Coxhead Creek Matakana Verdelho 2022

October 26, 2022By Yvonne

Coxhead Creek Matakana Verdelho 2022 $22 This is the third version of Coxhead Creek’s verdelho that I’ve had the good fortune to taste and I’ve got to day it’s fast becoming one of my favourite ‘other’ white wine styles and it definitely provides a touchstone for Northland with this plucky Portuguese variety. The 2022 is … Read More

Coxhead Creek Matakana

October 26, 2022By Yvonne

Coxhead Creek Matakana Rosé 2022 $22 Crafted from 100% cabernet franc grown in the clay-rich soils of the Matakana coastline, this is, despite its pale apricot hue, a rich, boldly structured, cheek-punch of a rosé that really slams its deckchair into the sand and declares “It’s Summer right here right now!” no matter what the … Read More

Yakutin Family Wines Matakana

May 28, 2021By Yvonne

From Kazakhstan with Love… Oleg Yakutin, owner of Yakutin Family Wines (a 1 hectare vineyard, marked by an ancient brick chimney on Matakana Road, Warkworth), is the first Kazakhstani winemaker in New Zealand. A corporate marketing career in a past life fed his love for fine food and wine, so when the time came for … Read More

Coxhead Creek Matakana Verdelho 2020

April 29, 2021By Yvonne

Coxhead Creek Matakana Verdelho 2020 This is a bigger beast than the previous vintage and that makes me a very happy camper. It’s a new style absolutely heaving with lemon and juicy nectarine notes, hints of toast and white pepper alongside soft peach, whiskers of walnutty notes and a beautifully textural and lengthy finish. Love … Read More

Coxhead Creek Matakana Verdelho 2020

October 7, 2020By Yvonne

Coxhead Creek Matakana Verdelho 2020 $25 I love the lifted apple and peach aromatics on this little lovely from Michael Lorimer’s Matakana vineyard, and I love even more the fact that it’s Verdelho! Yay! Verdelho is a VERY rare grape on our shores, which is a shame because it absolutely roars when planted in the … Read More

Coxhead Creek Matakana Rosé 2020

October 5, 2020By Yvonne

Coxhead Creek Matakana Rosé 2020 $25 How gorgeously pretty is this wine! You’re looking at it right? So perfectly pale, this rosé is made from cabernet franc grown by Michael Lorimer. Cabernet Franc classically adds fullness, volume, and delicately sweet red fruit notes to any wine, so when it’s crafted into a rosé, it’s a … Read More

Coxhead Creek Inlet Red Matakana Cabernet Franc 2013

June 8, 2020By Yvonne

Coxhead Creek Inlet Red Matakana Cabernet Franc 2013 $18 That waft of vanilla smoke on the nose indicates that winemaker Warren Knudsen has made excellent use of a combination of French and American oak.  That oak wraps around the bay leaf, blackcurrant, and leather layers in this strapping wine from our northern climes.  Solid tannins … Read More

Coxhead Creek Matakana Chardonnay 2019

May 1, 2020By Yvonne

Coxhead Creek Matakana Chardonnay 2019 $29 With aromas and flavours of toasted marshmallow, almond meal, roast stonefruit and toasted coconut, this bottle of Northland niceness has definitely wowed me!  Mouthfilling and juicy, yet elegant and statuesque, it’s a beautifully balanced chardonnay that’ll have you wondering why the bottle went so fast.  2019 is proving to … Read More

Heron’s Flight Matakana Dolcetto Rosato 2019

April 24, 2020By Yvonne

Heron’s Flight Matakana Dolcetto Rosato 2019 $28 I can’t tell you how many times I’ve rung David Hoskins at Heron’s Flight to ask if his new Dolcetto rosato is available. Yes he withdrew the non-contact order and we’re communicating through a mediator, but we’re cool, because he gave me what I wanted. Finally. Unique to … Read More

Coxhead Creek Matakana Rosé 2019

November 1, 2019By Yvonne

Coxhead Creek Matakana Rosé 2019 $25 I love this wine!  Crafted by the crazy-talented Warren Knudsen, from 100% cabernet franc, this rosé is the real deal.  It’s incredibly concentrated, spicy, floral and deliciously dry to drink.  Crisp, focused and showing superb purity of flavour, it’s a style that I’d love to see more of from … Read More