Te Awanga Estate One Off Underground Organic Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 $33 Grown out in the rocky soils of what the locals call ‘the RD9’ (or Maraekakaho to the townies), this organic chardonnay comes courtesy of the skilled winemaking wizardry of Rod McDonald. Wait. How rocky are the soils I hear you ask? Ok. So … Read More
Hawke’s Bay
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 $25 With its nectarine and peachy creaminess and with cashew characters abound, this new chardonnay from Guillaume Thomas has got instant crowd-appeal. Richly structured, but showing fresh, frisky acidity, it’s a juicy, easy drink with solid stonefruit complexity on the mid-palate and finish. www.maisonnoire.nz
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2018
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2018 ($29) Golden, glossy in the glass and heaving with crisp, lipsmacking acidity, toasted coconut and grapefruit characters alongside roasted apples and all manner of mineral-induced magic in the mouth. Chenin blanc hails from the Loire Valley in France (which is where its winemaker Guillaume Thomas is also from) … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $12 Here’s where you need to get your thoughts away from the words ‘sauvignon blanc’ and think about it more as being a white wine made in a reduced, funky style, that’ll definitely spark debate if you took it along to a blind tasting. A splash of viognier … Read More
Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018
Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 $18 If you’re looking for a chardonnay boasting peachy punchiness, a lick of creaminess, a sprinkling of nuttiness and citrus all the way home, then you’ve come to the correct cul-de-sac. It’s fresh, feisty and has crowd appeal written all over it. With its whimsical label … Read More
Te Awanga Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018
Te Awanga Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 $28.99 Crafted by Rod McDonald, a winemaker seemingly blessed with the syrah version of jazz hands for every vintage, this is a plum and pepper-scented sensation was sourced from fruit grown west of Hastings, an area famous for producing the iron-rich, Bridge Pa soils and the prestigious, deep, … Read More
Hãhã Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2018
Hãhã Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2018 $18 So bright and bouncy and bursting with baked pear and spiced peach notes on the nose and palate, this is a nicely balanced gris that’s generously proportioned yet very refreshing and crisp. Hints of cashew and apple unveil on the finish too. Nicely made. www.hahawine.co.nz
Hãhã Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018
Hãhã Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018 $18 This new release is a super-smashable red that sings plum, plum and more plum! Warm and cuddly in the mouth, it coats the palate with cocoa and spice and slips down far too easily. Edged with pepper, the tannins are soft and woolly, yet add a hint of chew … Read More
Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019
Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019 $21.99 A squeak of skin contact has given this gris a super-sexy rose-gold blush in the glass and aroma-wise it ticks all the boxes in terms of quince, baked pear, peachy notes and all sorts of fresh spices that also osmose across the palate. The acidity … Read More
Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $17.99 I was tasting this wine whilst looking at a recipe for Spinach, Pea & Parmesan Risotto and sauvignon blanc immediately springs to mind the second I see spinach and peas in any recipe. But you don’t want just any old sauvignon, oh no. You need … Read More