Selaks Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir 2011 $21 The latest edition to the Reserve, or Black Label range from Selaks, and it’s a pleasant drop especially for those new to pinot. Red cherry, rhubarb and upfront spicy notes on the nose are followed by very soft, almost subdued fruit and earth characters on the palate. … Read More
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Bouldevines Marlborough Pinot Noir 2010
Bouldevines Marlborough Pinot Noir 2010 $29 Created from fruit grown on their stony, Dog Point Road vineyard, this is a wine that is super easy to drink. Plum, baking spices, hints of red cherry and rhubarb all show through and the tannins are very soft, almost in the background. A pleasant, drink-now pinot. www.bouldevines.co.nz
Codici Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2009
Codici Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2009 DOC $17 If you’re looking for a sharply-priced, crowd-pleasing red that ticks all the boxes then it’s right here. Plum, chocolate, spice – it’s not a blockbuster but there’s plenty of flavour going on here. Available from www.labarrique.co.nz Codici Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Contea de Castiglione Barbaresco 2007
Contea di Castiglione Barbaresco 2007 $39 I’m loving this super-tasty, earthy, spicy Italian red because it’s a fantastic example of Nebbiolo that’s produced a lush, plummy and ribstickingly good wine. Available from Decant Wines 03 3431945 Contea di Castiglione Barbaresco
Poderi Crisci Waiheke Island Viburno 2008
Poderi Crisci Waiheke Island Viburno 2008 $39 No, viburno is not some snazzy new variety that’s taken root on the island; rather it’s the name of a plant which is the symbol of the Mediterranean. Viburno is an auspicious plant which apparently symbolises triumph and great promise; and it’s an apt name for this blend … Read More
William Murdoch ‘The Guardsman’ 2009
William Murdoch ‘The Guardsman’ 2009 $65 Built around a solid spine of cabernet sauvignon, and with absolutely no insecticide, herbicide, pesticide, or systemic or non-organic chemicals of any kind being used; this wine is about as organic and natural as they come. Crafted by Hayden Penny from fruit sourced from Hawke’s Bay’s Gimblett Gravels, this … Read More
Borsao Garnacha 2009
Borsao Garnacha 2009 $21 A saucy Spanish red from Aragon’s Campo de Borja subregion, it is a blend of 85 percent Garnacha (Grenache) and 25 percent Tempranillo with layers of dried herbs, plum, tea leaf, coffee bean and red rose notes. Superb with anything chargrilled, this wine has warming, spicy smoke and cocoa characters on … Read More
Weaver Estate Central Otago Pinot Noir 2009
Weaver Estate Central Otago Pinot Noir 2009 $36 I am loving this debut pinot from this shiny-new, Alexandra-based family estate. It is intensely perfumed with cherry, boysenberry, violet, black tea and sandalwood. Silky and slippery in the mouth, it has delicious, spicy warmth, superb depth and delicious length of flavour. While there’s a good few … Read More
Stoneleigh Latitude Marlborough Pinot Noir 2009
Stoneleigh Latitude Pinot Noir 2009 $34 Spending eight months in French oak barrels (a third of them new) has produced a wine chock-full of youthful fruit sweetness combined with spicy layers of plum, cherry and toast. It’s bright, vibrant and very drinkable, although I’m not sure how this wine will do in the cellar so … Read More
Kidnapper Cliffs Hawke’s Bay Pinotage 2010
Kidnapper Cliffs Hawke’s Bay Pinotage 2010 $45 One of the most sophisticated examples of pinotage on the NZ market, this wine oozes cranberry, redcurrant, rosehip tea and cherry cola aromas yet it has a spicy edge with savoury, dried herb flavours and is soundly built with solid tannins a warming mid-palate and lengthy persistence of … Read More