Little X Hawkes’ Bay Syrah 2014

December 6, 2018By Yvonne

Little X Hawkes’ Bay Syrah 2014 $14.99-$20  Pepper and berries and cherries and all things merries.  This is a cracker of a syrah with a ripe core of black fruits, violets, buckets of spice and a hint of cocoa.  Made by Tim Adams from a small parcel of fruit from a vineyard located in the sun-trap … Read More

Snapper Rock Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2016 $16.99

December 1, 2018By Yvonne

Snapper Rock Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2016 $16.99 Sweetly fruited on the nose, this is, like its namesake, a snappy little red blend that’s a great value quaffer.  Smooth, velvety and showing plum, cherry and redcurrant characters on  the finish.  Simple, yummy and dangerously drinkable.   trade $11.08

Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2017

November 24, 2018By Yvonne

Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2017 $21.99 Punchy and peppery right upfront then followed by juicy raspberry and cherry and light leathery, earthy notes on the palate.  It’s a great introduction to good, affordable, Gimblett Gravels syrah and as soon as you’ve tasted it you’ll be hooked!

Redmetal Vineyards Basket Press Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2015

November 19, 2018By Yvonne

Redmetal Vineyards Basket Press Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2015 $36 Direct from the jazz hands of master Bridge Pa syrah winemaker, Grant Edmonds, this is a plump, plush, softly-peppered style that is drinking darn nicely now.  Earthy, and with elaborately elastic tannins, this is supple and sumptuous.  Buy now, drink now or forever kick yourself.

39°below Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2016

November 18, 2018By Yvonne

39°below Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2016 $25  Paul McEvoy has created one of the smoothest, cuddliest, most dangerously drinkable blends of merlot and cabernet that I’ve had the pleasure of slipping down my esophagus in a long time.  Erupting with vanilla, sweet, smoky layers, buckets of ripe berries and soft plum on the nose and … Read More

Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Late Harvest Arneis 2018

October 29, 2018By Yvonne

Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Late Harvest Arneis 2018 $22 Arneis created in a dessert wine style is not something you see every day – especially not here in New Zealand.  It’s rare to even find arneis in its normal, dry form, let alone fashioned into a tantalisingly sweet, mandarin and quince-like triumph such as this.  … Read More

Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2018

October 29, 2018By Yvonne

Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2018 $20 Made by French winemaker Guillaume Thomas, this cabernet franc-based rosé is bursting with redcurrant, cranberry and pomegranate aromas and flavours. It’s pretty and trout-pink in the glass and there’s even a touch of creaming soda and tamarillo in there, too. Fresh, succulent, saucy, and with a hint of … Read More

39° Below Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2018

October 15, 2018By Yvonne

39° Below Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2018 $25  For starters how pretty does this look in the glass?  A touch of skin contact has given it the softest, sexiest blush of pink and I love how it rocks classic quince and nashi niceness on the nose, followed by ripe stonefruit, punchy acidity and tongue-tingling textures … Read More

39°Below Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018

October 14, 2018By Yvonne

39°Below Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $17.95  So fresh, frisky, vibrant and packed solid with lemongrass, basil, sweet lemon verbena notes, this wine also boasts buckets of passionfruit and nectarine on the nose and palate.  It’s a ripe and rumpty sauvignon blanc that’s so friendly and feisty, it’ll please even the fussiest sauvignon snob.  Paul McEvoy … Read More

Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2017

October 8, 2018By Yvonne

Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2017 $24  Bold, juicy and ready for action, this velvety-smooth red has cocoa, dark cherry, plum and peppery warmth on the palate.  It’s fleshy, beautifully textured and fabulous with moussaka. www.millsreef.co.nz