Q Waitaki Valley Pinot Noir 2021 Sipping this wine gave me a flashback to a dream I had recently, in which I remember swirling, sniffing, and sipping a pinot, then saying, ‘This is delicious. I’ll take a bottle!’ to which someone replied, ‘Ms Lorkin, this is a church. Let go of the cup and sit … Read More
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Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Tempranillo 2022
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Tempranillo 2022 $39 The team at Trinity Hill have been growing Tempranillo in their Gimblett Gravels vineyard since forever ago, and if I had a dollar for how many times this wine has scooped gold medals and trophies in the ‘other reds’ category in local wine shows, I’d probably have enough … Read More
Alexia Family Tree Wairarapa White Pinot Noir 2024
Alexia Family Tree Wairarapa White Pinot Noir 2024 $32 Pink diamond in the glass and roaring with energetic raspberry, quartzy minerality and licks of freshly cut apple, this shiny new white pinot noir from winemaker Jane Cooper at Alexia is all sorts of special. Cleansing yet highly textural and showing great generosity of flavour, hints … Read More
Petane Mangatahi Valley Gamay 2023
Petane Mangatahi Valley Gamay 2023 $36 Grown organically in Ian and Linda Quinn’s Two Terraces vineyard where the vines wind their roots around stones so big they’re called the “Mangatahi Swedes”, this hand-picked Gamay arrives on the market just in time for all the Spring flings being planned. Scented with dried herbs, beech bark, crushed … Read More
Kumeu River Rays Road Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir 2020
Kumeu River Rays Road Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir 2020 $40 High acidity and some red apple and earthy characters, but lacks dimension and generosity. The fruit appears to have dropped away and it lacks charm. Not a wine I’d pay $40 for sadly. Kumeu River
Obliix Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2022
Obliix Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2022 $24 Grown in the Gimblett Gravels and crafted by the superstatus talent of Michelle Richardson, this deeply earthy, tobacco and toast-edged blend of 69% cabernet sauvignon, 26% merlot and5% malbec is superbly smooth, soothing, sewn together with bay, cocoa and plum plumpness. Warming, deliciously balanced, licked with dried … Read More
Aeronaut Marlborough Pinot Noir 2021
Aeronaut Marlborough Pinot Noir 2021 $40 If you’re looking for a softly herbaceous, subtly spiced pinot noir with a suede-like texture and a squeak of smoked rhubarb, then this wine will be your jam. Soothing, lightly-styled and carrying an earthy, freshly-tilled field character on the finish, it’s a crowd-pleasing pinot for sure. For information on … Read More
Alana Estate Freedom Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020
Alana Estate Freedom Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020 $22 Bold and spice-soaked, this pinot has freshness, feistiness, friskiness and a spine of spice. Rhubarb, baked cherry and buckets of earthy complexity make this a pinot that brings the grins with every sip. Savoury, earthy, edged with dried herbs and leather, it’s a comforting sip. The Alana … Read More
Carrick The Magnetic Organic Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2021
Carrick The Magnetic Organic Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2021 $80 Righto. Strap yourself in. Or if you don’t have straps, maybe just find yourself some cushions to wedge yourself between, because you could find yourself being taken to unknown dimensions when you start sipping this wine. Named after a gold dredge prominent in the Kawarau River, … Read More
Carrick Billet-Doux Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2023
Carrick Billet-Doux Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2023 $39 This no-sulphur, now-iconic style from Rosie Menzies and her team at Carrick has a new poem on the back label from front-label artist Leon Ofsky, and it speaks of new dawns, welcoming a new baby and new stories. Very appropriate. The wine is an unfussy, earth-laced style that’s … Read More