Folding Hill Bendigo Chardonnay 2023

2 August 2025By Yvonne

Folding Hill Bendigo Chardonnay 2023 $38 Wow! Central Otago Chardonnay is absolutely having its moment and I’m exultant about that. From the 2023 vintage the team at Folding Hill have crafted a fantastic example, a style roaring with baked stonefruit, creme brulee, soft caramelised characters a lick of white pepper and grapefruit pith. A style … Read More

Two Rivers Convergence Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2025

1 August 2025By Yvonne

Two Rivers Convergence Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2025 $22 Crafted by winemaker Dave Clouston, this is one of the best value Sauvignon Blanc’s on the market. Brand new and erupting with lemony sweetness, passionfruit sorbet, buckets of mandarin and basil burst across the tongue and gums. It’s delicious now, but I’d love to revisit it in … Read More

Folding Hill Ballasalla Central Otago Pinot Noir 2023

1 June 2025By Yvonne

Folding Hill Ballasalla Central Otago Pinot Noir 2023 $35 (Gold Medal 5 stars – dish Magazine Issue 121) The new Ballasalla has excellent energy, power and stacks of spice that’ll soothe the throat and clear the nose. Powerfully perfumed with redcurrant, raspberry, rhubarb crumble and smoked cherry topping, this wine saturates the palate with all … Read More

Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2023

8 April 2025By Yvonne

Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2023 $24.99 2023 was a really tricky year for Hawke’s Bay grapegrowers as Cyclone Gabrielle struck with devastating force just as harvest was about to begin. Yet the folk at Trinity Hill managed to craft a snappy, richly-structured, dry-styled gris laced with classic nashi notes and a hint of … Read More

Huia Organic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024

8 April 2025By Yvonne

Huia Organic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024 $36 From one of New Zealand’s oldest and most respected organic pioneers, this sauvignon will appeal to anyone keen on a little less of Sauvignon’s signature squinty acidity and a little more of a softer, creamy side. Scented with gentle bruised basil, lemongrass and jalapeno notes, it has a … Read More

Balvonie Marlborough Prosecco Methode Traditionnelle 2023

5 January 2025By Yvonne

Balvonie Marlborough Prosecco Methode Traditionnelle 2023 $35 New Zealand’s first Prosecco (despite the Italians not being happy about it, we can keep calling it that for the foreseeable future) is being made by the McLauchlan family from their vineyard in Rapaura, Blenheim. They’ve been growing Glera grapes on their family farm for a few years … Read More

Mora Laeto Central Otago Pinot Noir 2024

3 October 2024By Yvonne

Mora Laeto Central Otago Pinot Noir 2024 $35 Here’s a shiny new pinot designed with the kiwi Summer in mind. “Laeto” is derived from the Latin word for ‘lush’ and ‘joyful’ and this wine is all about not taking things too seriously, heavily, having fun with how bright and juicy and floral and plush pinot … Read More

Jules Taylor Marlborough Pinot Gris 2023

12 June 2024By Yvonne

Jules Taylor Marlborough Pinot Gris 2023 $22 Generously dry and classically scented with nashi, green pear, soft nutmeg and apple notes, this new gris has a palate profile that exactly replicates all that and also injects a splash of zesty minerality and leaves a soft creamy character on the finish. Energetic and ultra-sippable. Jules Taylor

Tarras The Canyon Single Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019

4 October 2023By Yvonne

Tarras The Canyon Single Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 $80 Winemaker Hayden Johnston* is the talent behind Tarras Vineyards, a site located near the Central Otago town of Tarras. He utilises fruit grown in his organically-managed, home vineyard called The Canyon, located high on the Bendigo goldfield terraces. Deeply lush, moody, brooding aromas of … Read More

Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2022

6 June 2023By Yvonne

Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2022 $22 Paired with: Hot Smoked Salmon and Goat’s Cheese Omelette in dish Magazine Issue 109 ‘Dinner for Two’ Pair the rich, oily texture of this hot smoked salmon and the soft, saltiness of the goat’s cheese with this deliciously dry pinot gris. Grown in the sun-baked Ohiti sub-region, … Read More