100% of the sauvignon blanc juice was fermented in French oak before a smidge (10%) was put through a malolactic ferment to add a creamy, textural layer. After maturation in barrel for another months before being bottled back in December, you’d expect this sauvignon to be seriously toasty. However it’s remarkably herbaceous, floral and fresh, … Read More
2015
The Boneline Waipara Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $23 (4 stars)
The Tutton family are deeply connected to the Waipara River which runs through their property and has, over the years, offered up a smorgasbord of fossils. The Riverbone has a Megalodon tooth on the label, a tooth as big as owner Vic Tutton’s hand “It’s so lovely with perfect striations down each side of the … Read More
Ka Tahi East Coast Pinot Gris 2015 $19.99 (3.5 stars)
Worried that you’re going to get something sweet and boring? For years I was too, but today Kiwi winemakers are super-skilled at creating clean, lean, deliciously dry and delicately fragrant pinot gris and these are the styles I love to look out for. This is a new brand crafted by Rod McDonald’s team at his … Read More
JK14 Mamma Manzoni Piave DOC 2015 $26.99 (3.5 stars)
“Just do what Mamma says, and we all stay happy…” it says on the front label of the bottle of this super-complex bottle of pinot bianco imported by John Kirwan and his daughter Francesca. The nose has a seriously floral perfume, almost pollen-like, with hints of your grandmother’s face cream. Sounds odd, but it’s oddly … Read More
Domaine Testut Rive Droit Chablis 2015 (4 stars)
The winery is pronounced ‘Test-Too’ and in ancient times the vineyard was tended by Cistercian monks. These days the 13ha site is run by the young and very dapper Cyril Testut (who calls their kid Cyril these days?). The instant hit of white nectarine and lemon on the nose alongside a sexy whiff of sea … Read More
Domaine Paul Buisse Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $29 (4 stars)
Grown in the heart of France’s Loire region, this is a typically soft, fleshy sauvignon that’s stitched together with basil, hints of baked green capsicum and lime. Naturally concentrated and juicy, with tongue-prickling textural loveliness and a long, freshly floral finish. It’s so unlike what we in New Zealand are used to with sauvignon blanc … Read More
Johner Estate Gladstone Viognier 2015 $26 (4.5 stars)
One thing I’ve been treating myself to, as my family scoffs its way through our enormous 10+kilo Christmas ham, is some really excellent viognier. Viognier has the spicy floral aromatics of say, pinot gris, combined with the tropical, toasty richness of chardonnay, which makes it absolutely divine with any type of swine. This is one … Read More
Silver Wing Nada Reserve Waipara Chardonnay 2015 $38 (3.5 stars)
Think you’ve tasted every kind of chardonnay? Well this’ll have you scratching your head while nodding at the same time. This wine is called NADA because of what it doesn’t contain and that’s absolutely no preservatives (sulphites) or any other chemical additions were used by winemaker Andrew Fox in this chardonnay. Hand-picked, whole bunch pressed … Read More
Grava Martinborough Pinot Noir 2015 $45 (4.5 stars)
Wow! How intense is the fruit in this wine? Chock full of baked cherry, blackened berries, sweet, dark cocoa and baking spices, this little lovely from Lake Ferry Road has it all. Tiny amounts are made by Alastair Gardner and his wife Karla Falloon from grapes grown in deep gravel soils (hence ‘grava’), which provides … Read More
Spade Oak Heart of Gold Gisborne Albarino 2015 $23 (3.5 stars)
Spade Oak were one of New Zealand’s early Albarino adopters, with owners Steve and Eileen Voysey opting to aim towards a lean, lemony, elegantly European-styled example from their Gisborne vineyards. I like the subtle citrus blossom aromas and the quartz dust minerality on the palate. Consume super-chilled with prawn, pork and coriander dumplings – yummo! … Read More