Read More