Crab Farm Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018

16 February 2021By Yvonne

Crab Farm Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 $23 Seriously golden in the glass, this chardonnay oozes scorched peach, roasted almonds, vanilla high notes and a soft edge of pineapple on the finish. There’s a lick of butterscotch and spice, refreshing acidity and a creamy, textural backbone. A hint of popcorn, apricot, soft pepper and nougat notes. … Read More

Maison Noire Home Block Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2019

16 February 2021By Yvonne

Maison Noire Home Block Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2019 $28 Sourced from their tiny vineyard located high up on the Waimarama Road, this is a local take on a French favourite grape from the Loire Valley. This is Cabernet Franc crafted in a softer, more restrained style than most with fine-grained astringency in the mid-palate. … Read More

Maison Noire Single Vineyard Paki Paki Chardonnay 2020

16 February 2021By Yvonne

Maison Noire Single Vineyard Paki Paki Chardonnay 2020 $28 Just 75 cases were produced of this uber-refreshing chardonnay which is grown in the deep, limestone-laden soils of Hawke’s Bay’s Paki Paki sub-region, just south of Hastings. With its lifted almond, peach and lemon aromatics and creamy, softly oaky mid-palate and saturation of citrus on the … Read More

Maison Noire Home Block Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2020

16 February 2021By Yvonne

Maison Noire Home Block Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2020 $30 Crafted from fruit grown in a tiny coast-facing vineyard amongst the hills along the Waimarama Road, this chenin blanc has clean, creamy, almond and apple aromatics and a super-nice nougat and citrus custard character in the mid palate which I really really love. But the … Read More

Tironui Above & Beyond Hawke’s Bay Malbec Merlot Cabernet 2019

10 February 2021By Yvonne

Tironui Above & Beyond Hawke’s Bay Malbec Merlot Cabernet 2019 $35 This absolute mouthquake of a blend is comprised of 78% Malbec, 14% merlot and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and I am absolutely in love with it! Scented with cedar, blueberry, black doris plum and smoky vanilla vavoom, the palate is saturated with boysenberry, licks of … Read More

Unison Merlin’s Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2015

6 February 2021By Yvonne

Unison Merlin’s Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2015 $38 22 months of careful barrel aging in the first instance, combined with another couple of years of sleepy years in the bottle, this classic Gimblett Gravels merlot is fleshing out in fabulous fashion. Leather layers merge with soft pepper, damson plum and blueberry notes to create a … Read More

Wither Hills Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018

31 January 2021By Yvonne

Wither Hills Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018 $21.99 If plump, plush, earthy-edged, fleshy merlot is your bag, then get set for a tote-ally (geddit) smooth and saucy experience with this super sipper from Wither Hills. Soft caramelised oak gives a hint of smoke and plummy, red berry notes round out the palate. Nicely done. http://www.witherhills.co.nz

Beach House Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2018

20 January 2021By Yvonne

Beach House ‘F’ Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2018 $25 Here’s a fact. If it weren’t for cabernet franc, we wouldn’t have any cabernet sauvignon. You see, back in the mists of time, cabernet franc had some sexy-time with a saucy little sauvignon blanc vine and when the sap began to rise in the springtime, a … Read More

Abbey Estate Bridge Pa Temptation Malbec 2019

31 December 2020By Yvonne

Abbey Estate Bridge Pa Temptation Malbec 2019 $25 Inky magenta in the glass and grizzling around the gills with earthy spices and gamey, wild and woolly notes. Malbec as a single varietal in Hawke’s Bay is not a common thing, particularly in the Bridge Pa area. so when someone decides to bottle it solo, my … Read More

Paritua Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019

21 December 2020By Yvonne

Paritua Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 $44.99 Every chardonnay lover under the sun will be skating, skedaddling, scootering and sprinting to get a bottle or twelve of this for their cellar as soon as they know how darn delicious it is. The Bridge Pa Triangle district, where this is grown, is fast becoming a hotspot for … Read More