Mud House Dambuster Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014 $39 ★★★★ This is the first single-vineyard release to come from the clay soils of their new ‘Woolshed’ vineyard located near the Delta Dam. Originally an old RNZAF base on land deemed too crap for cropping, this patch of dirt is more than proving itself in vines if … Read More
Invivo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Invivo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $19 ★★★★½ Prepare yourself for a smash up of snappy, crunchy capsicum, crushed basil, lemon sorbet and all manner of tropical tangy-ness. This is a seriously good sauvignon that’s clean, precise and pure and ticks all those boxes for stylish summer sipping. Don’t serve it too cold though, otherwise all those … Read More
Ant MacKenzie ‘Toño’ Hawke’s Bay Rosado 2015
Ant MacKenzie ‘Toño’ Hawke’s Bay Rosado 2015 $17.95 ★★★½ Rosado is Spanish for rosé and they’re typically dry and bright. If you’re a rosé fan then you’ll love the forward and fruity aromas of creaming soda, raspberry coulis and watermelon in this fresh, juicy new release. It’s one of those wines that has real personality … Read More
Three to satisfy urges
Published NZ Herald Sat 20 Feb 2016 If you feel the urge to adopt an organic edge, embrace the ANZAC spirit or immerse yourself in something unusual from Italy, I think I’ve got just what you’re looking for this week… Richmond Plains Nelson Pinot Noir 2014 $27.99 Don’t be expecting to see a neatly … Read More
Terra Sancta Central Otago Mysterious White 2014
Terra Sancta Central Otago Mysterious White 2014 $24 ★★★½ Well there’s nothing I love more than a good mystery, and this cheek-slappingly tasty blend of muscat, gewürztraminer, pinot gris and riesling has plenty of that. With aroma of musk and apple skin, chalky mineral-like notes, powdery florals and punchy, white peach it’s a complex task … Read More
Invivo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Invivo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $19 ★★★★½ You won’t be disappointed with this crunchy, clean, passionfruit-packed sauvignon, in fact the minute you try it you’ll probably want to race down to the supermarket to grab a second bottle. Signature grassy notes, capsicum zingy juicy white nectarine, white pepper complexity and juicy length of flavour, make this … Read More
Fancy an Italian? Read this first.
Published NZME Regional Newspapers Tue 16 Feb 2016 What’s up DOC, or was that DOCG? I think I might have VDT… More and more Italian wine is becoming available in New Zealand, and while it’s hardly rocket science figuring out how Italy (with its climatic blessings) manages to produce superlative wines year after year, … Read More
A trio to love
Published NZ Herald Sat 13 Feb 2016 So you’re gunning to get into the good-books with your valentine tomorrow. You’ve bought flowers, heaping wads of the best chocolate you can find, you’ve even bought a snazzy card and poured your heart out to her with a handwritten message inside (remember handwriting?) Complete the equation … Read More
Wine talk
Published NZME Regional Newspapers Tue 9 Feb 2016 Clos Marguerite Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $27 ★★★★½ For me, sauvignon blanc’s like this absolutely scream their sense of place. From a mile away you can tell it’s from the Awatere Valley because of the gorgeous elderflower, lemon blossom, peach and lime perfume typical of the … Read More
Three soothing bottles
Published NZ Herald Sat 6 Feb 2016 If you’re finding you’re struggling to cope with the TPPA, the threat of ISIS, the shambolic weather this week and those ubiquitous, eye-stabbingly annoying ‘Be Like Bill’ posts on your Facebook timeline – help is at hand. You can thank me later. Gemtree Bloodstone Shiraz 2013 … Read More