Petane Puriri Block Sfumato Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020 ($70) Pronounced ‘ss-foo-mah-toh’, the name of this new wine from WineFriend favourites Petane Wines, is named after a painting technique describing softening the transition between colours. But you knew that right? Art nerds will also understand that it mimics an area beyond what the human eye is … Read More
Hawke’s Bay
Coopers Creek SV Chalk Ridge Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2020
Coopers Creek SV Chalk Ridge Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2020 $24 Absolute classic Hawke’s Bay viognier here from a West Auckland icon. Bright apricot, orange zest and jasmine aromatics all saturate through to the palate and its solid acidity (hard to achieve in viognier) leaves an impressively zingy impression. Great stuff! Cellar door only
Crab Farm Hawke’s Bay Traminer Gris 2021
Crab Farm Hawke’s Bay Traminer Gris 2021 ($21) Paired with: Aromatic Steamed Salmon Parcels Canvas Magazine NZ Herald Nov 6th 2021 What you have here is gewürztraminer that’s been boosted by a splash of pinot gris which catapult the spicy notes into high gear. I really like it because it’s a rich, full-on, face slap … Read More
Wairiki Wines Grace Hawke’s Bay White Pinot 2021
Wairiki Wines Grace Hawke’s Bay White Pinot 2021 $25 This ultra-pale, apricot hue of this wine is the result of handpicked pinot noir being pressed as soon as the grapes arrive at the winery. This means only a teensy tweak of colour from those dark, pinot noir skins is able to bleed into the clear … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Arneis 2021
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Arneis 2021 $24 Wow! This grape is best known for being a Northern Italian stallion. However, when Frenchman Guillaume Thomas got hold of some and decided to grow it in the ancient soils left by the Tuki Tuki River in Havelock North, it’s become a Hawke’s Bay hero well and truly. … Read More
Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Redstone Syrah 2019
Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Redstone Syrah 2019 $120 The ‘treat ’em mean, keep ’em keen philosophy applied by winemaker Chris Scott to these vines, is pretty hardcore. I mean dropping the crop by 60%-70%? That’s practically abuse! And yet this Bridge Pa-grown wine tastes like its long, loose bunches have been lovingly cuddled and … Read More
Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Malbec 2020
Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Malbec 2020 $120 Cropped to just one bunch per shoot, a very meagre amount equating to roughly 1.2 – 1.3kg of fruit per 1m of canopy, it’s no wonder the wine smells and tastes so densely concentrated. Soft, suede-like tannins cloak a core of seasoned leather, graphite, smoky … Read More
Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Redstone Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2019
Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Redstone Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2019 $120 For a wine that hasn’t been fined or filtered, it’s deeply inky and glossy in the glass and the floral aspect is super-pretty. In addition to red rose, plum and boysenberry aromatics, classic Bridge Pa graphite and iron filings also unveil on the nose … Read More
Church Road One Redstone Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Redstone Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 $120 According to winemaker Chris Scott, cabernet sauvignon is an optimistic variety. “It’ll deal with stress in the vineyard calmly, just assuming things will improve, so it kind of sailed through the vagaries of the 2019 vintage easily,” he says. Clearly, the cabernet’s positive attitude paid … Read More
Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Gewürztraminer 2021
Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Gewürztraminer 2021 $23 Boasting classic rose petal, frangipane and gingerbread aromas which quickly morph into generously dry, rich, roasted peachy flavours in the mouth. Luscious, lengthy and loaded with personality and charm, winemaker Paul Dawick has done a delicious job with a wine produced only in special years. Millsreef.co.nz