Santa Sofia Lugana Veneto 2014 $22 ★★★½ This super-dry Italian white wine is made from 100% trebbiano grapes grown in the Lugana DOC area of Lombardy in the northern part of the country. With deliciously complex aromas of almond meal, oats, lime and sea breezes, it’ll definitely appeal to anyone who likes to explore whites … Read More
2014
Marsden Estate Bay of Islands Tempranillo 2014
Marsden Estate Bay of Islands Tempranillo 2014 $42 ★★★★ Who would have thought that big, busty, dusty Spanish red grapes like Tempranillo would ever be happy growing in a tiny, 10 acre, sub-tropical pocket of Northland? Not many, if any. But Rod McIvor of Marsden Estate had full faith and this juicy, plush, spicy red … Read More
Fox Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Fox Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014 $18 ★★★½ This is a sweet, sweaty sauvignon crafted by 40-year winemaking veteran John Belsham and his team at Foxes Island Wines, and for the price it’s a darn good drink. Classic passionfruit and basil and even a splash of elderflower followed by a lick of lemongrass and lime. Nicely … Read More
Brancott Estate Letter Series ‘O’ Marlborough Chardonnay 2014
Brancott Estate Letter Series ‘O’ Marlborough Chardonnay 2014 $34 ★★★★★ This wine smells like peach and almond crumble, caramelised citrus and has a delicious blend of spiciness and creaminess to add to its all-round yumminess. There’s a lovely roasty, toasty layer and a buttery injection on the finish. The ‘O’ stands for their Omaka vineyard. … Read More
Mud House Dambuster Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014
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
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
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Merlot 2014
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Merlot 2014 $33 ★★★★½ Cleverly crafted by winemakers Matt Thomson and Hamish Clark (who has a background in microbiology, zoology and forensic science interestingly enough) from fruit grown in the Gimblett Gravels, this is a wine with deeply earthy aromas of chocolate, liquorice and cured meats. Those same characters … Read More
Mahana Clays and Gravels Nelson Riesling 2014
Mahana Clays and Gravels Nelson Riesling 2014 $30 ★★★★ Arriving in a slimline, classic germanic blue-green bottle, this ultra-pure, intense lime and crabapple-scented riesling has a steely dry, lip smacking texture and a finely-tuned, length finish. Just the faintest seam of honeysuckle adds complexity and juiciness. Great drinking now but give it another 2-3 years … Read More
Mahana Clays and Gravels Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Mahana Clays and Gravels Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2014 $25 ★★★★ Previously known as ‘Woollaston Estate’, this is sauvignon blanc made ‘off road’ in that it’s about as far removed from the clean, green, crispy-clean style that New Zealand is famous for. Ripe fruit was fermented on its skins (to extract chew and astringency for texture), … Read More
Bannock Brae Goldfields Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014
Bannock Brae Goldfields Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014 $30 ★★★★ This is one heck of an exotically perfumed pinot made for the Bannockbrae team by world-class winemaking wahine, Sarah-Kate (SK) Dineen. Boasting plum, black tea, hedgerow fruits, savoury, peppery notes and a chunk of cherry on the palate, it has freshness, buoyancy and real character. … Read More