VNO Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2014 $16.99 ★★★½ If you’re a fan of tropical, fruit-salad-like chardonnay, then I’m sure this will definitely become a new fave for your fridge this summer. Chardonnay like this can really suffer if it’s served too cold, so with its temperature sensitive label to tell you exactly when to take it … Read More
Hawke’s Bay
VNO ‘Skinny’ Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2015
VNO ‘Skinny’ Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2015 $16.99 ★★★★ At just 9% alcohol and 96 calories per serve this is definitely on the light side of the swing, and with it’s aromas of soft raspberry, cranberry and cherry, you think it’s going to stay there. However in the mouth this wine has WAY more punch, with … Read More
Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2015
Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2015 $24 ★★★★½ I love the heady quince, spiced apple and peach custard aromas, while in the mouth the wine has a sexy, creamy dryness. There’s a lovely rich, yet chalky texture to this wine and it’s all wrapped up in a long, full, finish. Clean, satisfying and … Read More
Sam Hunt Hawke’s Bay Merlot Malbec 2014
Sam Hunt Hawke’s Bay Merlot Malbec 2014 $24.95 ★★★ “Winter is a warm hearth…” is a line from Hunt’s poem Rainbows and that’s exactly where I’d imagine you should enjoy this wine; either that, or with juicy, fatty snarlers sizzled and oh-so-slightly charred on the BBQ. Dark magenta-black in the glass and showing pepper, prune, … Read More
Twenty Five Years for Alpha Domus
Happy Birthday Alpha Domus “It’s a great time to celebrate 25 years of being in the wine trade,” says a clearly chuffed Paul Ham of Alpha Domus as he introduced a room full of hospitality professionals in Wellington recently. “It’s also the perfect time to introduce you all to the 2013 Aviator and 2013 Navigator. … Read More
Chefs Create ‘Zealous Passion’Tribute to Noel Crawford
MEDIA RELEASE NZ Top chefs join for top dinner Avid foodies will have to be quick to get tickets as some of New Zealand’s best chefs create a four-course dinner on 30th August 2014 in celebration of their friend and colleague the late Noel Crawford. But that’s not all. Their purchase will raise funds … Read More
New Zealand’s First 2014 Sauvignon Blanc Released Today
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Hawke’s Bay releases the nation’s first 2014 “Sauvy” Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand – April 1st 2014 – Marlborough may be the home of Sauvignon Blanc but this year Hawke’s Bay is its home-away-from-home, as the first Sauvignon Blanc of the season hits the market today care of local winery Moana Park. The “Crush … Read More
Let’s be Franc…
When it comes to popular wine varieties cabernet franc is the bridesmaid of the Bordeaux family. Essential in that everyone expects it to be there, (to make up the numbers and keep the feng shui of all the flavours in balance) but it never seems to be singled out for much attention. I absolutely love … Read More
Stonecroft 30th Anniversary Shindig!
An interesting wee invitation popped into my inbox from the lovely Andria Monin from Stonecroft in Hawke’s Bay “We will be celebrating Stonecroft’s 30th anniversary at Labour Weekend. As you know, since we took over at Stonecroft in 2010 we have held an Annual Vintage Sale at Labour Weekend, where we have brought out some … Read More
Balthazar Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Franc 2010
Balthazar Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Franc 2010 $25 Inky and glossy in the glass, it’s a deep, brooding, earthy wine which is stitched together with violet, dark berryfruit, pepper, smoke and hints of graphite. Succulent, solid tannins add to its chewy length of flavour and its potential to cellar nicely indeed.