Tony Bish Fat & Sassy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019

20 February 2020By Yvonne

Tony Bish Fat & Sassy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 $23.99 Of all the fat and sassy’s, I think the shiny, new 2019 vintage could very well be the plumpest and cheekiest and goldenest of them all.  Tony says he’s keeping it fat with lots of lees work, full malo and quality ripe fruit sourced mostly … Read More

Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019

12 February 2020By Yvonne

Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 $21.99 Word on the street is that 2019 was a cracker of a year in Hawke’s Bay for chardonnay and this little Rod McDonald creation definitely doesn’t let the side down.  It’s a seriously sippable, grin-inducing burst of nectarine, lemon zest, creamy almond and brulee notes.  There’s … Read More

Summer Sault Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2019 $25

6 February 2020By Yvonne

Summer Sault Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2019 $25 Produced by the Plowman family of Waiana Estate from 100% cinsault grapes grown in the Tuki Tuki Valley, this Provence-style rosé has been shepherded into the bottle by the freakishly talented Dave McKee of Black Barn fame.  Boasting a demurely pale, rose-gold, coral and apricot colour, hints of … Read More

Trinity Hill 125 Gimblett Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2018

30 January 2020By Yvonne

Trinity Hill 125 Gimblett Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2018 $80 100% Clone 95 chardonnay  was harvested from their Tin Shed Vineyard at 125 Gimblett Road, then lovingly shepherded into the bottle by the Trinity Team to create the debut ‘125’.  And I am all over it like a chardonnay-obsessed limpet.  Aromatically it shows stylish … Read More

Smith & Sheth Cru Heretaunga Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018

28 January 2020By Yvonne

Smith & Sheth Cru Heretaunga Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 $40 Holy buttered muffin Batman! This blend of clone 95, clone 15 and old Mendoza vines is one of three chardonnays released by Master of Wine Steve Smith and his team at Smith & Sheth, and it’s as complex as the design on the label.  Each … Read More

Brookfields Marshall Bank Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018

30 December 2019By Yvonne

Brookfields Marshall Bank Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 ($34.99) Paired with Pacifica Chicken Burgers in the NZ Herald Canvas Magazine 18.1.2020 I love me a chicken burger and given the chance I will always opt for a ripe, rumpty, roast peach-packed example to sip as I snack.  Right now, the Brookfields Marshall Bank Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay … Read More

Bostock Wines Vicki’s Vineyard Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2017

30 December 2019By Yvonne

Bostock Wines Vicki’s Vineyard Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2017 $35rrp Reviewed in NZ Herald Canvas Magazine and paired with Banh Mi Burgers Add extra vavoom to the viciously good Vietnamese flavours in this Bánh Mì burger by pairing it with the organically grown awesomeness of the Bostock Wines Vicki’s Vineyard Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2017 … Read More

de la terre Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016

19 December 2019By Yvonne

de la terre Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $40 Ex- Church Road winemaker Tony Prichard has sourced the fruit for this beautifully balanced blockbuster from his tiny, Hill Country Estate vineyard, up on Te Mata Peak. The super-ripe, ultra-clean grapes were 100% handpicked and 100% barrel fermented with a mixture of wild and inoculated yeasts … Read More

Moana Park Hawke’s Bay Blanc de Blanc NV

12 December 2019By Yvonne

Moana Park Hawke’s Bay Blanc de Blanc NV  $24.99 While the print on the label did remind me of a B&B bedspread and the brown writing is all a bit 1990’s wedding invitation, once that cork is popped, it’s all modern class and style. Scented with almond, lemon shortbread and cream, there’s an underlying bagel … Read More