Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2023 $24 It’d make perfect sense for Chenin Blanc to be Guillaume Thomas’ favourite white wine seeing as its a signature grape of the Loire and Guillaume also happens to be a signature child of the same place. Contrary to much of the chenin grown in New Zealand (and … Read More
Hawke’s Bay
Brookfields Highland Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2021
Brookfields Highland Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2021 $46 Owner and winemaker Peter Robertson has been making wine in Hawke’s Bay since the mid-1970s and when you’re in Hawke’s Bay for that long, you get to know Merlot incredibly well. In fact, Hawke’s Bay’s wine powers that be were considering dubbing the region “Hawke’s Bay, Merlot Country” … Read More
Tony Bish Fat & Sassy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2022
Tony Bish Fat & Sassy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2022 $22 Pronounced nectarine and lemon notes on the nose lead to a palate awash with stonefruit and preserved lemon layers wrapped around a sawdusty, toasty core. If ‘fatness’ to you means ‘creaminess’ then that’s not what you’ll receive, but if you’re a fan of toasty, spicy … Read More
Brookfields Sun-Dried Hawke’s Bay Malbec 2022
Brookfields Sun-Dried Hawke’s Bay Malbec 2022 $26 Winemaker Peter Roberston and his team hand-harvest their malbec and then lay the grapes out on racks to partially dry in the sun, much like the Italian appassimento technique to concentrate the flavours and accentuate the rich, fruity aromatics. The nose reveals rich, blueberry, boysenberry, cocoa and liquorice … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2022
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2022 $35 Cabernet franc is a rare thing to see on its own here in New Zealand, so it’s exciting whenever I see one, particularly one from one of the tiniest vineyards in Hawke’s Bay. Very new and youthfully fresh, it boasts a huge lift of bay leaf, blackcurrant, … Read More
Brookfields Back Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2022
Brookfields Back Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2022 $22 From a challenging vintage comes a highly approachable, friendly, softly fruited, softly peppered syrah grown at Ohiti on the banks of the Ngaruroro River. Classic florals and blackcurrant characters lead to iron sands tannins and a suede-like mid-palate texture and finish. Brookfields
Brookfields Fiesta Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2023
Brookfields Fiesta Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2023 $22 Crafted from free-run syrah juice (that’s the highest quality, delicately fresh juice which runs from the grape press before any pressing starts), this pretty, trout-pink rosé has summer days and warm sunsets written all over it. Generously flavoured with red apple, raspberry and a hint of creaming soda, … Read More
Brookfields Robertson Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2023
Brookfields Robertson Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2023 $22 From a crazy vintage involving (amongst other things) a cyclone which almost wiped Brookfields out, this pinot gris has emerged triumphantly fresh and clean and crammed with Brookfields signature notes of nashi juice, poached quince and soft baking spices on the nose and palate. Textural and dry … Read More
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2022
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2022 $39.99 Bright pineapple and luscious baked nectarine, grilled grapefruit and roast almond aromas and those core elements wash across the palate as well. Bright and juicy and roaring with peachy complexity. The textures in this wine are beautifully balanced, zippy-fresh and crunchy, adding extra oomph to its already powerful … Read More
Obliix Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah Malbec Viognier 2022
Obliix Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah Malbec Viognier 2022 $30 New from Sir George Fistonich and his winemaking team headed by Michelle Richardson comes the Oblix/Obliix brand. This is a hugely floral syrah-dominant wine, fleshed out with 12% malbec and 8% viognier to create a light, bright, highly juicy and fantastically fresh red wine that … Read More