Monowai Hawke’s Bay Brut Rosé NV $24.99 If a sparkling wine stacked solid with ripe berries, cherries, creamy complexity and a melon-like finish is a bit of you, then you’ll love this new release from Monowai. Bold, boisterous and laced with herbal notes, it’s got a big personality, loads of texture and a style all … Read More
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Abbey Estate Bridge Pa Flirt Brut NV
Abbey Estate Bridge Pa Flirt Brut NV $40 Crafted in a blanc de blanc style by winemaker Dermot Haworth, this is an extremely refined, elegant, cleansing and crammed with class. Creamy almond and rising dough notes combine with crisp lemon and green apple goodness, while the bubbles are pinprick-fine and create tiny, delicate beading as … Read More
Linden Estate NV Port
Made from mostly pinot noir blended with a little merlot that’s aged for 10 years in old French oak, is the Linden Estate NV Port ($27) Fruit is hand-harvested at the absolute highest ripeness level achievable for the given year and where possible, botrytised grapes are added to enhance the apricot notes in this sensationally … Read More
Veuve Laperrière Blanc de Blancs Brut NV
Veuve Laperrière Blanc de Blancs Brut NV $18 If you’re looking for a rich, creamy, cashewy, peachy bubbles with a hint of sweetness and a complete lack of wallet-impact then you’ve come to the right cul de sac. Made entirely from chardonnay (that’s where the peachiness comes from), it’s a grin-inducing, biscuity little sip that … Read More
Rock Ferry Brut Non-Vintage Chardonnay Pinot Noir
Rock Ferry Brut Non-Vintage Chardonnay Pinot Noir $35 Made from organic vineyards owned by the Hutchison family, this blend of 60% Marlborough chardonnay and 40% Central Otago pinot noir is a rich, nutty, citrus-edged sparkling that has beautiful, biscuity complexity on the finish. Fine and elegantly structured, it’s a magic méthode that tastes as it … Read More
Ruby Bay Jewel Methode Traditionelle NV $38 (5 stars)
Where has this fizz been all my life? With ultra-fine beading and plucky, persistent mousse in the glass, it just looks like money. Thankfully it more than measures up in the mouth. Subtle and beautifully structured, it oozes almond and brioche aromas, raspberry shortbread and shows a creamy, full-bodied yeasty, biscuity backbone. Vibrant, rich and … Read More
Mansfield & Marsh Methode Traditionnelle Sparkling Wine NV
Mansfield & Marsh Methode Traditionnelle Sparkling Wine NV $14.95 ★★★★ This is my new favourite bargain bubbly. It’s lifted and lemony on the nose, awash with creamy, nutty notes and has some delicious bready, biscuity complexity on the finish. There’s even a smidge of apple and oatcake happening too. Superb value here, and if the label … Read More
Codorniu Cuvée Barcelona 1872 NV
Codorniu Cuvée Barcelona 1872 NV $31 ★★★½ Soft, chalky, seashell-like aromas merge with lemon and white peach to make this a lovely example of Spanish cava which is super-delicate in the mouth. Made from macabeu, xarello and parellada grapes and weighing in at a demure 11.5% alc, it’s a lipsmackingly light and crisp sip that’s … Read More
The Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz NV
The Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz NV $29 ★★★★ Despite being recent converts to the sparkling shiraz, Kiwis are loving it; one sip of this tongue-pumpingly sweet sparkler and you’ll see why. Dark black-currant and cherry flavours merge with a blast of mocha, bitter chocolate and baking spices on the palate, plus there’s a lick of zingy … Read More
J. De Villaret Cremant de Loire Rose NV
J. De Villaret Cremant de Loire Rose NV $19.99 ★★★★ The Loire Valley is France’s largest producer of sparkling wine outside of the Champagne region. Most Cremant de Loire is produced around the city of Saumur and are blends of chardonnay, chenin blanc and cabernet franc. This super-affordable example has a very pretty salmon and … Read More
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