Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Freisa 2021 $25 re-tasted Sept 24 2022 – rating re-evaluated to 4 star Bright, garnet-hued, Freisa is Latin for ‘strawberry’ and it’s a very rare little Italian grape that grows mainly in the Monferrato and Langhe areas in the Piemonte region. It dates back to the middle ages. Despite the name … Read More
Hawke’s Bay
Maison Noire Home Block Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2021
Maison Noire Home Block Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2021 $30 Grown in the deep limestone soils of winemaker Guillaume Thomas’ home vineyard high up on the Waimarama Road, this bracingly fresh, frisky, apple-edged chenin blanc is absolutely heaving with flavour and personality. Grapefruit, guava, stacks of citrus and overflowing with honeysuckle and jasmine florals. it’s … Read More
Maison Noire Ngatarawa Road Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2021
Maison Noire Ngatarawa Road Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2021 $28 Just 120 cases were made of this refreshing, roast peach and citrus-laced chardonnay sourced from a vineyard in the iron-rich soils of Bridge Pa on Ngatarawa Road. Caramelised toasty oak, balanced acidity, cashew characters, orange zest, it’s all here. French winemaker Guillaume Thomas has crafted a … Read More
Crab Farm Hawke’s Bay Pinotage 2019
Crab Farm Hawke’s Bay Pinotage 2019 $35 Pinotage is a really rare red style in New Zealand and over the years they’ve been a bit of a mixed bag – but strap yourself in because Crab Farm has crafted a very juicy, very drinkable and totally delightful example. Buckets of vanilla and spice on the … Read More
Crab Farm Hawke’s Bay Gewürztraminer 2020
Crab Farm Hawke’s Bay Gewürztraminer 2020 $22 Lifted aromatics of ginger, lychee, musky notes and nutmeg-sprinkled quince literally leap out of the glass and blend with fresh apple and peach on the palate. Classically styled, refreshing, spicy and needs a good 45-minute chill before serving. Crab Farm
Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2020
Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2020 $24 2020 is proving itself to be an absolute smasher of a vintage for Hawke’s Bay reds and this merlot, at $24, is, I think, one of the best value examples on the New Zealand market right now. Grown in the Gimblett Gravels, in Trinity Hill’s Tin Shed vineyard, … Read More
Kelly Washington Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2019
Kelly Washington Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2019 $50 Sourced from the iron-rich soils of the Bridge Pa Triangle district, this is a velvety-smooth example scented with blackcurrant leaf, dark cocoa, a hint of liquorice and blueberry. All those characters wash across the palate and leave a warm, woolly, textural finish. 100% cabernet franc isn’t the … Read More
Brookfields Robertson Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2021
Brookfields Robertson Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2021 $21 Super-fresh and snappy, this pinot gris punches out nashi, white peach and yellow plum plushness. Bright acidity, soft baking spices and satisfying, mouthfilling, length of flavour. Nicely made indeed. Brookfields
Trinity Hill Molly’s Block Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2021
Trinity Hill Molly’s Block Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2021 $39 A very small but very special parcel of syrah sourced from the river-sands soils of the Moteo Pa sub-region was used to craft this ultra-dry and redcurrant-edged rosé. It’s cleansing and delicately designed, yet it’s packing buckets of pink peppercorn and crushed seashell minerality into every … Read More
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2020
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2020 $39.99 The dream team of Warren Gibson and Damian Fischer strike again with a chardonnay crafted with class. Erupting with grilled nectarine, grapefruit pith, creme brulee and buttered crumpet characters, its core of citrus and peach is stitched together with toasted almonds and nicely tweaked acid tension. It’s a … Read More