Petane Station Hau Hau Block Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2018

March 30, 2019By Yvonne

Petane Station Hau Hau Block Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2018 $27 This tiny estate located out Eskdale-way, manages to turn out pinot gris that’s consistently mammoth in the personality-stakes. With its new vintage offering a creamy, apple pie and cashew character on the nose, followed by a poached quince and roast pear punch on the … Read More

Bodegas Piqueras Valcanto Almansa Syrah 2014

March 30, 2019By Yvonne

Bodegas Piqueras Valcanto Almansa Syrah 2014 ($15.95) A soft, easy, super-fruity syrah like this is just the ticket for a soothing sip to serve with anything meaty and spicy.  This Spanish smooth-talker adds berries and spice and all things nice to anyone who prefers blueberry and leather notes in their syrah and less of the … Read More

Te Kairanga Runholder Martinborough Pinot Noir 2017

January 16, 2019By Yvonne

Te Kairanga Runholder Martinborough Pinot Noir 2017 $28 I think this could very well be my favourite vintage of Runholder.  Plush, lush and packed with flavour, it roars with cherry, cranberry, rosehip tea and layers of earthy cocoa characters on the palate.  While it’s slippery and silky to sip, it also has powdery, emery-like tannings … Read More

Tinpot Hut Marlborough Late Harvest Riesling 2017

January 13, 2019By Yvonne

Tinpot Hut Marlborough Late Harvest Riesling 2017 $28  Winemaker Fiona Turner has worked her magic on this stylishly sticky, sweet wine that carries candied citrus, toffee apple and heavenly honey notes on the nose and palate.  Fresh and flirtatious, it’s seriously sweet, yet finely tuned and beautifully balanced.  Great stuff! www.tinpothut.co.nz

Main Divide North Canterbury Sauvignon Blanc 2018

January 13, 2019By Yvonne

Main Divide North Canterbury Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $20.99  Get on your skateboard, segway or scooter and shimmy on over to the Main Divide North Canterbury Sauvignon Blanc 2018 ($20.99) to pour with any sort of pan-fried pesce perfection.  Crisp, crunchy, packed with citrus and huge herbaceous notes, this wine is superb to sip with fresh fish.  … Read More

Caythorpe Family Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017

January 13, 2019By Yvonne

Caythorpe Family Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017 $24.99  From the Bishell family farm comes a shiny new vintage of pinot noir that definitely leans on the lighter side of the fence.  Scented with raspberry, cranberry, strawberry and pretty much every other red fruit imaginable, this wine shows softness, silkiness and a dangerously easy, eensy-weensy-spicy finish. … Read More

The Writer’s Block Gibbston Valley Central Otago Pinot Gris 2018

January 13, 2019By Yvonne

The Writer’s Block Gibbston Valley Central Otago Pinot Gris 2018 $29 (4stars) Crafted by Urbn Vino’s Brendan Seal, this gris has a full and frisky fragrance of baked apple, poached quince and hints of honeysuckle and stonefruit – all characters that wash across the palate, leaving an impression of richness on the finish (which also happens … Read More

Neudorf Moutere Riesling Dry 2017

November 18, 2018By Yvonne

Neudorf Moutere Riesling Dry 2017 ($29) Crafted from a concoction of three different clones harvested in cooler conditions than usual in the Moutere.  It has fullness and funk from its 100% wild ferment, alongside soft lime and bruised apple aromatics, a hint of biscuity, nutty niceness and long, elegant acidity on the finish.  It’s fantastic.

Jules Taylor Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017

November 17, 2018By Yvonne

Jules Taylor Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017 $32.99  So ripe, rumpty and ready for action this pinot noir is just itching to serve with any food that’s got a squeak of spice in it.  It’s the intense cherry, clove, cocoa and berry bodaciousness that makes it so food friendly, while its softness and velvety structure makes … Read More

Providore Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017

November 15, 2018By Yvonne

Providore Central Otago Pinot noir 2017 $39  Winemaker Pete Bartle upsticked from his native Hawke’s Bay in 2001 for the bright lights of Central Otago and it’s been veni, vidi, vici for him ever since. Now one of the region’s most highly awarded winemakers, Pete’s decided that since he’s earned access to some of the … Read More