Clearview Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2021

10 May 2023By Yvonne

Clearview Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2021 $45 The colour of this wine is what will wow you first. Pour it on a sunny day and marvel at its ruby, crimson, glossy gorgeousness. On the nose and palate, it’s a lightly-styled, soothing, gently-peppered example, showing lifted florals and a long, smooth finish. Crafted using fruit sourced … Read More

Elephant Hill Sea Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020

9 March 2023By Yvonne

Elephant Hill Sea Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020 $59 Wow! You definitely know this has come from an oceanfront vineyard (Te Awanga) because the vein of salinity is strong in this one. I love it! Super-juicy, beautiful oak handling, silky, succulent and crammed with grapefruit it’s 88% clone 15 and 22% clone 95 handpicked, whole bunch … Read More

Unison Wines And Relax Gimblett Gravels Red 2022

8 March 2023By Yvonne

Unison Wines And Relax Gimblett Gravels Red 2022 $22 It’s a totally new take on Gimblett Gravels syrah in that it’s light, bright, super-approachable, juicy and dangerously easy to drink. Not overtly peppery or muscular like what you’d expect from Gimblett Gravels syrah, instead it’s designed to also work well chilled. Yep – chilled! So … Read More

Monowai Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2022

7 March 2023By Yvonne

Monowai Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2022 $24.99 Paired with: Spicy Mexican Prawns in NZ Herald CANVAS March 11 2023 Coriander, lime, garlic, chipotle and chilli? Pardon me but I’m about to paradiddle down to pinot gris town with this prawn recipe (shout out to all the percussionists out there). The rocky, high-altitude, free-draining soils of … Read More

Monowai Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir Rosé 2022

3 March 2023By Yvonne

Monowai Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir Rosé 2022 $24.99 Sometimes I make myself do a personal SWOT analysis, and it’s never pleasant. The main reason I force myself through this excruciating exercise is so I can reward-slash-console myself at its conclusion with something delicious made by Emma Lowe at Monowai. Her new rosé brings the grins … Read More

Shed 530 Estate Hawke’s Bay Albariño 2022

3 March 2023By Yvonne

Shed 530 Estate Hawke’s Bay Albariño 2022 $23.99 Zesty-fresh and crunchy on the tongue and gums, this green apple-packed example is like an exfoliant for your palate. Dry, linear, lime-layered and mineral-dusted. It’ll also appeal to those who love a dry pinot gris or grigio as it has that whipcrack acidity and cleansing finish. Shed530 … Read More

Shed 530 Estate Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2022

3 March 2023By Yvonne

Shed 530 Estate Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2022 $23.99 Classic, tropic-tastic Hawke’s Bay sauvignon blanc on show here. Juicy, peachy, with hints of passionfruit and punchy pawpaw, it’s also edged with very attractive basil and lemongrassy layers. Softly structured, plush and easy on the gills, it’s a crowd-pleaser for sure. Shed530

Leveret Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2022

20 February 2023By Yvonne

Leveret Estate Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2022 $21.99 Crafted by Cam Duke, Hawke’s Bay’s own version of cool hand Luke, this generously juicy, sexy AF rosé is made from29.16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29.16% Cabernet Franc, 21.14% Syrah and 15,15% Merlot, but all that doesn’t really matter because all you really need to know is the finished pink … Read More

Trinity Hill Thomson’s Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020

19 January 2023By Yvonne

Trinity Hill Thomson’s Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020 $120 Soothing, stylish and stacked with dark berries, exotic spices, smoky notes and stitched together with graphite-dusted goodness. Grown on the steep slopes of Roys Hill, overlooking the Gimblett Gravels sub-region, this single vineyard syrah is fresh and finely tuned and the tannins have the perfect amount … Read More

Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

17 January 2023By Yvonne

Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 $45 Hailing from one of Hawke’s Bay’s ‘holy trinity’ of vintages (2019, 2020, 2021), the name Elspeth was given, years ago, to their flagship wines, after the owner/winemaker of the time Tim Preston’s grandmother, Elspeth Preston. Only released when the fruit is fantastic, this cabernet sauvignon would … Read More