Astrolabe Sleepers Vineyard Kekerengu Coast Pinot Noir 2019 $50 Grown on coastal, limestone-laden soils 50mins drive south of Blenheim, this pinot noir treads softly on the palate yet is underpinned with exotic, savoury spices, baked tamarillo and wild raspberry notes from woah to go. Paired with: Roasted Eggplant with Spiced Lamb and Harissa dish … Read More
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Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2020
Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2020 $24 2020 is proving itself to be an absolute smasher of a vintage for Hawke’s Bay reds and this merlot, at $24, is, I think, one of the best value examples on the New Zealand market right now. Grown in the Gimblett Gravels, in Trinity Hill’s Tin Shed vineyard, … Read More
Kelly Washington Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2019
Kelly Washington Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2019 $50 Sourced from the iron-rich soils of the Bridge Pa Triangle district, this is a velvety-smooth example scented with blackcurrant leaf, dark cocoa, a hint of liquorice and blueberry. All those characters wash across the palate and leave a warm, woolly, textural finish. 100% cabernet franc isn’t the … Read More
Kelly Washington Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018
Kelly Washington Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 ($55) Created by winemaker Tamra Kelly, this is a lightly-styled, but full-flavoured and highly floral pinot noir that’s been crafted gently from fruit grown in Central Otago’s Gibbston Valley. Handpicked, partially whole-bunch fermented and matured for 11 months in French oak, it’s a gently-styled, raspberry and redcurrant-laced example … Read More
Ataahua Waipara Merlot 2019
Ataahua Waipara Merlot 2019 $32 The meaning of the word ‘ataahua’ in Māori is ‘beautiful’ or ‘thing of beauty’ and that’s pretty much what you’ll find in this North Canterbury merlot. A beautiful drink. So whoever suggested that you couldn’t make magical merlot in the Southern climes, clearly has never had the pleasure of sipping … Read More
Ataahua Waipara Syrah 2020
Ataahua Waipara Syrah 2020 $40 The Nor’wester swept plains of North Canterbury have turned out some sensational, yet completely underrated syrah over the years, but I’m thinking this new release from winemaker Stephanie Henderson-Grant is going to create some real noise. With pure peppercorn and Damson plum notes on the nose, brisk, feisty, under-the-front-gums tannins … Read More
Ataahua Waipara Pinot Noir 2019
Ataahua Waipara Pinot Noir 2019 $40 Bursting with black tea, wild cherry and tamarillo on the nose and palate, this pinot noir is lush, plush and ready for action. Amongst the baking spice and tobacco notes, there’s a soft, creamy character that’s edged with raspberry and carries it through to a supercharged cherry-centric finish. Elegantly … Read More
Ataahua Waipara Pinot Noir 2018
Ataahua Waipara Pinot Noir 2018 $40 If you prefer your pinot on the leaner, more savoury and spicy end of the spectrum, then this North Canterbury example is for you. Soft, furry tannins, tweaks of smoked rhubarb and wild cherry wrap around a core of suede and leather in the mid-palate. Made by winemaker Stephanie … Read More
Ataahua Waipara Rosé 2021
Ataahua Waipara Rosé 2021 $28 Crafted from the free-run juice of freshly harvested pinot noir grapes, this rosé from wild, windy North Canterbury is chock full of melon, redcurrant and raspberry freshness. A hint of cherry fleshes out the mid-palate and crisp, crunchy acidity elongates its bright, textural finish. Ataahua
Trinity Hill Molly’s Block Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2021
Trinity Hill Molly’s Block Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2021 $39 A very small but very special parcel of syrah sourced from the river-sands soils of the Moteo Pa sub-region was used to craft this ultra-dry and redcurrant-edged rosé. It’s cleansing and delicately designed, yet it’s packing buckets of pink peppercorn and crushed seashell minerality into every … Read More