Santé to Maison Noire by Yvonne LorkinNovember 29, 2022 Photo: Florence Charvin “My perfect Christmas present?” asks artist Esther Smith. “Easy. A trailer load of mulch.” Not exactly what I was expecting when asking Esther and her husband, winemaker Guillaume Thomas of Maison Noire wines, what their Christmas wishes were for 2022. But as I quickly … Read More
maison noire
Maison Noire Teroldego Hawke’s Bay Hand Picked Single Vineyard Port 2021
Maison Noire Teroldego Hawke’s Bay Hand-Picked Single Vineyard Port 2021 $28 Teroldego is a red grape variety grown primarily in the northeastern region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy and there’s a school of thought that it may be related to Marzemino (which is grown in Hawke’s Bay by Church Road) So one could come to the … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2021
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2021 $35 The nose of this wine absolutely roars with bay leaf and bouquet garni characters, a dusting of dark cocoa, gentle, plush plums and boysenberries ahoy! Classic cabernet characters of cigar box and cedar merge with blackcurrant, dark cherry, hints of black olive and briny goodness … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Arneis 2022
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Arneis 2022 $25 Just 170 cases were made of this lusciously lemony, apple and apricot-laced, peach-packed Italian favourite made in Hawke’s Bay. Guillaume Thomas has created a juicy, multi-layered white wine with a splash of sweetness that’ll wake up even the most tired tastebuds with its nectarine and honeysuckle intensity. Hints … Read More
Maison Noire Home Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020
Maison Noire Home Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020 $40 Wow. This is one sexy wine! Deep, glossy and crimson-hued, I love the waft of caramelised spices, coffee, sweet cocoa and buckets of baked fruit on the nose. It’s intensely fragrant and gushes with peppercorns, red currant and smoked cherry flavours on the palate. The tannins … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020 $25 With its deliciously soft tannins, pencil shavings complexity, fragrant pepper, redcurrant, pomegranate, juicy spices and Black Doris plum punchiness, this is a superb example from a hugely exciting red wine vintage. Just 85 dozen bottles were made to satisfy a growing fanbase, so best you get in quick … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Freisa 2021
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Freisa 2021 $25 re-tasted Sept 24 2022 – rating re-evaluated to 4 star Bright, garnet-hued, Freisa is Latin for ‘strawberry’ and it’s a very rare little Italian grape that grows mainly in the Monferrato and Langhe areas in the Piemonte region. It dates back to the middle ages. Despite the name … Read More
Maison Noire Home Block Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2021
Maison Noire Home Block Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2021 $30 Grown in the deep limestone soils of winemaker Guillaume Thomas’ home vineyard high up on the Waimarama Road, this bracingly fresh, frisky, apple-edged chenin blanc is absolutely heaving with flavour and personality. Grapefruit, guava, stacks of citrus and overflowing with honeysuckle and jasmine florals. it’s … Read More
Maison Noire Ngatarawa Road Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2021
Maison Noire Ngatarawa Road Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2021 $28 Just 120 cases were made of this refreshing, roast peach and citrus-laced chardonnay sourced from a vineyard in the iron-rich soils of Bridge Pa on Ngatarawa Road. Caramelised toasty oak, balanced acidity, cashew characters, orange zest, it’s all here. French winemaker Guillaume Thomas has crafted a … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Arneis 2021
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Arneis 2021 $24 Wow! This grape is best known for being a Northern Italian stallion. However, when Frenchman Guillaume Thomas got hold of some and decided to grow it in the ancient soils left by the Tuki Tuki River in Havelock North, it’s become a Hawke’s Bay hero well and truly. … Read More