Akitu Central Otago Pinot Noir Blanc 2022

17 February 2023By Yvonne

Akitu Central Otago Pinot Noir Blanc 2022 $40 Freshly crushed pinot has been whisked off its red skins lickety-split and then made as if it were a white wine — and I absolutely love it. Scented with gentle stone fruit, fennel, white pepper and apple notes, it has flirty-fresh flavours of citrus, yellow plum and … Read More

Akitu A1 Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020

15 February 2023By Yvonne

Akitu A1 Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020 $65 Translated, Akitu means the summit, the apex or the highest point in te reo Māori. Andrew Donaldson called his wine that because at 380 metres above sea level, Akitu was right up there, nudging against the alps, growing in the southernmost winemaking region on earth. Andrew’s grandad … Read More

Akitu A2 Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020

7 February 2023By Yvonne

Akitu A2 Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020 $45 Some wines are like sipping a fairytale. A great and true fairytale for the modern age. A fairytale about the magical day my husband grasped the concept of hydro-physics and subsequently stacked the dishwasher correctly. The A2 pinot is a story of romance created when ripe cherries, … Read More

Penkridge Farm Central Otago Pinot Gris 2022

30 January 2023By Yvonne

Penkridge Farm Central Otago Pinot Gris 2022 $28* A vibrant, classically-styled pinot gris with quince, nashi and nutmeg notes on the nose and palate and has tangy richness in the mid-palate and a decent, dry finish. Made my Antony Worch, winemaker to many Central Otago stars, this pinot gris has Autumn afternoon cheese platter written … Read More

Penkridge Farm Central Otago Pinot Gris 2021

30 January 2023By Yvonne

Penkridge Farm Central Otago Pinot Gris 2021 ($tbc) Very golden in the glass and possesses a slightly sweet-sour, botrytis and white pepper character on the nose and palate. Consumed ultra-chilled tends to accentuate the citrus and quince characters – however it’s not as varietal and refined as other Penkridge vintages I’ve tasted.

Penkridge Farm Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019

26 January 2023By Yvonne

Penkridge Farm Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 $40* If elegance and statuesque style is what you’re after in a pinot noir, then best you squeeze into your Nancy Ganz because the Penkridge Farm 2019 is the stovepipe, the skinny jean, the cigarette pant of pinot. Bright cranberry and tamarillo merge with earthy, softly spiced layers … Read More

Penkridge Farm Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018

12 January 2023By Yvonne

Penkridge Farm Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 $40* There’s a lot of lusciousness going on in this little-known wine from one of the best Central Otago producers you’ve never heard of. A LOT of lusciousness. There’s also a lot of fresh spice, redcurrant and cherry complexity, a lick of mushroomy meatiness and it’s packed with … Read More

Penkridge Farm Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017

12 January 2023By Yvonne

Penkridge Farm Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 $40* Exotically aromatic and maturing very nicely, this pinot is awash with cranberry and cherry complexity, energetic, refreshing textures and lush, savoury, black tea notes on both the nose and palate. Youthful, yet developing some depth and earthiness which makes it really shine. Made by Antony Worch for … Read More

Carrick Josephine Bannockburn Riesling 2021

29 December 2022By Yvonne

Carrick Josephine Bannockburn Riesling 2021 $34 The name Josephine refers to the decorative variation of the ‘Carrick Bend’ nautical knot which appears on the front of the label. The knot is a metaphor for how the winery brings together viticulture, winemaking and their place. It also includes local landmarks like the Carrick mountain range, the Carrick … Read More

Te Kano Central Otago Rosé 2021

28 December 2022By Yvonne

Te Kano Central Otago Rosé 2021 $30 This is a lipsmacker of a rosé if ever there was. Coral-coloured and crafted from pinot noir grapes grown in the schist-rock soils of their Northburn vineyard,  it’s perfumed with red apple, raspberry and pink peppercorn and shows zesty redcurrant, pomegranate and spicy-dry characters on the palate. Deeply … Read More