Te Awanga Estate Quarter Acre Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 $49.99 Te Awanga Estate’s owner Rod McDonald, has been named in the inaugural ‘Master Winemaker 100’ list, a prestigious who’s who of top global winemakers compiled by reputable magazine the drinks business (UK) – so what you’re holding in your hand is a glass of his … Read More
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Te Awanga Estate One Off Silky Smooth Organic Sangiovese Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Te Awanga Estate One-Off Silky Smooth Organic Hawke’s Bay Sangiovese Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 $34.99 Yes, it’s a mouthful to say, but this is where Italy and France smash together to create a harmonious blend of dark, blueberry fruits, espresso, leather and bay leafy loveliness. Looking at the label, you may expect a heavyweight honker, yet … Read More
Hunter’s Wines Offshoot Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019
Hunter’s Wines Offshoot Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 $24.90 Young winemaker James Macdonald has really stretched the elastics out in his jumping game (any girl who grew up in the ’80s will get this) and this pinot noir is lush, plush, ripe and seriously, super-easy-to-sip. The texture is slightly powdery and darn noice (it’s a word) … Read More
The Hedonist McLaren Vale Shiraz 2018
The Hedonist McLaren Vale Shiraz 2018 $30 I loved the 2016 vintage of this organically produced, biodynamically-grown wine, so I’ve been chomping and stomping to try the new release. Made by winemakers Kimberly and James Cooter, this is a shiraz that is the opposite of those sweet, jammy, cheek-punchers on the supermarket shelves. It’s the … Read More
Matahiwi Wild Holly Pinot Noir 2019 $45
Matahiwi Wild Holly Pinot Noir 2019 $45 (to be released) Crafted by winemaker Ben McNab, this new vintage of the ‘Wild Holly’ is a step off the footpath and into the rugged, tufty, terrain on the outside of the norm. Whole clusters of hand-harvested berries were sorted, gently transferred to an open-top fermenter, then punched-down … Read More
Lowburn Ferry Homeblock Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017
Lowburn Ferry Homeblock Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 $70 Grown on land that was farmed for over 160 years meant these grapes benefitted from soils rich in organic matter and good old dirt development – very unusual for the mostly glacial, loess soils of Central Otago. The grapes are packed with flavour, flirtiness and spice … Read More
Black Estate Damsteep North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2017
Black Estate Damsteep North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2017 $45 Get ready to get swept into a vortex of Chinese herbal tea, hedgerow fruits, seasoned leather and wild cherry characters on the nose and in this very nicely structured, organically grown pinot noir, there is an exotic intensity that rolls through to the palate. It literally … Read More
Trinity Hill L’Eritage Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2018
Trinity Hill L’Eritage Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2018 $120 Sourced from three different sites on Trinity Hill’s property, this smooth and saucy new addition to their syrah portfolio, is crafted from three different clones, ‘Baileys’ and ‘Mass Selection’ were clones thought to originate from cuttings bought to the antipodes from France by James Busby in the … Read More
Pegasus Bay Aged Release Waipara Valley Pinot Noir 2009
Pegasus Bay Aged Release Waipara Valley Pinot Noir 2009 $40 The clever kids at Pegasus Bay had the foresight to squirrel away a stash of their sought-after pinot noir a decade ago in order to show us what its really capable of. I love the juicy cherry and redcurrant characters, the evolvement of the spices, … Read More
Misha’s Vineyard The Soloist Central Otago Pinot Rosé 2019
Misha’s Vineyard The Soloist Central Otago Pinot Rosé 2019 $27 The freshly-crushed pinot noir berries were left to soak on their skins for 24 hours to extract this gorgeous, redcurrant hue. It’s an ultra-clean, yet full-bodied style that’s dry, incredibly zesty, cherry and berry-saturated rosé that really satisfies. Cleansing, spicy, it’s very much like a … Read More