Esk Valley Artisanal Collection Hawke’s Bay Malbec Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

24 June 2021By Yvonne

Esk Valley Artisanal Collection Hawke’s Bay Malbec Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ($24.99) Paired with Annabel Langbein’s The Great Kiwi Cheeseburger Canvas Magazine NZ Herald June 5th 2021 I can’t think of anything nicer to wash down mouthfuls of juicy, beefy burger than the Esk Valley Artisanal Collection Hawke’s Bay Malbec Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ($24.99). … Read More

Ash Ridge Estate Bridge Pa Merlot 2019

31 March 2021By Yvonne

Ash Ridge Estate Bridge Pa Merlot 2019 $21.99 From those russet-red, iron rich soils of the Bridge Pa Triangle comes this dark, inky-scarlet sensation from Lauren Swift and the team at Ash Ridge. Showing earthy, dried herb, tar, black olive and mushroomy notes drifting across the blueberry and blackberry mid-palate, it’s a  soft yet generously … Read More

Tironui Above & Beyond Hawke’s Bay Malbec Merlot Cabernet 2019

10 February 2021By Yvonne

Tironui Above & Beyond Hawke’s Bay Malbec Merlot Cabernet 2019 $35 This absolute mouthquake of a blend is comprised of 78% Malbec, 14% merlot and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and I am absolutely in love with it! Scented with cedar, blueberry, black doris plum and smoky vanilla vavoom, the palate is saturated with boysenberry, licks of … Read More

Unison Gimblett Gravels Classic Blend Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2013

6 February 2021By Yvonne

Unison Gimblett Gravels Classic Blend Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2013 $40 Eight years on from vintage and this mighty merlot-dominated blend is developing an edge of espresso, cola and soy which cloaks the blueberry and dark plum in the mid-palate. Leather licked and layered with dusty tannins on the finish, this wine is maturing nicely … Read More

Unison Merlin’s Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2015

6 February 2021By Yvonne

Unison Merlin’s Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2015 $38 22 months of careful barrel aging in the first instance, combined with another couple of years of sleepy years in the bottle, this classic Gimblett Gravels merlot is fleshing out in fabulous fashion. Leather layers merge with soft pepper, damson plum and blueberry notes to create a … Read More

Unison Excalibur Gimblett Gravels Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2014

5 February 2021By Yvonne

Unison Excalibur Gimblett Gravels Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah 2014 $38 I love that the punch of peppery syrah adds an extra flick to the tail of this warm, smooth, fulsome and velvety blend. Seriously aromatic, with dried herbs, carpenters cabin and cocoa characters, seven years on from harvest and just starting to swell and hit … Read More

Wither Hills Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018

31 January 2021By Yvonne

Wither Hills Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018 $21.99 If plump, plush, earthy-edged, fleshy merlot is your bag, then get set for a tote-ally (geddit) smooth and saucy experience with this super sipper from Wither Hills. Soft caramelised oak gives a hint of smoke and plummy, red berry notes round out the palate. Nicely done. http://www.witherhills.co.nz

Taylors Clare Valley Merlot 2018

28 December 2020By Yvonne

Taylors Clare Valley Merlot 2018 $19.99 Smooth, plum-saturated and crammed with cherry and soft pepper and cocoa characters on the nose and palate, this is a warm, juicy, easy-like-sunday-morning red wine that will wow the crowds. South Australian merlot isn’t something we see a huge amount of here in NZ, which is a shame because … Read More

Hunting Lodge Tennessee Red Hawke’s Bay Merlot Malbec 2019

31 August 2020By Yvonne

Hunting Lodge Project X Tennessee Red Hawke’s Bay Merlot Malbec 2019 $36 Well yippee ki yay, if it isn’t the deepest, darkest, inkiest red to hit my stirrups in ages.  The Project X is big, bold and muscular in all the right places, supersized into the realms of smoke and vanilla from being aged in … Read More

Moana Park Gimblett Road Merlot Malbec 2018

2 July 2020By Yvonne

Moana Park Gimblett Road Merlot Malbec 2018 $25 Paired with Vegetable Shepherds Pie in Issue 92 of dish Magazine Take the vegetable love a step further by sipping the certified vegan Moana Park Gimblett Road Merlot Malbec 2018 ($25) with this pie perfection. Fleshy, ripe and rolling with robust berry and spice flavours, this warming, … Read More