Te Kairanga Runholder Martinborough Chardonnay 2022

30 July 2023By Yvonne

Te Kairanga Runholder Martinborough Chardonnay 2022 $35 LOVING this new chardonnay from the team at Te Kairanga. Named after the name given to Martinborough’s founder John Martin, who ran a sheep farm on the land where Te Kairanga now stands. Back in the day, he was known as a ‘runholder’ and I’ve gotta say, with … Read More

Pinot Brothers Gold Label Martinborough Pinot Noir 2019

2 December 2022By Yvonne

Pinot Brothers Gold Label Martinborough Pinot Noir 2019 $49 Ben Dugdale and his daughter Rose are the talent behind Pinot Brothers (or should that be Pinot Parent and Progeny? or Pinot Dad and Daughter?) Anyhoo, they’ve done an excellent job of capturing the classic Martinborough florals and cherry intensity on the nose and palate. Lifted … Read More

Drummond Farm Happy Jack Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020

12 September 2022By Yvonne

Drummond Farm Happy Jack Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 $30 Paired with Skordalia by Annabel Langbein NZ Herald Sat 17th 2022 If you were going to go full authentic on what to sip with skordalia, then best you bust out that bottle of retsina you bought to remind yourself of when you were 20 and went … Read More

Porters Estate Martinborough Pinot Noir 2017

7 August 2022By Yvonne

Porters Estate Martinborough Pinot Noir 2017 $45 Winemaker and ferociously competitive lawyer John Porter, has managed to cram a shed tonne of spice-soaked fruit into his wine, and that puts me firmly in my happy place pinot-wise. He doesn’t accept average and neither do you I suspect. Deceptively pale in colour (pinot noir doesn’t need … Read More

Kererū by Porters Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018

7 August 2022By Yvonne

Kererū by Porters Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018 $35 Proprietor John Porter is a hands-on winegrower and winemaker when he’s not at his legal firm in Wellington. He and his wife planted 6.4ha of vines in 1992 and designed their ‘Kererū’ label to accelerate awareness of their native bush restoration initiative. Kererū is the Māori name … Read More

Butterworth Estate Layline Martinborough Pinot Noir 2020

29 July 2022By Yvonne

Butterworth Estate Layline Martinborough Pinot Noir 2020 $35 Masses of fresh cherry, cocoa powder and tamarillo aromas greet the nose and the palate is soaked in classic su bois (forest floor), savoury sensations. Fresh acidity and racy tannins elongate the spicy layers which give this wine real finesse and character. Very nicely made, beautiful drinking … Read More

99 Rows Te Muna Road Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018

8 July 2022By Yvonne

99 Rows Te Muna Road Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018 $28 Grown high up on the Te Muna Terraces, the pinot noir that comes from Julicher Estate has its own personality and huge florality (definitely a word). Gentle tannins are the cushion for its bright cherry, damson plum, raspberry, and redcurrant razziness (another good word). Plus … Read More

Fairmont Estate Block One Gladstone Terraces Gewurztraminer 2018

4 June 2022By Yvonne

Fairmont Estate Admiral Hill Gladstone Terraces Gewurztraminer 2018 $22 Intensely spicy on the nose, ginger, white pepper and even a tweak of marjoram merge with classic Turkish Delight, peach, honeysuckle, and delicious richness. Baked apple complexity, luxurious spices and a gorgeously long finish. Love it! Fairmont Estate

Butterworth Martinborough Dry Riesling 2021

30 January 2022By Yvonne

Butterworth Martinborough Dry Riesling 2021 $35 With solid apple intensity and layers of lime in every corner, this is a riesling that heaves with honeysuckle yet roars with beautifully balanced, dry, mineral intensity. Clean, lengthy and perks up the palate brilliantly. Butterworth Estate

Stad_ko Martinborough Pinot Noir 2020

30 November 2021By Yvonne

Stad_ko Martinborough Pinot Noir 2020 $39 Clones 115, 667 and 777 from Robert Stadniczenko’s Arapai vineyard on the Dry River Flats, comes this dry, spicy, leather layered and earthy pinot noir that’s been partially whole-bunch fermented, partially foot-stomped and given a long, quiet, post ferment sleepy time in barrel for 10 months. Edged with allspice … Read More