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
Central Otago
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
Two Paddocks Central Otago Riesling 2014
Two Paddocks Central Otago Riesling 2014 $32 ★★★★½ How winemaker Dean Shaw manages to stuff the equivalent of an entire citrus orchard into a 750ml bottle is beyond me, but if you’re a fan of anything resembling a crunchy-crisp, lime and apple smash up, that also manages to be stylish and elegantly put together, then … Read More
Amisfield Central Otago Fumé Blanc 2014
Amisfield Central Otago Fumé Blanc 2014 $35 ★★★★★ If you’ve never ventured further south than Marlborough for your sauvignon blanc, then woah nelly! Prepare yourself for latitude 45 in all its loveliness. Smooth, toasty, biscuit and magic, mealy notes are stitched through incredibly rich, nectarine and lemon-like layers of flavour in this outstanding, barrel fermented … Read More
Quartz Reef Central Otago Methode Traditionnelle 2010
Quartz Reef Central Otago Methode Traditionnelle 2010 $40 ★★★★ Produced organically and biodynamically by Rudi Bauer down in Bendigo, this southern star has soft, smoky, flinty aromas and a rich, nutty, marshmallow-like texture in the mid palate. Very precise and cleansing it is too. www.vinofino.co.nz
Ceres Composition Central Otago Pinot Gris 2014
Ceres Composition Central Otago Pinot Gris 2014 $29 ★★★★ Ceres (seh-rez) is a Bannockburn-based company run by Central Otago royalty, the Dicey family. They know that pinot gris comes in a vast array of styles, so they’ve helped pinpoint the flavour of this by including a helpful ‘fuel gauge’ on the label telling us that … Read More
Sam Hunt Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013
Sam Hunt Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013 $24 ★★★★ Our favourite bard of the black jeans and shaggy hair has collaborated with some bright young things to create a range of his own wines and this is the southernmost example. Beautifully aromatic, it shows red rose, wild thyme, black cherry, berries and sweet tea up … Read More
Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013
Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013 $39 ★★★★ This’ll probably sound really weird, but I love that this pinot smells like moss-covered tree trunks in the rain, lush and earthy, with a layer of black tea, cherry and baking spices. Fresh and juicy to drink, with pleasantly drying tannins, this well-crafted pinot has lovely fruit … Read More
Folding Hill Ballasalla Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013
Folding Hill Ballasalla Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013 $35 ★★★★ ‘Ballasalla’ is the name of the village on the Isle of Man where owner Tim Kerruish grew up. It’s appropriate, as the wine has a ‘homely’ feel to it, immediately comforting and approachable. Attractive red rose, red cherry, tea, black guava and bouquet garni herbs … Read More
Burn Cottage Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013
Burn Cottage Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013 $60 ★★★★½ True to their biodynamic philosophies, Ted Lemon and Clair Mulholland conduct all their winemaking work in accordance with lunar and celestial rhythms. They use naturally-occurring, wild yeasts, minimize their sulphur use and avoid using additives or filters. If you want a definition of complexity, this pinot … Read More