Quartz Reef Central Otago Mèthode Traditionnelle Vintage Rosé 2016 $110 When Quartz Reef declares a vintage for one of its sparkling wines, you know that winemaker Rudi Bauer and his team are 100% in love with the quality of the pinot noir from that year and infatuated enough to not blend it with any other … Read More
2016
Folding Hill Orchard Block Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016
Folding Hill Orchard Block Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016 $45 Just 80 cases were made of this smooth, silky pinot noir, which grows in a small block next door to an orchard of cider apple trees. Wild fermented and matured in oak barrels for 20 months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered, this is a … Read More
Peregrine Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc 2016 $27 ★★★½
Anyone thinking central otago was simply pinot noir country clearly hasn’t had the pleasure of sipping their sauvignon. Softer in style, with basil, peach and lemongrass characters that wash across the palate with the most subtle hit of white pepper and fresh passionfruit. Softly fruited and refreshing, this little gem from Gibbston will leave a … Read More
Crafters Union Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2016 $21 ★★★½
Ultra-pretty and bright like a pink diamond in the glass and shows fresh watermelon, light raspberry and soft peppercorn characters in the glass. Here’s a dry, crisp and refined Rosé that’ll have you singing in the summer in seconds flat. Sip with old fashioned curried sausages – yum! Available in supermarkets nationwide
Crafter’s Union Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 $21 ★★★★½
I love the fact that on the outside the packaging is so whimsical, so extravagant, so wild, yet when you slip the bottle out, the labelling on the bottle is a simple white and silver crest. But it’s what’s inside that bottle that counts, and if you’re craving a hit of nettles, lime, passionfruit, pinprick … Read More
Soho Stella Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 $25 ★★★★★
Wow! How’s this for a passionfruity punch in the face. Lemongrass, basil, and lashings of lime just tornado themselves across the palate, leaving a zingy, perfectly prickly texture in their wake. Winemaker Dave Clouston is an absolute guru when it comes to sourcing and saucing the best sauvignon blanc Marlborough has to offer – so … Read More
Matawhero Gisborne Merlot 2016 $22 ★★★★
For a red that’s only just been bottled and released, this is drinking darn gorgeously. Ripe, round, plush plum and milk chocolate notes on the nose and palate, it’s dangerously smooth and velvety in the mouth and boasts a long, warming finish. Subtle fruitcake spices, pepper and hints of red berry add to the fruit … Read More
Cloudy Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 $36 ★★★★½
This new vintage of what’s become an Antipodean icon, has all the hallmarks of becoming another stunner. I say ‘becoming’ because despite this wine already boasting punchy basil, sweet pea, passionfruit and crunchy-fresh citrus and floral characters – I personally really love drinking this wine in the height of summer, a few months on from … Read More
The Natural Wine Co. Gisborne Pinot Gris 2016 $19.95 (4.5 stars)
How’s this for hands-off winemaking. Organic fruit harvested a little later than normal to enhance the fruit sweetness and then the juice is left to soak overnight with the skins to extract a little more texture and complexity. Extended lees stirring during a ferment kickstarted with wild yeasts from the vineyard itself has added layers … Read More
Soho White Label Marlborough Rose 2016 $20 (4 stars)
Quite the prettiest rose I’ve seen in a long time, candy floss, raspberry, watermelon and classic, mouthfilling fruity clean notes burst from this gold medal winning pinky. Winemaker Dave Clouston has crafted a rich, robust little rose despite its pale, ballet-shoe colour. Delicate to look at – deadly tasty to drink. There’s a classic, creaming … Read More