Butterworth Estate Layline Martinborough Pinot Gris 2020 $24 If your only experiences with pinot gris have been overly sweet, blousy, flabby and floral, then strap yourself in for a drive on the dry side with this snappy new release from Butterworth Estate. Scented with golden delicious apples, sake spirit, subtle nashi notes and a deliciously … Read More
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Stonecutter Martinborough Merlot 2019
StoneCutter Martinborough Merlot 2019 $48 The name Merlot comes from its resemblance to the blue-black plumage of the blackbird (merle). Born of a cross between Cabernet Franc and Magdeleine Noire des Charentes (they don’t name grapes like they used to right), Merlot was once called Crabutet Noir – not exactly sexy, so a name change … Read More
Butterworth Martinborough Chardonnay 2020
Butterworth Martinborough Chardonnay 2020 ($48) Crammed with roast cashew, grilled peach and creamy nougat notes on the nose and palate, this refreshing new release from fruit grown on the Te Muna Terraces is dangerously drinkable and will absolutely appeal to chardonnay lovers of all ages and stages. It’s a full, rich,toasty triumph with buckets of … Read More
Butterworth Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018
Butterworth Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018 $55 Harvested on the 28th March 2018 and bottled on the 22nd December 2020, this is a classic, spice-saturated pinot noir with those Martinborough signatures such as dried herbs, dark cocoa characters, cedar, roast beetroot and scorched cherries. It’s still very youthful and is settling into itself. The acidity is … Read More
Butterworth Estate Martinborough Layline Pinot Noir 2017
Butterworth Estate Martinborough Layline Pinot Noir 2017 $35 If Martinborough pinot noir had a LinkedIn profile, I’m certain we’d have a thousand mutual connections. There’s something about those ancient, river-gravel soils that inject seriously savoury characters into its pinot noir and it’s a joy to drink with lamb. With fruit supplied by a clutch of … Read More
Drummond Farm The Long Walk Martinborough Pinot Noir Rosé 2020
Drummond Farm The Long Walk Martinborough Pinot Noir Rosé 2020 $29 From the best little winery you’ve never heard of comes a pinot noir-based rosé that boasts mysterious, savoury and seriously spicy, smoked cherry complexity on the nose and buckets of fresh cranberry and rhubarb characters which canter across the palate nicely. Crafted by Alex … Read More
Pencarrow Martinborough Chardonnay 2019
Pencarrow Martinborough Chardonnay 2019 $23 Palliser Estate’s Pencarrow wines are named in honour of the stories of the famous lighthouse at the entrance to Wellington harbour. This chardonnay acknowledges the heroic Mary Jane Bennet, who single-handedly raised 5 children and took on the vital role of Pencarrow Lighthouse keeper when her husband died in 1855. … Read More
Ashwell Martinborough Chardonnay 2019
Ashwell Martinborough Chardonnay 2019 $28 If you’re looking for a lemony, citrus-forward, mineral-edged chardonnay instead of a fruit salady, buttery, oak-bomb then you’ve come to the right campsite. Clean, focused, lighter-styled and showing that rain-on-hot-rocks character that works itself into a slight saline character. It’s Chablis-like in its citrus dimensions and acidity. Tip: Be careful … Read More
Palliser Estate Martinborough Chardonnay 2019
Palliser Estate Martinborough Chardonnay 2019 $39 Perfumed with roasted almond, grilled peach, caramelised, spicy oak and buttered cinnamon toast, it’ s an extremely juicy, satisfying, creamy-textured and beautifully built chardonnay that boasts cheek-slappingly vibrant acidity and seductive, perfectly prickly textures. It’s ballerina-balanced and shows delicious tension and excitement. Stunning stuff. http://www.palliser.co.nz
On Giants’ Shoulders Martinborough Chardonnay 2018
On Giants’ Shoulders Martinborough Chardonnay 2018 $40 Hands up if you just feel like sipping on a slippery, softly-styled, elegant-as-all-getout chardonnay that doesn’t leave you scraping the sawdust and butterscotch out of your mouth after every sip? This 2018 vintage from Braden and Gabrielle Crosby’s tiny, non-irrigated vineyard in Martinborough is wild-fermented, supremely smooth, styled … Read More