Alpha Domus The Navigator 2013 $30 ★★★★½ Blackberry, boysenberry, dark quava and intensely aromatic spice notes burst from the glass. Comprised of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot, this classic Bordeaux blend displays a delicious vein of dried herb and cocoa buoyed by fresh juicy acidity and good grip on the finish. … Read More
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Alpha Domus AD The Aviator 2013
Alpha Domus AD The Aviator 2013 $72 ★★★★★ 2013 heralds the Aviator’s ninth vintage and it’s got real style. Bright, glossy, juniper berry colour in the glass and scented with red rose, pepper and dusty oak complexity. In the mouth it’s saturated with fleshy black fruits, fresh spice and smoke flavours, edged with elegant acidity … Read More
Sam Hunt Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013
Sam Hunt Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013 $24 ★★★★ Our favourite bard of the black jeans and shaggy hair has collaborated with some bright young things to create a range of his own wines and this is the southernmost example. Beautifully aromatic, it shows red rose, wild thyme, black cherry, berries and sweet tea up … Read More
St John’s Road Motley Bunch Barossa Valley GSM 2013
St John’s Road Motley Bunch Barossa Valley GSM 2013 $20 ★★★★ Loving this blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro which is made by Phil Lehmann, son of Peter Lehmann who is a Barossa Valley legend. It boasts vanilla, spiced plums and cherry notes, smoke, bright berries and stacks of fresh acidity. It’s a lovely, layered … Read More
Maretti Barbera & Nebbiolo 2013
Maretti Barbera & Nebbiolo 2013 $30 ★★★½ This is a classic spicy red with bounce and buoyancy from Piedmont in Italy’s north-east, Barbera is famous for intense acidity and freshness, while Nebbiolo steadies the blend with it’s sold structure and length. I like the toasty, leather, spiced plum and bright berry flavours alongside the tangy, … Read More
Angove Organic Shiraz Cabernet 2014
Angove Organic Shiraz Cabernet 2014 $18.99 ★★★½ A really interesting series of flavours here, caramelised plum, super-ripe berry and cherry notes all bounce around in the glass. There’s a soft, meaty character in the mid-palate that extends to the finish. Smooth, easy and super-sippable. www.villagewinery.co.nz
Hãhã Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014
Hãhã Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014 $19.99 ★★★½ Bright cherry, raspberry and spices waft from the glass and merge with gentle cola and cocoa notes in the mouth. Youthful and fruity, it’s easy, fresh and silky to drink. www.hahawine.co.nz
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Gimblett Gravels Grenache 2014
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Gimblett Gravels Grenache 2014 $24 ★★★★ Grenache is super-rare in this country, and Villa Maria have just one solitary hectare of vines planted smack bang in the middle of New Zealand’s most prestigious red wine region. This is also the only New Zealand grenache made on it’s own, not blended with … Read More
Vidal Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Vidal Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 $19 ★★★★½ The gold medals are already swinging off the neck of this wine crafted by the ridiculously talented Hugh Crichton. A blend of 57 % merlot, 35% cabernet sauvignon, 7% malbec and 1% cabernet franc, this wine hits that sweet spot between delivering muscular, meaty, dark … Read More
Esk Valley Gimblett Gravels Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2014
Esk Valley Gimblett Gravels Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2014 $19 ★★★★★ Super-glossy and garnet-black in the glass, this seriously-overdelivers-for-the-price wine has racked up an impressive pedigree of awards at major wine shows in recent years. I love the aroma of soy, blackcurrant leaf, dried herbs and carob. Black plum, biscuit oak and a backbone of … Read More