Greywacke Marlborough Pinot Gris 2013 $30 ★★★★½ Pinot gris has proved an unstoppable force in this country, particularly over the last decade. It’s now our fourth most-widely-planted variety and our wine producers are now crushing a whopping 24000 tonnes of the stuff. That’s almost 1500 times the quantity they were processing in 2005. Kevin Judd of … Read More
2013
Alpha Domus First Solo Chardonnay 2013
Alpha Domus First Solo Chardonnay 2013 $26 ★★★★ A waft of grilled pineapple and peach is what immediately impressed me with this wine, and the fact that it boasts tight acidity, delicious toasty spice notes, loads of citrus and has a zesty, clean finish was all a lovely bonus really. Superb with a steaming bowl … Read More
Alpha Domus The Navigator 2013
Alpha Domus The Navigator 2013 $30 ★★★★½ Blackberry, boysenberry, dark quava and intensely aromatic spice notes burst from the glass. Comprised of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot, this classic Bordeaux blend displays a delicious vein of dried herb and cocoa buoyed by fresh juicy acidity and good grip on the finish. … Read More
Alpha Domus AD The Aviator 2013
Alpha Domus AD The Aviator 2013 $72 ★★★★★ 2013 heralds the Aviator’s ninth vintage and it’s got real style. Bright, glossy, juniper berry colour in the glass and scented with red rose, pepper and dusty oak complexity. In the mouth it’s saturated with fleshy black fruits, fresh spice and smoke flavours, edged with elegant acidity … Read More
Herve Kerlann Aligoté 2013
Herve Kerlann Aligoté 2013 $23.50 ★★★★ From France’s Côte-d’Or comes this deliciously dry, chalky, oyster-shell scented white, which is so crunchy and cleansing to drink, it’s practically an oral exfoliant. White florals, lime and quartz-like, mineral complexity make this a must-sip for those that like their wines so dry they’re almost skeletal. For info on … Read More
Greywacke Marlborough Riesling 2013
Greywacke Marlborough Riesling 2013 $28 ★★★★ Mandarin pith, zesty pear and green apple vibe, honeysuckle and complex juicyness and depth in the palate. Impressive spine and elongated texture and length. Lovely.
Sam Hunt Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013
Sam Hunt Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013 $24 ★★★★ Our favourite bard of the black jeans and shaggy hair has collaborated with some bright young things to create a range of his own wines and this is the southernmost example. Beautifully aromatic, it shows red rose, wild thyme, black cherry, berries and sweet tea up … Read More
Astrolabe Vineyards Sleepers Vineyard Albarino 2013
Astrolabe Vineyards Sleepers Vineyard Albarino 2013 $25 ★★★½ Albarino has made itself well and truly at home here in the Antipodes, far from its Spanish home. Simon Waghorn has crafted a white wine that’s lifted, dry and has a whiff of oyster shell, lime and flint. It’s a lightly structured style that’s bony, tangy and … Read More
Maretti Barbera & Nebbiolo 2013
Maretti Barbera & Nebbiolo 2013 $30 ★★★½ This is a classic spicy red with bounce and buoyancy from Piedmont in Italy’s north-east, Barbera is famous for intense acidity and freshness, while Nebbiolo steadies the blend with it’s sold structure and length. I like the toasty, leather, spiced plum and bright berry flavours alongside the tangy, … Read More
Saint Clair Pioneer Block Cell Block Chardonnay 2013
Saint Clair Pioneer Block Cell Block Chardonnay 2013 $32 ★★★★★ Sourced from the fantastic, free-draining Dillons Point dirt in Marlborough, this chardonnay just hammers home the message that our largest wine region is really on a roll churning out world class white Burgundy. Saint Clair have never been slouches when it comes to creating great … Read More