La Vedetta Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo 2018 $39.95 Located in a world heritage site in Barbaresco, this wine made from 100% nebbiolo, was fermented in stainless steel to capture the ultra-bright berryfruit, spices and bold cocoa characters. It’s a saucy, fresh and velvety-smooth to sip. Lightly styled but full of flavour, it’s a lovely introduction to … Read More
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Castello Monterinaldi Chianti Classico 2016
Castello Monterinaldi Chianti Classico 2016 $32.25 The Castle of Monterinaldi settlement, in the commune of Radda in Chianti, in the heart of the oldest historical area of the Chianti Classico, is situated near an ancient Etruscan route and has been documented as far back as 1010. 1010! Organically-certified, the property’s 18 vineyards, winery, a nursery … Read More
Lime Hill Vineyard Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2018
Fans of discovering all that’s new and groovy in the local wine scene will want to fill their boots with the newest little hero in the Wairarapa, Lime Hill. It’s a small but perfectly formed joint wine venture of Karl Johner of Johner Estate in Gladstone with his winemaker Raphael Burki. Located on a hillside … Read More
Jules Taylor Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019
Jules Taylor Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 $29.99 Dark and moody and broody to look at, and to sniff, and to taste, and to talk to your mates about, this pinot noir has power and solid, savoury punchiness. Cherry, leather, baked rhubarb and boatloads of rosehip tea – it’s all here in a pinot noir for … Read More
Kennedy Point Organic Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018
Kennedy Point Organic Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 $29 I love the way the pohutukawa trees on the label look as though they’re dancing a tango. Very apt considering the meaty, gravy-boat notes in this organic, Bridge Pa-grown glass of goodness tend to sashay across the palate rather perfectly. Determined to preserve its original character, winemaker … Read More
Ash Ridge Premium Hawke’s Bay Malbec 2018
Ash Ridge Premium Hawke’s Bay Malbec 2018 $32 SUCH a pretty ruby-garnet colour and heaving with lifted raspberry, boysenberry, blueberry, oh what the heck, every berry! There’s a solid, savoury line through this local version of a Bordeaux classic, of an Argentinean champion, and I love the leather and suede textures that come with that. … Read More
Massey Dacta Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019
Massey Dacta Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 $18 Finding great pinot noir for under thirty bucks isn’t that easy to do, so finding a good-as-gold example roaring in at under twenty is cause for celebration! Crafted by past chair of the Pinot Noir Celebration (that’s how dedicated he is to pinot noir!), it’s named after the … Read More
Goldie Estate Waiheke Island Syrah 2016
Goldie Estate Waiheke Island Syrah 2016 $44 Heinrich Storm not only has the most fierce name in all of New Zealand winemaking, he’s also young, bouncy and ferociously talented on the syrah front. Four years on since vintage and this delicious thing is beginning to move on from the trot and break into a canter … Read More
Goldie Estate Waiheke Island Merlot Cabernet 2018
Goldie Estate Waiheke Island Merlot Cabernet 2018 $26 Super-bright and berry driven, this merlot cabernet blend is ferociously flavoursome on the fruit-front (that’s my alliteration quota filled for this note) and I’m a huge fan of its mid-palate textures. It’s like a gentle giant of a wine, plush and velvety, but big on personality. Nicely … Read More
Maison Noire Home Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018
Maison Noire Home Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 $35 Grown on the limestone-laden soils of the Waimarama Road, this syrah has its own distinct personality and it’s not a massively peppery one. Flying in the face of what we consider ‘classic’ Hawke’s Bay syrah, the Home Block is intensely floral and fruit-driven, laced with baking … Read More