Bob short for kate Organic Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019

8 April 2020By Yvonne

Bob short for Kate Organic Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 $tbc So your plan’s not cunning enough to pin a tail on and call it a weasel?  Fret not.  It’ll never measure up to Kate’s scheme of disguising herself as a boy and calling herself ‘Bob’ to become Lord Blackadder’s manservant and keep a roof over … Read More

Mr Glover Marlborough Chardonnay 2019

8 April 2020By Yvonne

Mr Glover Marlborough Chardonnay 2019 ($27) This wine is exactly what I’m looking for in chardonnay.  In terms of fruit concentration, it’s epic.  In terms of oak-soaked tropicality, it’s epic.  In terms of having peachy, shortcakey complexity and all the makings of being a bad boy in a bottle, it’s again, epic.  Fresh acidity accentuates … Read More

Zephyr Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2019

27 March 2020By Yvonne

Zephyr Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2019 $29 West of the Gin Wharf and the Whitebait Pozzie, on the Northside of the Opawa River, lies the Stopbank Block, and that’s where the Glover family have their gewürztraminer grapevines growing in deep, Kaiapoi silt loam soils.  Back in 1988 Owen Glover began converting the family dairy farm to vineyards … Read More

Zephyr Marlborough Chardonnay 2017

25 March 2020By Yvonne

Zephyr Marlborough Chardonnay 2017 $27.99 Reviewed for NZ Herald Canvas Magazine March 28 2020 – paired with Annabel Langbein’s Cheesy Vegetable Gratin recipe. Comfort food like this deserves comfort wine, right?  Well there’s no reason why that comfortable, cuddly wine can’t also be whipcrack sexy at the same time.  That’s all a’happening with the Zephyr … Read More

Thirty One Rows Northbank Marlborough Rosé 2019

8 March 2020By Yvonne

Thirty One Rows Northbank Marlborough Rosé 2019 $24.99 Finding a 14% pinot noir rosé that still maintains finesse and delicacy is a rare thing, but this wine has cracked it.  Using organically grown fruit from the emerging, Northbank subregion of Marlborough (where he’s also building a family home on the rock formations depicted on the … Read More

Smith & Sheth Cru Wairau Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019

8 March 2020By Yvonne

Smith & Sheth Cru Wairau Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 $28 Each of the vertical panels on the label represents the exact genome sequence of the DNA of the grape varieties that Smith & Sheth grow.  With lemongrassy layers stitched together with powerful passionfruit lime, basil and nectarine notes, it’s incredibly juicy to drink, generously proportioned, … Read More

Jules Taylor Marlborough Chardonnay 2019

3 March 2020By Yvonne

Jules Taylor Marlborough Chardonnay 2017 $23 Its roasted stonefruit and grilled citrus notes on the nose merge like a zip with soft nougat and brulee flavours in the mouth, making it a creamy, silky chardonnay that’ll soothe the throat and clear the nostrils nicely.  Not overtly oaky, and definitely soothing, it’s ballerina-balanced and will easily … Read More

Mills Reef Reserve Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017

2 March 2020By Yvonne

Mills Reef Reserve Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017 $23.99 If you’re able to get your hands on this vintage then you’re a lucky sausage – because there’s precious little available and yet it’s drinking SOOOOO (that’s 5 ‘o’s so it’s a banger)  nicely.  Smooth and cherry-driven, layered with black tea and cocoa and showing a luscious … Read More

Summerhouse Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019

26 February 2020By Yvonne

Summerhouse Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 $16.99 It’s a tropical nirvana of guava, passionfruit, pineapple, papaya and plane-loads of punchy citrus for good measure.  It’s exactly the style of sauvignon blanc that will wow the crowds and please the masses and bring the grins.  Ripe, fleshy and riddled with wham-a-lam-a-ding-dong deliciousness for under twenty bucks that … Read More

Hunter’s Home Block Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019

19 February 2020By Yvonne

Hunter’s Home Block Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 ($30) They might be one of Marlborough (nay, New Zealand’s) oldest and most successful wine companies, but it’s taken them until now to declare an ‘icon’ release sauvignon blanc.  Their young winemaker, James Macdonald has been fizzing at the bung to test what’s possible with sauvignon blanc, whilst … Read More