Linden Estate Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Franc 2022 $36 Meeting Alex Hendry, Linden’s winemaker, is like meeting an elf-warrior who also happens to be a Mohican punk god that can conjure up magical Merlot-based blends that’ll drag you into his very tasty cult before you can scream “God Save The Queen!” Google him, click ‘images’ … Read More
Linden Estate
Linden Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah Blanc de Noir 2023
Linden Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah Blanc de Noir 2023 $32 It’s not everyday you see syrah made in the style of a white wine, right? But in a year when most of his vineyards were obliterated by Cyclone Gabrielle, winemaker Alex Hendry felt it couldn’t hurt to experiment. What did he have to lose? Well, … Read More
Linden Destination Series Dam Block Hawke’s Bay 2020
Linden Destination Series Dam Block Hawke’s Bay 2020 $64 While there’s a seriously decent splash of merlot in the mix, the cabernet force is strong in this one. Delivering layers of lifted tobacco, dark cocoa, espresso, iron filings, and dusty carpenter’s workshop notes on the nose and palate, it’s roaring with toasty, smoky complexity. The … Read More
Linden Estate Destination Series Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2021
Linden Estate Destination Series Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2021 $64 From one of the recent holy trinity of vintages (2019, 2020, 2021), this syrah has deliciously gentle ripeness, fragrant florals and fresh peppercorn characters, and a lick of bitter chocolate, blackcurrant, blueberry and leather on the nose and palate. It’s warming, soothing and terrifically textural, with … Read More
Linden Estate Destination Series Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2021
Linden Estate Destination Series Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2021 $64 If you’re a fan of classically rich Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay, you have skipped into the right cul-de-sac, my friend. Crafted by Alex Hendry and from one of the ‘holy trinity’ vintages of 2019, 2020 & 2021, this Chardonnay roars with scorched peach, grilled grapefruit, toasted almond … Read More
Linden Estate Peacock Block Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2019
Linden Estate Peacock Block Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2019 $24.99 2019 kicked off what would become one of the most exciting triple-vintage runs Hawke’s Bay’s ever seen. A sequence of superb harvests where spiciness saturated every red grape. Designed for the cellar, youthful and tightly-coiled, this wine also opens up with decanting or swirling. Bay leaf … Read More
Linden Estate NV Port
Made from mostly pinot noir blended with a little merlot that’s aged for 10 years in old French oak, is the Linden Estate NV Port ($27) Fruit is hand-harvested at the absolute highest ripeness level achievable for the given year and where possible, botrytised grapes are added to enhance the apricot notes in this sensationally … Read More
Linden Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2016
Linden Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2016 $20 I love how on the back label it says this wine would pair perfectly with charcoal-cooked muttonbird. And I thought my food matches pushed the envelope! This syrah is hits that balance between bright, vibrant florals and fruit and a deeply savoury spectrum that’s edged with white pepper … Read More
Linden Estate Reserve Dam Block 2016
Linden Estate Reserve Dam Block 2016 $48 Trevor Shepherd has finally released his series of Reserve ‘Dam Block’ blends, and this is my favourite so far. Featuring 72.5% merlot, 17.5% cabernet sauvignon and 10% cabernet franc, this savoury black-olive-and-spice fest shouts ‘Make way for the King!’ to a parade of berries and plums on the … Read More
Linden Estate Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah
Linden Estate Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2014 $48 ★★★★ This Esk Valley producer is on its way to completing a radical turnaround of fortunes, from being run into virtual non-existence, it’s been rescued and revitalised by sparkie-turned-winemaker Trevor Shepherd, who clearly has a knack for creating quality syrah. Intensely spicy and showing plum, dark berries, … Read More
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