Linden Estate Reserve Dam Block 2016 $48 Trevor Shepherd has finally released his series of Reserve ‘Dam Block’ blends, and this is my favourite so far. Featuring 72.5% merlot, 17.5% cabernet sauvignon and 10% cabernet franc, this savoury black-olive-and-spice fest shouts ‘Make way for the King!’ to a parade of berries and plums on the … Read More
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Little X Hawkes’ Bay Syrah 2014
Little X Hawkes’ Bay Syrah 2014 $14.99-$20 Pepper and berries and cherries and all things merries. This is a cracker of a syrah with a ripe core of black fruits, violets, buckets of spice and a hint of cocoa. Made by Tim Adams from a small parcel of fruit from a vineyard located in the sun-trap … Read More
Snapper Rock Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2016 $16.99
Snapper Rock Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2016 $16.99 Sweetly fruited on the nose, this is, like its namesake, a snappy little red blend that’s a great value quaffer. Smooth, velvety and showing plum, cherry and redcurrant characters on the finish. Simple, yummy and dangerously drinkable. trade $11.08
Julicher Martinborough Pinot Noir 2014
Julicher Martinborough Pinot Noir 2014 $45 It’s like inhaling the interior of a horse float, just after all the hay and other ‘stuff’ has been swept out. It’s leathery and sweaty and feral, yet underpinned with wild strawberry, cherry and a hint of rhubarb. Plush, plump and so incredibly smooth, it’s quite a gorgeous thing … Read More
Cambridge Road Martinborough Pinot Noir 2013
Cambridge Road Martinborough Pinot Noir 2013 $60 Lance Redgwell is a pinot master, and from his tiny, biodynamically-grown vineyard on the Martinborough terraces comes this juicy tsunami of black tea, Cherry Ripe bars, camphor, sandalwood, earthy leather notes and layers of mushroomy complexity merge with finely chiseled tannins to produce a slick yet succulent and … Read More
One Off Red Planet Martinborough Pinot Noir 2016
One Off Red Planet Martinborough Pinot Noir 2016 $35 Winemaker to the stars, Rod McDonald has had a ‘thing’ for Martinborough pinot noir and finally, he’s managed to get his mitts on a perfect parcel of fruit to play with for his ‘One Off’ series. These are wines that are never repeated and in extremely … Read More
Dry Gully Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017
Dry Gully Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 $29 Pinot Noir grown in Alexandra has its own personality and pluck. Dry Gully are totally dependable to produce solid, cheek-slappingly glorious pinot noir year after year. Intense cherry, tamarillo, tea leaf and rosehip tea all crash across the palate and leave a comet-tail of spice on the … Read More
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2017
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2017 $21.99 Punchy and peppery right upfront then followed by juicy raspberry and cherry and light leathery, earthy notes on the palate. It’s a great introduction to good, affordable, Gimblett Gravels syrah and as soon as you’ve tasted it you’ll be hooked!
Framingham F-Series Marlborough Montepulciano Rosé 2018
Framingham F-Series Marlborough Montepulciano Rosé 2018 $34.99 It’s great to see rosé from Marlborough being constructed from a variety other than pinot noir, and if anyone’s going to get the best from southern-grown montepulciano, then it’s the folk from Framingham. Perfumed with strawberry, creaming soda, and a hint of peppercorn, it has fleshy, plush textures … Read More
Redmetal Vineyards Basket Press Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2015
Redmetal Vineyards Basket Press Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2015 $36 Direct from the jazz hands of master Bridge Pa syrah winemaker, Grant Edmonds, this is a plump, plush, softly-peppered style that is drinking darn nicely now. Earthy, and with elaborately elastic tannins, this is supple and sumptuous. Buy now, drink now or forever kick yourself.