Squawking Magpie The Gravels Syrah

June 24, 2016By Yvonne

Squawking Magpie The Gravels Syrah 2014  The impenetrable, inky-dark colour saturation is the first thing that gets you with this wine, it’s incredibly dense, dark, a stormcloud in a glass.   Perfumed with blackcurrant, cherry and pepper-dusted damson plums, the nose is exciting , spice-driven and has smoke around the edges.  Elegantly structured, the core … Read More

Beach House Gimblett Gravels Montepulciano 2013

March 22, 2016By Yvonne

Beach House Gimblett Gravels Montepulciano 2013 $45 ★★★★★ I swear the wines made by the small but perfectly formed team at Beach House wines on Hawke’s Bay’s Te Awanga Coast, just get better with every passing year.  Crafted from fruit sourced in the sun-trap that is the Gimblett Gravels (it’s always at least 2 degrees … Read More

Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Montepulciano 2014

December 1, 2015By Yvonne

Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Montepulciano 2014 $30 ★★★★ There’s less than 1ha planted of this super-savoury Italian red in Trinity Hill’s Gimblett Gravels vineyard – and there’s precious little planted elsewhere in the country.  It’s a hearty, ribsticking red with really interesting meaty, leathery notes, lovely hints of coughdrop and cocoa alongside pepper and smoky, … Read More

Elephant Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013

December 1, 2015By Yvonne

Elephant Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013 $69 ★★★★★ According to winemaker Steve Skinner, they did 33 different picks across their syrah vineyards, which, for a smallish, 200-odd tonne winery is a huge effort “but it was so worth it because we were able to single out some absolutely stunning parcels to make wines like this … Read More

Saint Clair Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013

December 1, 2015By Yvonne

Saint Clair Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013 $23 ★★★½ Being a pioneering Marlborough producer hasn’t stopped the Saint Clair crew from forging further into northern climes to nab themselves some prime red wine territory in Hawke’s Bay.  This syrah has all those classic plum, violet and pepper-driven spice characters that you’ll be asking for, alongside good … Read More

Craggy Range Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Rosé 2015

December 1, 2015By Yvonne

Craggy Range Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Rosé 2015 $29 ★★★★ Parcels of merlot and syrah were chosen and blended from Craggy Range’s vineyard in the sun-baked Gimblett Gravels district in Hawke’s Bay, gently pressed and slow-fermented to create a coral-pink wine packed with watermelon, guava and raspberry freshness.  On the palate there’s that zing of … Read More

Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Marsanne Viognier 2014

October 20, 2015By Yvonne

Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Marsanne Viognier 2014 $30 ★★★★½ I LOVE this local version of a French favourite.  With lifted, lemon verbena, crushed herbs, anise and white pepper characters on the nose followed by rich, juicy stonefruit and spice layers in the mouth, it’s just a joy to drink.  “2014 was a great year for … Read More

Vidal Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

September 14, 2015By Yvonne

Vidal Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 $19 ★★★★½ The gold medals are already swinging off the neck of this wine crafted by the ridiculously talented Hugh Crichton.  A blend of 57 % merlot, 35% cabernet sauvignon, 7% malbec and 1% cabernet franc, this wine hits that sweet spot between delivering muscular, meaty, dark … Read More

Esk Valley Gimblett Gravels Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2014

September 14, 2015By Yvonne

Esk Valley Gimblett Gravels Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2014 $19 ★★★★★ Super-glossy and garnet-black in the glass, this seriously-overdelivers-for-the-price wine has racked up an impressive pedigree of awards at major wine shows in recent years.  I love the aroma of soy, blackcurrant leaf, dried herbs and carob.  Black plum, biscuit oak and a backbone of … Read More