Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2021 $24 A strong silver medal winner in the recent 2023 dish Magazine Syrah Tasting Panel, this wine is a rockstar because it roars with fresh, juicy spice-saturated layers on the nose and palate and boasts fine, earthy tannins and stylish, savoury firmness. I really like the pure blackcurrant and … Read More
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Mt Difficulty Ghost Town Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017
Mt Difficulty Ghost Town Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 $55-$60 Ghost Town is one of Mt D’s Single Vineyard series, showcasing fruit sourced from a vineyard the Dicey family planted back in 2002. It’s located on Chinaman’s Terrace in Central Otago’s Bendigo sub-region, and after six years of quiet, sleepy time in the bottle it’s … Read More
Mora Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022
Mora Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022 $50 Mora Wines is the latest wine venture for the Skeggs Group, which also produces the RUA brand – and the name ‘Mora’ means to linger or to take pause in Latin (which is a nice thought when you’re stopping to sip something lovely) Crafted from fruit grown in … Read More
Main Divide Te Hau Reserve North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2021
Main Divide Te Hau Reserve North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2021 $30 Named after Henry Te Hau Tapu Nui o Tu Donaldson, grandfather of the current Donaldson family, pioneers of North Canterbury winegrowing and makers of Pegasus Bay and Main Divide, this pinot is smooth, soothing, saturated with earthy spices, cherry, redcurrant and black tea notes … Read More
Two Rivers Brookby Hill Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020
Two Rivers Brookby Hill Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020 $55 Organically grown in the deep clay soils of the Southern Valleys, this pinot was wild-fermented (up to 25% whole bunch) then aged for between 12 and 18 months in French oak before being bottled unfined and unfiltered (hence the slight cloudiness) and given a further year … Read More
Folding Hill Orchard Block Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020
Folding Hill Orchard Block Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020 $45 It’s been a long time between Orchard Block pinots with the last one being back in 2017! The western boundary of this, (the most sheltered part of the vineyard), is an orchard of cider apple trees and the handpicked fruit is fermented in a small … Read More
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2021
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2021 $39 2021 was a sensational year for Gimblett Gravels syrah due to it being cool, even and dry. Remember dry summers? Ah the memories. Each sniff erupts with classic florals and defined blueberry and black pepper notes which provide a ladder climbing down to a spice-saturated palate edged with … Read More
Grasshopper Rock Earnscleugh Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013 & 2019
It was a real treat to taste a mini-vertical of a pinot noir that I’ve been a fan of for many years. Phil Handford from Grasshopper Rock sent me a bottle each of his 2013 and 2019 for comparison (and fun) and it was super interesting seeing how an extra six years vine age, tiny … Read More
Elephant Hill Stone Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019
Elephant Hill Stone Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 $60 Just 110 cases were produced of this superb syrah grown in the deep, stony soils of the Gimblett Gravels district (hence the ‘stone’ title) from a vintage that’s fast becoming known as one of the 21st-century greats in Hawke’s Bay. Seductive aromas of peppercorn, violets, red apple … Read More
Le Grá Wairarapa Pinot Rosé 2022
Le Grá Wairarapa Pinot Rosé 2022 $38 A refreshingly spritzy style of rosé that roars with watermelon, crabapple and succulent salinity. Crunchy-crisp and mineral-drenched, it’s laced with soft herb and rhubarb notes and has a long, zesty finish. Nice work from one of Wairarapa’s smallest wineries. (Extra for Experts) Look out for some interesting new … Read More