Sam Hunt Gisborne Chardonnay 2013 $21.95 ★★★★ There’s a subtle, creamy lift on the nose, while waves of green nectarine and grapefruit wash across the palate with every sip, which is nice considering there are lines from Hunt’s poem Wavesong printed on the bottle. Just a tweak of toasty oak adds to the experience and … Read More
Sam Hunt Hawke’s Bay Merlot Malbec 2014
Sam Hunt Hawke’s Bay Merlot Malbec 2014 $24.95 ★★★ “Winter is a warm hearth…” is a line from Hunt’s poem Rainbows and that’s exactly where I’d imagine you should enjoy this wine; either that, or with juicy, fatty snarlers sizzled and oh-so-slightly charred on the BBQ. Dark magenta-black in the glass and showing pepper, prune, … Read More
Sam Hunt Gisborne Pinot Gris 2014
Sam Hunt Gisborne Pinot Gris 2014 $21.95 ★★★½ Rich nashi pear and spicy apple strudel aromas sit alongside caramelised stonefruit flavours and a creamy, toasty complexity on the finish of this deliciously dry drink. This would be a great match for a smoked chicken and almond salad. www.lacantina.co.nz
Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013
Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013 $39 ★★★★ This’ll probably sound really weird, but I love that this pinot smells like moss-covered tree trunks in the rain, lush and earthy, with a layer of black tea, cherry and baking spices. Fresh and juicy to drink, with pleasantly drying tannins, this well-crafted pinot has lovely fruit … Read More
Craggy Range Te Muna Road Riesling 2014
Craggy Range Te Muna Road Riesling 2014 $25 ★★★★½ Crunchy green apple, mandarin and lime flavours leap out of the glass in this ultra-tangy riesling. Vibrant, zesty acidity, a twang of lemon in the mid palate and a cleansing, chalky-dry texture on the finish will awaken even the most jaded of tastebuds. Terrific stuff. www.craggyrange.com
Greenhough Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Greenhough Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2014 $28 ★★★★ I love the clean-cut, snappy, summer fragrance of lucerne fields, white pepper and passionfruit and the rush of rich citrus, crushed basil leaves and watercress on the palate. Beautifully balanced and lengthy, it’s a delicious example from sunny Nelson. www.greenhough.co.nz
Real Compania De Vinos Tempranillo 2013
Real Compania De Vinos Tempranillo 2013 $16 ★★★½ Super-fruity and packed with dark berries, cocoa nib and smoky, coconut and coffee notes, there’s a gentle, spicy, velvety mouthfeel in this Spanish sip which finishes with solid, chewy tannins. www.winesale.co.nz
Fantini Farnese Sangiovese 2013
Fantini Farnese Sangiovese 2013 $19 ★★★½ Prepare yourself for really unusual aromas of smoky ham hock, vanilla, nutmeg and pepper, which all merge into a rich, leathery palate. Smooth and savoury, it’s an interesting, meaty sip sourced from Italy. www.atouchofitaly.co.nz
Pirramimma McLaren Vale Petit Verdot 2012
Pirramimma McLaren Vale Petit Verdot 2012 $32 ★★★★ Petit Verdot is one of just six permitted varieties allowed in Bordeaux, but it’s a rare find outside of France, and even more so as a single example. With aromas of dusty tobacco leaf, white pepper, cherry and dried herbs, followed by blueberry and fruitcake spice flavours … Read More
La Crema Monterey Chardonnay 2013
La Crema Monterey Chardonnay 2013 $30 ★★★★ Fans of big, buxom, oaky chardonnay will love this California girl. Creamy, mango and spicy peach-driven aromas lead to a flood of fig, dried pineapple and cinnamon-buttered toast flavours. Soft, coconut characters round out the finish. Make sure there’s a corkscrew in the house when you snap this … Read More