Big Sky ‘Provenance’ Te Muna Road Pinot Noir 2013

January 5, 2016By Yvonne

Big Sky ‘Provenance’ Te Muna Road Pinot Noir 2013 $54 ★★★★★ The ancient Te Muna Terraces are home to some of New Zealand’s most prestigious pinot noir vineyards.  There’s something about those soils which impart such huge depth of character into the wines – so prepare yourself for masses of sweet black tea, baked cherry, fresh … Read More

Mr Riggs ‘The Truant’ McLaren Vale Shiraz 2013

December 1, 2015By Yvonne

Mr Riggs ‘The Truant’ McLaren Vale Shiraz 2013 $17.99 ★★★½ If you like your shiraz with meat on its bones then this will be an instant hit.  Deeply earthy on the nose and showing ultra-ripe plum, blackcurrant, smoky tar and molasses complexity in the mouth – it’s a rich, peppery wine and a meal in … Read More

Elephant Hill Hieronymus 2013

December 1, 2015By Yvonne

Elephant Hill Hieronymus 2013 $95 ★★★★★ Named after a famous ancestor of the Weiss family, Hieronymus Ebner von Eschenbach (Lord Mayor of Nuremberg 1514-1524 apparently) – this inaugural release of a flagship red is a blend of the best Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Malbec (20%) and Merlot (20%) from their Gimblett and Bridge Pa Triangle Vineyards that they … Read More

Elephant Hill Airavata Syrah 2013

December 1, 2015By Yvonne

Elephant Hill Airavata Syrah 2013 $95 ★★★★★ This wine was 3.5 years in the making.  Choosing the best possible syrah rows, adopting a specific canopy management strategy to grow ‘super syrah’ and then working on it with kid gloves in the winery to create the first ‘Icon’ syrah since 2009.  This Airavata (meaning ‘the king-god of … Read More

Elephant Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013

December 1, 2015By Yvonne

Elephant Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013 $69 ★★★★★ According to winemaker Steve Skinner, they did 33 different picks across their syrah vineyards, which, for a smallish, 200-odd tonne winery is a huge effort “but it was so worth it because we were able to single out some absolutely stunning parcels to make wines like this … Read More

Saint Clair Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013

December 1, 2015By Yvonne

Saint Clair Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013 $23 ★★★½ Being a pioneering Marlborough producer hasn’t stopped the Saint Clair crew from forging further into northern climes to nab themselves some prime red wine territory in Hawke’s Bay.  This syrah has all those classic plum, violet and pepper-driven spice characters that you’ll be asking for, alongside good … Read More

Chocolate Box Cherry Chocolate GSM 2013

November 24, 2015By Yvonne

Chocolate Box Cherry Chocolate GSM 2013 $23 ★★★★ If you prefer your reds to be sweet, plummy, plush and velvety-smooth, then this will definitely spin your wheels because it’s all of the above and more.  Juicy, generous dark fruit, loads of spice and chocka with chocolate, this blend of grenache, shiraz and mourvedre is fleshy, … Read More

The Barry Bros. Shiraz Cabernet 2013

November 24, 2015By Yvonne

The Barry Bros. Shiraz Cabernet 2013 $23 ★★★★½ Tom and Sam Barry are the 20-somethings who made this little cracker that scooped the trophy for Champion Shiraz Cabernet blend at the Royal Queensland Show AND took out the Champion Shiraz Cabernet blend trophy at the Melbourne Wine Show last year.  It’s a generous and juicy, … Read More

St John’s Road Blood and Courage Barossa Shiraz 2013

November 24, 2015By Yvonne

St John’s Road Blood and Courage Barossa Shiraz 2013 $20 ★★★½ Produced from fruit grown in the Seppeltsfield, Stonewell, Bethany and Ebeneezer sub-districts of the Barossa Valley, this is a very pretty, vanilla and berry-scented red that carries dusty, leather and cocoa characters alongside sweet, juicy fruit edged with creamy, chocolatey notes and smooth, earthy … Read More

Matawhero Barrel Fermented Gisborne Chardonnay 2013

November 20, 2015By Yvonne

Matawhero Barrel Fermented Gisborne Chardonnay 2013 $25.99 ★★★★★ I love the scent of this wine, it’s all toasted croissants, grilled nectarines, custard squares and fresh pinapple in the glass.  Deliciously layered with tropical tones, elegant spices and crisp, tangy acidity on the finish.  It’s gorgeousness from Gisborne that you definitely should try pronto.  www.glengarrywines.co.nz