Monowai Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2020 $24.99 2020 clearly shined bright on the grapes grown on the Ngaruroro River terraces by winemaker Emma Lowe and her Chilean viticulturist husband Marcelo Nunez. The high altitude, rocky, free-draining soils of the Matapiro sub-region inland west of Hastings, is superb for turning out tasty pinot gris. All the … Read More
Hawke’s Bay
Unison Maestro Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018
Unison Maestro Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 $32 Just 1733 bottles were made of this toasty mctoastfest of a chardonnay, so if you’re a fan of that oaky, nutty style then don’t dally! Crafted by a Gimblett Gravels producer best known for their stylish red wines, this well-made wine proves they’re no slouch in the chardonnay … Read More
Petane Station Bellbird Block Gewürztraminer 2020
Petane Station Bellbird Block Gewürztraminer 2020 $36 With just 70 dozen made of this lychee-laden little lovely from out Esk Valley way, by the time I finish writing this review it’ll possibly all be gone! My individually numbered bottle (the gorgeous no. 915) poured a perfectly pale gold wine, bursting with baking spices, mango, rosewater … Read More
Bostock Wines Vicki’s Vineyard Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017
Bostock Wines Vicki’s Vineyard Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017 $50 I deliberately left this wine for a year from release to taste it because from what I’d read about how it was made, I figured a little time would really elevate things immensely. Sometimes I do actually have ideas that work out for the best because … Read More
Te Awanga Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019
Te Awanga Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 $24.99 Crafted by Rod McDonald, this coastally-grown chardonnay has unique aromas of seabreezes and custard squares and peach conserve spread on buttered toast with charred edges. It’s creamy, stonefruit saturated and licked with a whisker of white pepper which adds complexity and yumness (should totally be a word) … Read More
Askerne Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon, Sauvignon Gris, Semillon 2018
Askerne Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon, Sauvignon Gris, Semillon 2018 $23.90 Fish Tacos with tomatillo and avocado sauce Hands down the best thing you can possibly sip with these seriously spicy fish tacos, is the Askerne Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon, Sauvignon Gris, Semillon 2018 ($23.90) It’s heaving with herbaceousness, lemongrass, white pepper and tarragon-infused terrificness. Sauvignon gris is … Read More
Unison Bumble Bee Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019
Unison Bumble Bee Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019 $24 Paired with :Crispy spiced onion fritter burgers with mango chutney in Dish Magazine Issue 93 No question, the best possible thing to put in your mouth after these superb burgers, is the Unison Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019 ($24). It’s a dry-styled pinot gris with buckets … Read More
Zaria Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019
Zaria Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 $30 Winemaker Bryce Edmonds has crafted this chardonnay from hand-picked, Mendoza-clone fruit that was whole-bunch pressed into 33% new oak and the lees were regularly stirred for 10 months to inject creamy complexity. The aromatics scream roast peach and pineapple, while hints of brulee and nougat also sneak through on … Read More
Hunting Lodge Tennessee Red Hawke’s Bay Merlot Malbec 2019
Hunting Lodge Project X Tennessee Red Hawke’s Bay Merlot Malbec 2019 $36 Well yippee ki yay, if it isn’t the deepest, darkest, inkiest red to hit my stirrups in ages. The Project X is big, bold and muscular in all the right places, supersized into the realms of smoke and vanilla from being aged in … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Arneis 2020
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Arneis 2020 $22 Guillaume Thomas has been crafting some of the best local Arneis I’ve ever tasted, and clearly this Italian variety (nicknamed Little Rascal due to its fussy, tricky nature) thrives in the lime and clay soils of his tiny vineyard on the Waimarama Road. Crammed with creamy nectarine, peach … Read More