Foothill Groves Waitaki Riesling 2019 $28 Helen and Ian Dent might be the newest winemakers in the Waitaki Valley, but they’re crafting their riesling from the oldest vines in the region. Ian’s a machine operator at the local power station and Helen is an expert I.T number cruncher, and with rockstar riesling maker Grant Taylor … Read More
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O:TU Limited Release Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018
O:TU Limited Release Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 $31.99 Boatloads of white pepper, vanilla, blueberry and plum notes burst forth from the glass, this is a youthful, spicy, earthy-structured syrah that’ll put a grin on anyone’s grill. Fresh, frisky, pepper-packed and seriously food-focused, it’s good drinking now, but will reward another 2-3 years in the cellar … Read More
Esk Valley Winemakers Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2019
Esk Valley Winemakers Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2019 $29 Returning to his dry-style roots not seen since 2013, winemaker Gordon Russell has taken fruit for the first time from Ian and Linda Quinn’s Two Terraces Vineyard located west of Hastings in Maraekakaho where they grow two clones of chenin, 220 and 880. Handpicked, cooled … Read More
Zephyr Marlborough Riesling 2019
Zephyr Marlborough Riesling 2019 $30 Reviewd for dish Magazine and paired with Prawn Chorizo Chilli Pasta Balance out all that powerful smoky spice of the chorizo and chilli with the gorgeous Zephyr Marlborough Riesling 2019 ($30) because it douses your tastebuds in refreshing apple, lime, honeysuckle and peach. It’s the perfect thing to cleanse, tone … Read More
Vidal Soler Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018
Vidal Soler Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 $34.99 Reviewd in dish Magazine July/Aug 2020 and paired with Beef Cheeks with Parmesan Polenta The Vidal Soler Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 ($34.99) is the glossiest, most gorgeously fruit-saturated and spice-soaked thing to pair with this beef cheek recipe. Is it because of its lifted, pepper punchiness, … Read More
Vidal Soler Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019
Vidal Soler Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 $34.99 Reviewed in dish Magazine July/Aug 2020 and paired with Salmon, smoked fish and fennel pie Chardonnay all day is what springs to mind when gathering all the components together for this perfect pie. The Vidal Soler Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 ($34.99) is chock full of ripe, roasted stonefruit … Read More
Rogue Vine The Original Rogue Bay of Islands Pinot Gris 2019
Rogue Vine The Original Rogue Bay of Island Pinot Gris 2019 $25 Look closely at the wine in your glass and you’ll see it’s actually got a lick of pink to it. That’s because pinot gris grapes have a sort of pinky-grey colour and the good folk at Rogue have left the skins in contact … Read More
Ash Ridge Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018
Ash Ridge Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018 $22 Reviewed for dish Magazine July/Aug 2020 – Paired with Lamb Shank Pie Combining two of my absolute favourite things, lamb shanks and pies, this meal is given a leg up (shank, leg, ahem) by the delicious Ash Ridge Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018 ($22). With its vibrant, plummy perfume, … Read More
Obsidian Waiheke Island Pinot Gris 2019
Obsidian Waiheke Island Pinot Gris 2019 $30 Hands up if you’ve been hunting high and low for a pinot gris that’s both lusciously sweetish up front, yet finishes deliciously dry and long. The team at Obsidian have cracked it well and truly. With nashi pear niceness, lemonade apple and baked quince characters which merge into … Read More
Pegasus Bay Waipara Valley Merlot Cabernet 2018
Pegasus Bay Waipara Valley Merlot Cabernet 2018 $33 Boasting more berries than a jam session at Strawberry Shortcake’s house, this feisty, fleshy blend of merlot and cabernet sauvignon shows that the southern climes can indeed shine so far as the big reds are concerned. Showing signature plum, pepper and cocoa characters of merlot, alongside bay … Read More