Cliff Edge Awhitu Merlot Cabernet Franc 2012 $45 Only about half a dozen barrels are produced of this classic Bordeaux blend (70% merlot, 30% cabernet franc) from the Awhitu peninsula in Auckland. I’m not a huge fan of brettanomyces in my wine but there’s just enough in here to be complexing. Grown in the clay soils of … Read More
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Baby Doll Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017 $18.99
Named after a breed of miniature sheep designed to keep his vineyards nicely manicured in the manner of living lawnmowers, Peter Yealands’ winemaking team has crafted a simple pinot noir that’s spicy upfront, holds some pleasant-enough fruit and has a smooth, refreshing finish. Uncomplicated easiness. Sip with: Red onion, pumpkin and feta tart. www.glengarrywines.co.nz
Misha’s Vineyard Cantata Central Otago Pinot Noir 2015 $30
A ‘cantata’ is a word for a vocal piece accompanied by an instrumental. A song basically. But this Olly Masters-made pinot noir from the vertigo-inducing slopes of Bendigo is definitely singing a more complex tune. Pale berry-coloured and scented with baked cherry and wild strawberries, it’s a fresh, frisky, spice-laced sip with grippy tannins and … Read More
Urbn Vino Reserve ‘The Writers Block’ Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016 $50
Brendan Seal first heard of urban wineries whilst working as a winemaker in the USA and he immediately thought Dunedin would be a cracker of a location to do it himself. Making wine in the central city might seem like a logistical nightmare to some, yet for Brendan it’s a dream come true. Sourced from … Read More
Yvonne Lorkin Canvas Column for August 18 2018
Pinot noir can be indulgent, spicy or just plain simple – just like my choice of frock of a weekend actually… Urbn Vino Reserve ‘The Writers Block’ Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016 $50 Brendan Seal first heard of urban wineries whilst working as a winemaker in the USA and he immediately thought Dunedin would be … Read More
Most Wanted South Australia Shiraz 2017 $11.99
Most Wanted South Australia Shiraz 2017 $11.99 If you’re looking for an uncomplicated, easy-to-quaff, blackcurrant and plum-fest then turn off the torch and grab a bottle of this to please the crowds. Simple berry and cherry flavours merge with a hint of liquorice and fruitcake spices to bring an easy-peasy, don’t-even-think-about-it sip. www.blackmarket.co.nz
Château Puygueraud Francs – Côtes de Bordeaux 2015 $39.99
Great Bordeaux for under fifty bucks? It can be done and this blend of 80% merlot, 15% cabernet franc and 5% malbec proves it. Pour it into a large glass and swirl it vigourously or decant it if you can. That’ll inject a whoomph of oxygen into the wine, accelerating the aromatics and plumping out … Read More
Paltrinieri Radice Lambrusco Di Sorbara NV $17.70
I can totally see why Wine Enthusiast magazine called this “one of the best Lambrusco’s out there” and chose it as one of their Top 10 wines for 2017. Ruby-coloured, spritzy and beautifully dry, it’s wine with a whiff of wild strawberry and grapefruit zest and a mouthfeel replete with racy, bracing acidity and texture. … Read More
Arc du Rhone Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2013 $46
There’s a group of villages in the Rhone that when joined together look like an arc – and this wine comes from the most famous cru at the southern tip of that arc, the Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Three grapes, grenache noir, syrah and carignan have created an earthy, savoury, tobacco and dark fruited style that, seven years … Read More
Milcrest Estate Nelson Pinot Noir 2013 $41 (4 stars)
If you’re looking for a ripe, voluptuous, vanilla-and-spice style then you’ve come to the right cul-de-sac. Saturated with concentrated cherry, raspberry and redcurrant characters, the 11 months its spent in oak has given it a slightly smoky edge and buckets of smooth generous goodness in the mouth. Ripe, fleshy and feisty after 5 years, it’s … Read More