Hãhã Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014 $19.99 ★★★½ Bright cherry, raspberry and spices waft from the glass and merge with gentle cola and cocoa notes in the mouth. Youthful and fruity, it’s easy, fresh and silky to drink. www.hahawine.co.nz
marlborough
Wairau River Marlborough Pinot Gris 2015
Wairau River Marlborough Pinot Gris 2015 $19.99 ★★★ This is a bright, shiny new pinot gris that has classic green apple, pear and squinty quince characters alongside lifted spicy notes and a seriously tangy finish. The texture has a powdery, chalky feel to it which adds interest – but a few more months in the … Read More
Behave Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014
Behave Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014 $42 ★★★★ Classic aromas of baked berries, cherries and earthy, musky notes lead the way to a super-soft, almost creamy palate that’s generous and gentle. There’s a subtle dusting of spice around the edge of some sweet fruit and stretchy tannins. Nice stuff. www.odysseywines.co.nz
Pinot Trail Tales…
Cloudy Bay’s winemaker Nick Lane is racing around the country hosting the Cloudy Bay Pinot and Duck Trail, a series of events designed to showcase how pinot noir and duck dishes are a match made in heaven. Today he’s at Auckland’s Sapphire Room where three of the best chefs in town are preparing duck-centric dishes … Read More
Cloudy Bay Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013
Cloudy Bay Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 $47 ★★★★ The clay-based, alluvial gravels of Marlborough’s southern valleys provide the fuel for the vines charged with producing this powerhouse pinot. It bursts with black cherry, plum, black tea and smoky spices on the nose, followed by a saucy, fruit-soaked palate and a long, lingering finish. It’s youthful, … Read More
Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Fairbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014 ($34) ★★★★½ Intensely fruity on the nose, with lime, lemongrass, passionfruit and white peach all flooding through onto the palate as well. I love the bruised basil and lemon verbena notes that are carried along by ultra-tangy acidity and a solid, succulent spine. Lovely stuff from winemaker Sarah Inkersell. www.fairbourne.co.nz
Toi Toi Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Toi Toi Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014 $18 ★★★½ If you like your sauvignon packed with passionfruit, lime, basil, pea pod and peach flavours then you’d best get your keyboard out and order some of this pronto. Uncomplicated, fresh, zingy and superb with steamed mussels – what more do you need? www.toitoiwines.co.nz
Decades of Dogs…
Last week I wrote about everything being better in two’s and how fun it is to taste two different vintages of the same wine side by side to pick out the differences. Well if the team at Dog Point in Marlborough didn’t just decide to dial that idea up by 500% and open up ten … Read More
An Isabel Experience
Brad Tiller and his dog, Rhombus. It was a Wednesday, what was I thinking? “Come out for dinner with us,” said my friend Michael. “Brad Tiller from Isabel Vineyard is bringing a bunch of his wines over and the team at Cook ‘n’ With Gas on Worcester Boulevard has designed a menu to match. It’ll … Read More
New Sauvignon Sensations
Last August was the 40th anniversary of the very first grape vines to be planted in Marlborough’s Brancott Valley. More than 1100ha were planted (by hand and by the sight of a rifle to ensure straight rows) in a smorgasbord of varieties, including riesling sylvaner, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and one nobody had really heard … Read More