Taylors Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 $19.99 I’m a huge fan of the colour-coded temperature sensor on the back of the bottles of Taylors wines because in New Zealand we’re shockers for drinking our white wine too cold and our red wines too warm. Cabernet Sauvignon is at its floral, spicy best between 16 – … Read More
Cabernet Sauvignon
Indian wine from Grover Zampa in New Zealand
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if there were any decent wines coming out of India that were available in New Zealand, I’d be off down the TAB and putting a hundred for the win by the long shot on the next 3200m at Matamata. Happily the good folk at … Read More
Brookfields Ohiti Estate Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Brookfields Ohiti Estate Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 $20 If I were going to choose the most exciting cabernet sauvignon wines from New Zealand that swing in for $20, then the Ohiti Estate from Brookfields would be right up there. Bold, plummy, bursting with earthy, roasting pan meatiness and showing a plumpness on the finish … Read More
Stonecroft Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Stonecroft Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 $45 100% cabernet sauvignon here from old vines dating back to the mists of time. 1984 to be exact, so maybe not so misty then. anyhoo, first planted by Gimbett Gravels pioneer, Dr. Alan Limmer, these organically-grown vines thrive in the desert-scape of the ancient Ngaruroro riverbed, creating intensely … Read More
Moutere Hills Nelson Rumer 2016
Moutere Hills Nelson Rumer 2016 $55 Here’s a sensational, smoked-berries-and-leather layered lovely from one of our favourite Nelson-based producers. Unusual in that it’s predominantly merlot, winemaker Rusty Rayne (cool name) has also blended syrah and cabernet sauvignon alongside it, to give inject extra, peppery gravitas. Named after Rusty’s much-loved vineyard Kelpie dog, this rockin’ red … Read More
Brookfields Ohiti Estate Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Brookfields Ohiti Estate Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 $20 If I were going to choose the most exciting cabernet sauvignon wines from New Zealand that swing in for $20, then the Ohiti Estate from Brookfield’s would be right up there. Bold, plummy, bursting with earthy, roasting pan meatiness and showing a plumpness on the finish … Read More
Vidal Soler Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Vidal Soler Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 $34.99 Do you know what? I’ve been pacing, literally pacing around waiting for the new Soler cabernet to cross my desk. The wait was worth it. Bursting with black guava, blueberry, dark cherry, bay leaf, dark cocoa and liquorice layers, it’s supremely elegant, freshly structured and seriously frisky. … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 $28 Winemaker Guillaume Thomas managed to secure cabernet sauvignon fruit exclusively from the famous Gimblett Gravels district for the 2018 vintage, and egads and forsooth! Has it made a difference! His style is still typically super-elegant and smooth (and that’s just his hairstyle and dress sense) yet the … Read More
Flying Sheep Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Flying Sheep Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 $35 Flying Sheep is Osawa Wines little brother brand and is named after (supposedly) a reference early Hawke’s Bay settlers had for the fluffy clouds that glided across the regions’ vast blue skies. From fruit grown in some of the oldest soils on the Heretaunga Plains, comes … Read More
Goshawk Estate Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Goshawk Estate Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2018$poa Well well well. If I haven’t just managed to snaffle a bottle of the top-secret solo project from Mills Reef’s long-time, legendary winemaker, Paul Dawick. The name is taken from his mum’s maiden name (Drummond) and there happened to be a Goshawk bird attached to the coat of … Read More