Who says French wines have to be complicated? Here’s a classically earthy example created to tick all those boxes that we know and love in pinot noir. Cherry, masses of it. Raspberry, definitely. Soft, powdery tannins – absolutely. Fresh, youthful acidity – in spades. It’s floral and feisty and just oozes personality for a lightly-styled … Read More
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Good Templar The Shield Marlborough Pinot Noir 2015 $21.99
I like a pinot noir that’s brazenly showy and spicy and that’s why this new vintage of a WineFriend favourite has me grinning. Hints of cassia bark and tea leaf combine with cherry, cranberry and fruit-wood smoke to create a complex, savoury, earth-edged pinot noir that shows classic dried herb and soy notes on the … Read More
Hopes Grove Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2015 $45
If you’re looking for a violet and bay leaf fest on the nose then you’ve come to the right place. Grown in the limestone-laden soils of Hawke’s Bay’s lesser-known sub-region of Paki Paki, this is a lighter-styled, peppery syrah showing hints of smoke, black tea, boysenberries and leather. It’s just a puppy right now, so … Read More
Maxim Wines Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2016 $29.99
Organically grown syrah from the Gimblett Gravels was handpicked, destemmed into an open top fermenter, fermented with wild yeast then left on its skins for 20 days before being pressed straight into 33% new oak barrels where it slept like a baby for a year before bottling. But is it any good? Oh lordy yes. … Read More
Petane Station Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2015 $36
There’s some serious floral intensity going on in this succulent syrah, it’s like florals pashing peppercorns boysenberries, cherries and liquorice. Philip Barber is the winemaking talent behind this inky-purple, Esk Valley-based brand and he’s a fan of elegance and soft, peppery persistence of flavour in his syrah – and so am I. Sip with: sizzling … Read More
Yvonne Lorkin Canvas Column Feb 24 2018
Never seen the word ‘pashing’ in a wine review? Oh it’ll happen. Sooner rather than later… Hopes Grove Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2015 $45 If you’re looking for a violet and bay leaf fest on the nose then you’ve come to the right place. Grown in the limestone-laden soils of Hawke’s Bay’s lesser-known sub-region of … Read More
Elephant In the Room Palatial Pinot Noir 2017 $17.99 (3.5 stars)
Crafted from fruit sourced from South Australia, this is a slippery, spicy and seriously succulent little pinot noir with buckets of berry notes that literally leap up the nasal passages and leaves masses of cherry and truffle flavours plunging across the palate. Sweetly-styled and slippery. Widely available.
Askerne Hawke’s Bay Dessert Cabernet 2015 $22.90 375ml (3.5 stars)
Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown in the sandy soils of their lower terrace, and fortified to 16.5%alc, this is a whopper of a wine. Scented with blackberry, bay leaf, pepper and dark cocoa, then chock full of spice and sweet, dried herb and nutty notes on the palate, it’s a wine with grip … Read More
Judge Rock Central Otago St. Laurent 2014 $35 (4.5 stars)
St Laurent is an ancient grape very closely associated with pinot noir, one sip and you’ll see why. Judge Rock are absolute rock stars in that they’ve taken the signature red grape of Austria and given it a happy home on the sun-scorched slopes of Alexandra. Exotically scented with black tea, red fruits, dried herbs, … Read More
Smoking Loon California Merlot 2014 $21.90 (4 stars)
The glittery cap immediately appeals to my wannabe glamazon, while the intricate silver, cigar-smoking loon bird motif is semi-hypnotic. On the nose it’s incredibly fruity, chocka with raspberry, red plum and ultra-easy spices, sweet fruit and chocolate. If you’re still reeling from Miles’ rant in the movie ‘Sideways’ where he announces “I’m leaving. I am … Read More