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
Cabernet Sauvignon
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
Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 $49.95 Named in honour and memory of Elspeth Preston, grandmother of Mills Reef’s winemaker/owner Tim Preston, and only created in years when Tim and his team feel the fruit is superlative, when the fruit cannot be faulted, and when the positive chi flows through from the East … Read More
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2018
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2018 $24.95 Right from the very first sip you’ll understand how this wine scooped a gold medal at the 2019 NZ Wine of the Year Awards and why it’s been the darling of wine critics around the traps. 68% cabernet sauvignon was blended with 32% merlot, fermented and … Read More
Te Awanga Estate One Off Silky Smooth Organic Sangiovese Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Te Awanga Estate One-Off Silky Smooth Organic Hawke’s Bay Sangiovese Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 $34.99 Yes, it’s a mouthful to say, but this is where Italy and France smash together to create a harmonious blend of dark, blueberry fruits, espresso, leather and bay leafy loveliness. Looking at the label, you may expect a heavyweight honker, yet … Read More
Zilzie Regional Collection Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Zilzie Regional Collection Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 Incredibly harmonious in its combination of florals, bay, tobacco, freshly cut black doris plums, dark cherry, anise, soft pepper, sarsparilla, stretchy tannins, warm yet juicy and fresh on the mid palate. A lovely, lifted, soothing sip. Delicious.