Amisfield Central Otago Fumé Blanc 2014 $35 ★★★★★ If you’ve never ventured further south than Marlborough for your sauvignon blanc, then woah nelly! Prepare yourself for latitude 45 in all its loveliness. Smooth, toasty, biscuit and magic, mealy notes are stitched through incredibly rich, nectarine and lemon-like layers of flavour in this outstanding, barrel fermented … Read More
Richmond Plains Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Richmond Plains Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $21 ★★★★ Fact: Richmond Plains produced New Zealand’s first sauvignon blanc from fully-certified organic and biodynamic grapes years ago, and they’re still doing excellent work. Floral and forward, it’s stacked with peach and passionfruit, tangy citrus and even a squeak of feijoa makes it in there. It’s a sauvignon … Read More
Waipara Hills Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Waipara Hills Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $20.90 ★★★★★ This is a massive, tropical, truckload of tastiness powered by sweet lemon and passionfruit sorbet. It has all that crispy, crunchy acidity that we know and love in Marlborough sauvignon, yet it’s incredibly rich and complex and has strong, textural length of flavour. Simon McGeorge heads the … Read More
Soho Betty Riesling 2015
Soho Betty Riesling 2015 $22 ★★★★½ There’s just 9.4% alcohol here, so expect a shwing of sweetness in this absolute cracker of a riesling that smells and tastes like crunchy green apple and lime sorbet. Named after the elegant Betty Ford this is an elegant wine indeed. With its intense, snappy acidity, sweet honeysuckle and … Read More
Tohu Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Tohu Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $20 ★★★½ This is a highly fruity and tropically-scented sauvignon that’s packed with passionfruit, peach and lovely lemony goodness on the palate as well. At just 10% alcohol it’s definitely one of the more generously proportioned low-alcohol styles I’ve tried and it has good length of flavour too. Widely available … Read More
Avaniel Tempranillo 2013
Avaniel Tempranillo 2013 $22 ★★★½ Sourced from Spain’s Ribero del Duero region is this ultra-smooth, plush and velvety red that seeps cocoa, cola, black olive, blackcurrant and all sorts of light, earthy, liquorice-like characters. It’s got personality and an easy mouthfeel and I’m sure if you whip this out for your guests at the next … Read More
Beresford Bell Tower McLaren Vale Shiraz 2013
Beresford Bell Tower McLaren Vale Shiraz 2013 $20 ★★★½ Who doesn’t love a big, rich, Australian shiraz that radiates ripe, dark, dusty berries, sweet plum and chocolate? This is one of those wines that I warmed to straight away because the price is right and it held it’s flavours for a decent length of time … Read More
Elderton Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Elderton Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 $31 ★★★★ It’s the perfume of this wine which won me over from the first sniff. Bay and dried, bouquet garni herbs weave through subtle eucalypt and sweet, ripe plum and blueberry notes. In the mouth it’s buoyant and fresh, yet velvety-smooth at the same time. The tannins are … Read More
Three decadent dessert wines
Published NZ Herald Sat 9 Jan 2016 Just when you’re thinking about hauling your carcass into some active wear and going for a jog, wait, shuffle around the block; you see a wine column singing the praises of those luxuriously decadent dessert wines you love so much. Curses… Johanneshof Noble Late Harvest Marlborough … Read More
Masseria Altemura Sasseo Primitivo 2013
Masseria Altemura Sasseo Primitivo 2013 $19.99 ★★★★ Made from 100% Primitivo (otherwise known as Zinfandel), this is an instantly appealing Italian red that has become a new favourite of mine. With gently meaty, roasting-pan and pepper characters on the nose, followed by bayleaf, sweet boysenberry and complex, dusty tannins that are elastic yet grippy – … Read More