Monowai Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2022 $24.99 Paired with: Spicy Mexican Prawns in NZ Herald CANVAS March 11 2023 Coriander, lime, garlic, chipotle and chilli? Pardon me but I’m about to paradiddle down to pinot gris town with this prawn recipe (shout out to all the percussionists out there). The rocky, high-altitude, free-draining soils of … Read More
Hawke’s Bay
Monowai Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir Rosé 2022
Monowai Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir Rosé 2022 $24.99 Sometimes I make myself do a personal SWOT analysis, and it’s never pleasant. The main reason I force myself through this excruciating exercise is so I can reward-slash-console myself at its conclusion with something delicious made by Emma Lowe at Monowai. Her new rosé brings the grins … Read More
Shed 530 Estate Hawke’s Bay Albariño 2022
Shed 530 Estate Hawke’s Bay Albariño 2022 $23.99 Zesty-fresh and crunchy on the tongue and gums, this green apple-packed example is like an exfoliant for your palate. Dry, linear, lime-layered and mineral-dusted. It’ll also appeal to those who love a dry pinot gris or grigio as it has that whipcrack acidity and cleansing finish. Shed530 … Read More
Shed 530 Estate Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Shed 530 Estate Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2022 $23.99 Classic, tropic-tastic Hawke’s Bay sauvignon blanc on show here. Juicy, peachy, with hints of passionfruit and punchy pawpaw, it’s also edged with very attractive basil and lemongrassy layers. Softly structured, plush and easy on the gills, it’s a crowd-pleaser for sure. Shed530
Leveret Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2022
Leveret Estate Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2022 $21.99 Crafted by Cam Duke, Hawke’s Bay’s own version of cool hand Luke, this generously juicy, sexy AF rosé is made from29.16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29.16% Cabernet Franc, 21.14% Syrah and 15,15% Merlot, but all that doesn’t really matter because all you really need to know is the finished pink … Read More
Trinity Hill Thomson’s Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020
Trinity Hill Thomson’s Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020 $120 Soothing, stylish and stacked with dark berries, exotic spices, smoky notes and stitched together with graphite-dusted goodness. Grown on the steep slopes of Roys Hill, overlooking the Gimblett Gravels sub-region, this single vineyard syrah is fresh and finely tuned and the tannins have the perfect amount … Read More
Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 $45 Hailing from one of Hawke’s Bay’s ‘holy trinity’ of vintages (2019, 2020, 2021), the name Elspeth was given, years ago, to their flagship wines, after the owner/winemaker of the time Tim Preston’s grandmother, Elspeth Preston. Only released when the fruit is fantastic, this cabernet sauvignon would … Read More
The Flying Winemaker Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019
The Flying Winemaker Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 $30 If you were expecting a syrah that simply offered bog-standard violets and pepper, this one delivers SO much more than that. It delivers joy and wonder and unicorns and dreams and glittery goodness all wrapped up in a spicy, blueberry-cloaked cloud. Bright, energetic, and dangerously easy to … Read More
Leveret Estate Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2020
Leveret Estate Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2020 $25.99 Paired with: The Ultimate Beef Burgers by Annabel Langbein in the NZ Herald Jan 28 2023 Eating burgers isn’t something you can do sexily. Unless you’re Anya Taylor-Joy of course. Her character Margot gets to masticate Chef Slowik’s meaty offering in that mind-bending movie The Menu. … Read More
I review the 2020 Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Chardonnay Selection
I review the 2020 Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Chardonnay Selection. Twelve wines whittled down from dozens submitted that were judged by Cameron Douglas MS to reflect the absolute finest examples created from the 2020 vintage from the Hawke’s Bay region. I love that there’s a healthy sub-regional spread in terms of where they were grown and … Read More