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
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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
Thirty One Rows Northbank Marlborough Rosé 2019
Thirty One Rows Northbank Marlborough Rosé 2019 $24.99 Finding a 14% pinot noir rosé that still maintains finesse and delicacy is a rare thing, but this wine has cracked it. Using organically grown fruit from the emerging, Northbank subregion of Marlborough (where he’s also building a family home on the rock formations depicted on the … Read More
Pask Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2018
Pask Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2018 $22 This is my go-to wine when I need something snazzy to pair with dishes featuring brussels sprouts. Yep. Brussels sprouts. I don’t know how it works; it just does. There must be some science, but like Trump fans I’ll choose to ignore it. Instead I’ll opt to be fully … Read More
Putangi Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019
Putangi Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 $31 This new range of wines created by Greg Hay and his team at Wet Jacket Wines, is named after the trusty rowboat used by pioneer conservationist, Richard Henry, who in 1894 began ferrying as many of our endangered birds as he could find, from parts of Dusky Sound, … Read More
Smith & Sheth Cru Wairau Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Smith & Sheth Cru Wairau Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 $28 Each of the vertical panels on the label represents the exact genome sequence of the DNA of the grape varieties that Smith & Sheth grow. With lemongrassy layers stitched together with powerful passionfruit lime, basil and nectarine notes, it’s incredibly juicy to drink, generously proportioned, … Read More
Putangi Central Otago Pinot Gris 2019
Putangi Central Otago Pinot Gris 2019 $24 Putangi was the name of the dingy that pioneering conservationist Richard Henry used in 1894 to ferry endangered birds to the safety of Resolution Island in Dusky Sound. Saving the kiwi, the kakapo and hundreds of our rarest birds, he was truly ahead of his time, and the … Read More
Coopers Creek The Little Rascal Gisborne Arneis 2015
Coopers Creek The Little Rascal Gisborne Arneis 2015 $20.90 Reviewed in Dish Magazine April 2020 – paired with Chermoula Fried fish with tzatziki Holy tzatziki Batman! This smorgasbord of spice is complimented by the delicately citrussy Coopers Creek ‘The Little Rascal’ Gisborne Arneis 2015 ($20.90). Indigenous to Piemonte in North-West Italy, and now grown by … Read More