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
Archives
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
Carrick Unravelled Organic Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022
Carrick Unravelled Organic Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022 $32 (released August 2024) Playing on their knotty branding, this pinot by winemaker Rosie Menzies is a different take on the classic Carrick style. It’s lighter, looser, a little more wild and a little more easygoing. Freshly turned earth, tea leaf, baked cherry and stewed rhubarb all … Read More
Carrick Bannockburn Billet-Doux Pinot Noir 2022
Carrick Bannockburn Billet-Doux Pinot Noir 2022 $35-$39 Pronounced “Be-yay-doo” which translates to ‘love-note’ in French, this wine is the result of a collaboration between winemaker Rosie Menzies, creative director Leon Ofsky and artist Elana Marie Szezepanski and comes from fruit carefully hand-picked from Carrick’s certified organic Arthur’s Vineyard. A mixture of Pommard clones from three … Read More
Aces and Arrows Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2021
Aces and Arrows Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2021 $27 Stu Marfel is the group winemaker for Pernod-Ricard New Zealand and he’s opted to give his regional winemaking team a bit of freedom to get creative with the fruit they know best. Craig from Hawke’s Bay has opted to use his favourite grapes sourced from the Bridge … Read More