It’s hard not to fall hard for Martinborough. Such a quaint, pretty little village surrounded by row upon row of vineyards – yet don’t be lulled into thinking there’s anyting quaint about it’s style of pinot noir. It’s all about impression, big impression and that’s what this wine delivers in spades. Made by proprietor John … Read More
Archives
Jackson Estate Somerset Single Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 $48 (5 stars)
Whenever the team at Jackson Estate choose to release a Somerset, I get very excited. Having slept quietly in the bottle for the last few years, the 2013 is now ready to rock and it’s a beautiful thing. Sourced from old, gnarly vines growing in unirrigated, clay-stacked soils in the Waihopai Valley, the wine shines … Read More
The Hay Paddock Pitchfork Classic Hawke’s Bay Red 2016
The Hay Paddock Pitchfork Classic Hawke’s Bay Red 2016 $34 Blended from a selection of classic Hawke’s Bay red varieties with Malbec and Syrah being the main stars, this has been supervised by Chris Canning, artist, writer, winemaker extraordinaire and its loaded with classic savoury peppery meaty notes that wrap around the prune, baked berries … Read More
La Celia Single Vineyard Heritage Uco Valley Malbec 2013 $70
La Celia Single Vineyard Heritage Uco Valley Malbec 2013 $70 So incredibly complex and multi-layered, this magically meaty, spice-driven malbec has seasoned leather, soy and black olive notes, anise, Irish moss and sandy, fine-grained but ferociously lovely tannins abound in this meal-in-itself wine. This wine has great palate presence and superb length of flavour, with … Read More
Giesen Waihopai Single Vineyard Selection Pinot Noir 2014
Giesen Waihopai Single Vineyard Selection Pinot Noir 2014 $60 Individually numbered, heavy-duty, black glass bottles were made of this powerfully built pinot noir and if I were able I’d be filling my cellar with them. Perfumed with raspberry leaf, wild cherry and baked, balsamic strawberry notes, there’s a lovely dried herb layer, hints of cola … Read More
House of Ball Waipara Pinot Noir 2014
House of Ball Waipara Pinot Noir 2014 $41 Crafted by the husband and wife team of Julian and Lynda Ball, just 200 bottles were made of this bright, spicy, classic North Canterbury pinot noir. Most of it is soaked up by their lucky B&B Guests, but if you contact them quick you could be in … Read More
Anciano Old Vines 35yo Garnacha 2015
Anciano Old Vines 35yo Garnacha 2015 $19.99 Here’s a comfortingly rich, round and rumpty Spanish Garnacha made from 35 y.o. vines from Calatayud. Made by Norrel Robertson MW, it’s scented with cough drop characters, Irish Moss, anise, dutch cocoa and hints of saddle leather – all of which saturate onto the palate. The acidity is fresh, finely tuned … Read More
Three Dark Horses Frank Ernest McLaren Vale Shiraz 2015 $50 (4.5 stars)
The three ‘dark horses’ are Matt Broomhead, his father and his grandfather Frank, who all decided on a handshake to go into the wine growing caper together around 8 years ago. This deeply inky shiraz is sourced from 70 year old bush vines grown in their Romano vineyard. Wild-fermented with 20% whole clusters and matured … Read More
Sons of Eden Selene Barossa Valley Tempranillo 2014 $54.95 (5 stars)
The ‘sons’ happen to be young winemakers Corey Ryan and Simon Cowham and they’ve named this wine after the Greek Goddess of the moon, fertility and productivity, which is all very lovely. However I really love the aromas of dark berries and salted caramel, saddle leather and its whiff of old sawmill. It’s also incredibly … Read More
Massena The Moonlight Run Barossa Valley Mataro Grenache Shiraz 2016 $41 (4 stars)
With its clutch of 5-star endorsements from wine critics around the globe, this Rhone-style blend from the mad but brilliant folk at Massena, is just the ticket for hot August nights (yes it’s winter, but I’ve always wanted to weave a Neil Diamond lyric into a tasting note). Inky-dark, earthy, spice-driven and soaked through with … Read More