Paddy Borthwick Falloon Block Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2014 $22 The Borthwick’s are Wairarapa pioneers in farming and grapegrowing and that they’re able to produce such fresh and fabulous pinot noir at this price is testament to their vast experience on the land. Classic black tea, seasoned leather, black guava and spicy cherry flavours merge with … Read More
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Te Awanga Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018
Te Awanga Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 $28.99 Crafted by Rod McDonald, a winemaker seemingly blessed with the syrah version of jazz hands for every vintage, this is a plum and pepper-scented sensation was sourced from fruit grown west of Hastings, an area famous for producing the iron-rich, Bridge Pa soils and the prestigious, deep, … Read More
Hãhã Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018
Hãhã Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018 $18 This new release is a super-smashable red that sings plum, plum and more plum! Warm and cuddly in the mouth, it coats the palate with cocoa and spice and slips down far too easily. Edged with pepper, the tannins are soft and woolly, yet add a hint of chew … Read More
Tohu Whenua Awa Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017
Tohu Whenua Awa Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017 $41.99 This wine is replacing the Rore Reserve Pinot Noir. The first half went into the market with the Rore Reserve label on it and it won the trophy for Wine of Provenance (the wine that’s the most reflective of its place, its terroir over time) at the … Read More
Tohu Whenua Matua Nelson Pinot Noir 2017
Tohu Whenua Matua Nelson Pinot Noir 2017 $34.99 3 clones of pinot noir abel, 777, 115 are used in the makeup of this wine which has huge aromatics. Wild red berries, woolly, lanolin, sandalwood, spice, hints of bay, super-fresh acidity and the tannins are stalky and solid. Warming and smooth, black olive and some soy … Read More
I Am George Limestone Coast Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
I Am George Limestone Coast Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 $22.99 Steve Meyer is the Chief Winemaker responsible for the I Am George wines (released in New Zealand in 2018), a red wine brand created in tribute to the legacy of George Wyndham, one of the pioneers of Australian wine. The story has it Wyndham arrived in … Read More
Cloudy Bay Marlborough Pinot Noir 2016
Cloudy Bay Marlborough Pinot Noir 2016 $49 Three years of quiet time in bottle has allowed the subtle spices in this pinot noir to knit together nicely. Perfumed with baked berries, soft cherry characters, savoury tones and sandalwood, while the palate is slippery and slick. Ribbon-like as each sip slides down. A blockbuster is not … Read More
Rapaura Springs Reservoir Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017
Rapaura Springs Reservoir Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017 $39.99 I LOVE this wine! Fresh, frisky, wild red fruits, buckets of berries, cherries, soft and luscious textures, so pristine, so clean, so focused and plush, lush, spice-infused and fabulous. The length of flavour is like an energizer bunny in a bottle – it’s so satisfying and … Read More
The Last Shepherd Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2017
The Last Shepherd Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2017 $22.99 I’m buzzing to see a syrah added to The Last Shepherd stable. Crafted from fruit grown in the iron-rich soils of the Bridge Pa region, this is an easy-breezy example that’s got all the signature boysenberry, plum, pepper and spicy oak influence. It’s not a honkingly dry … Read More
Mischief Waipara Pinot Noir 2017
Lamb and Chorizo Sausage Plait (dish Aug Sept 2019) A fruit-forward, soft, plush pinot noir is exactly what this spicy, family-sized sausage roll. The Mischief Waipara Pinot Noir 2017 ($28) ticks all those boxes and more. Ripe cherry, raspberry and even a tiny squeak of beetroot all erupt from the glass and the flavours are … Read More