Badassière by name and badass by nature, this spicy, roundhouse kick of a syrah is produced in the Languedoc region in the south of France and is named after Baron Charles Emmanuel, the illegitimate son of King Louis XV. Plump plummy characters are buttoned up with pepper and dusty notes and a lick of leather. … Read More
Yvonne Lorkin Canvas Column Saturday August 12 2017
So you’re 40-something, female and finding whiskers in weird places on your face? Fret not. Sip these and forget the horror. Vidal Legacy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $59.99 Oh lordy, what a wine! With its alluring aromas of grilled grapefruit, roast peach, toasted almonds and a hint of smoke, I struggled to peel the glass … Read More
Akarua Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2016 $43
Crafted from fruit sourced from their Felton Road and Cairnmuir vineyards, after all the medals this wine has hauled in, it deserves to be given ‘national treasure’ status surely. Clove, mace, baked cherry, anise and buckets of bouncy, plush acidity and cuddly, furry tannins make this a ‘must try before you die’ wine. It’s darn … Read More
Gladstone Vineyard Wairarapa Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $27
Throwing themselves headlong into organic viticulture, Christine Kernohan and her team of sauvignon sensei’s are reaping the rewards right here. Softly, softly is how this super-floral example plays out, with hints of fresh lawn clippings, basil, sweet pea and some plucky, preserved lemon layers give it lusciousness, length and complexity. Sip with: steamed snapper with … Read More
Vidal Legacy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $59.99
Oh lordy, what a wine! With its alluring aromas of grilled grapefruit, roast peach, toasted almonds and a hint of smoke, I struggled to peel the glass away from my nose for long enough to actually put any in my gob! Thankfully I persisted, because it’s ultra-fresh, beautifully layered with banging citrus and succulent stonefruit … Read More
Wine Column for Week beginning Sat 29 July 2017
I think anybody can become a great wine taster with training, but some people will always have a very distinct advantage. I’m talking about the people who always stop to sniff the flowers and taste everything put in front of them. Adventurous people who are naturally tuned into their senses, will always find it easier … Read More
Silver Wing Waipara Pinot Noir 2013 $36 (4.5 stars)
Crafted with wild yeasts and as little preservative as possible, this pinot has an earthy, smoky note from being aged in French oak barrels for 19 months, 15% of which were brand new. Chock full of cocoa, red cherry and rhubarb, it’s got real pluck and power behind it, making it a seriously tasty product … Read More
Momo Organic Marlborough Pinot Noir 2015 $24 (4.5 stars)
Just becaue it’s not bright and glossy-looking, don’t let that stop you from leaping into this gorgeous wine. It’s simply un-fined and unfiltered and made as naturally as you can. Aromatically it heaves with hibiscus rosehip, cherry and cranberry, while on the palate it’s a tsunami of taste. Mixed spices, cocoa, raspberry and silky saturation … Read More
Mahana Nelson Pinot Noir 2014 $39.50 (4.5 stars)
Certified organic and produced biodynamically, this pinot has a cloudy appearance due to it not being filtered or fined therefore it’s filled with flavour, the whole flavour and nothing but the flavour. Soft, elegant, truffle-edged and earthy, I love the baked cherry and raspberry layers – fine-grained tannins and fluttery length. It’s got gravitas for … Read More
Flying Sheep Hawke’s Bay Sangiovese 2013 $35 (4 stars)
Crafted by the clever kids over at Osawa Wines in Hawke’s Bay’s Maraekakaho district, this is a lithe, lovely, local example of an Italian classic, which boasts buckets of red cherry, redcurrant and raspberry, all wrapped up in an earthy, suede-like texture on the finish. Juicy, yet dry and smoky, it’s maturing nicely and just … Read More