Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018

July 9, 2019By Yvonne

Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 $25 With its nectarine and peachy creaminess and with cashew characters abound, this new chardonnay from Guillaume Thomas has got instant crowd-appeal.  Richly structured, but showing fresh, frisky acidity, it’s a juicy, easy drink with solid stonefruit complexity on the mid-palate and finish. www.maisonnoire.nz

Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2018

July 6, 2019By Yvonne

Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2018 ($29) Golden, glossy in the glass and heaving with crisp, lipsmacking acidity, toasted coconut and grapefruit characters alongside roasted apples and all manner of mineral-induced magic in the mouth.  Chenin blanc hails from the Loire Valley in France (which is where its winemaker Guillaume Thomas is also from) … Read More

Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2015

July 6, 2019By Yvonne

Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $12 Here’s where you need to get your thoughts away from the words ‘sauvignon blanc’ and think about it more as being a white wine made in a reduced, funky style, that’ll definitely spark debate if you took it along to a blind tasting.  A splash of viognier … Read More

Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Late Harvest Arneis 2018

October 29, 2018By Yvonne

Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Late Harvest Arneis 2018 $22 Arneis created in a dessert wine style is not something you see every day – especially not here in New Zealand.  It’s rare to even find arneis in its normal, dry form, let alone fashioned into a tantalisingly sweet, mandarin and quince-like triumph such as this.  … Read More

Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2018

October 29, 2018By Yvonne

Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2018 $20 Made by French winemaker Guillaume Thomas, this cabernet franc-based rosé is bursting with redcurrant, cranberry and pomegranate aromas and flavours. It’s pretty and trout-pink in the glass and there’s even a touch of creaming soda and tamarillo in there, too. Fresh, succulent, saucy, and with a hint of … Read More