The March 1 release of Coleraine, New Zealand’s most famous red wine, marked its 35th anniversary. Designed to age not across years, but across generations, it’s an assemblage (‘assom-blarge’ if you’re struggling) of cabernet and merlot from Te Mata’s oldest vineyards in the Havelock North hills. Left for a minute or seven in the glass, … Read More
Archives
Toño Hawke’s Bay Tempranillo 2014 $25 ★★★★
With aromas of dust-covered blackberries, fresh tamarillo and peppercorn characters followed by a palate oozing ripe berries and chocolate, stacks up to create slippery-smooth, flavoursome, local example of a Spanish superstar. Juicy, vibrant and dangerously easy to drink. www.blackmarket.co.nz
Sacred Hill Halo Marlborough Pinot Noir 2015 $27 ★★★★
From the first sip I was pretty much seduced – mainly because I knew that if I were disciplined enough to pop some of this away for another year or three, it’ll turn into something rather triumphant. Poached cherry, cocoa and pepper notes lead to a juicy, berry-driven wine with freshness and decent chew-factor on … Read More
Pegasus Bay Waipara Merlot Cabernet 2013 $31.50 ★★★½
Southern-style Bordeaux blends might not have been on your radar before, but a sip of this will have you honing in on it pronto. Deeply savoury aromas of soy, black olive, dark berries, dusty cocoa characters and dried bay and thyme all cuddle around plump, ripe plum and bold spicy fruity flavours. Caramelised oak and … Read More
Ca’ Di Rajo Marino 2010 $46 ★★★★½
Italian cabernet sauvignon can be intensely fruity and this example from Ca’ di Rajo, grown on the banks of the river Piave is exactly that. I love the dark plum and boysenberry characters which merge with tobacco leaf, vanilla, pepper and violets. Nicely structured tannins elongate the savoury flavours and combine to create a stunning … Read More
Stanley Estates Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2013 $19.99 ★★★½
This canny Awatere Valley producer has beefed up their portfolio by buying up a bunch of quality Hawke’s Bay fruit from a bumper vintage, to create a bold, berry-driven bottle of niceness and spiceness. There’s a soft, powdery ‘chew’ to the texture of this wine, which ticks pretty much every box for good, flavoursome, all-purpose … Read More
Pruners Reward Waipara Pinot Noir 2013 $25 ★★★★
This is a very snazzy mid-priced label produced by the talented Porter family team at Bellbird Spring. Don’t let the light, brick-red colour fool you, this is quite a dense and complex wine. Scented with wild strawberry, cherry, pot pourri, sandalwood and allspice, plus it has lovely silky texture and deliciously savoury freshness. It’s extremely … Read More
Pask Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013 $22 ★★★★
Can Kate Radburnd and her crack-team of winemakers do no wrong? This Gimblett Gravels pioneer producer has syrah expertly sewn up, crafting an ultra-bright, intensely aromatic example, which oozes fruitwood smoke, cracked pepper, rose and violet notes alongside an underlying earthy character on the nose. Flavour-wise it boasts juicy dark fruit, vanilla and cocoa, tannins … Read More
Middle Earth Nelson Pinot Noir 2014 $24 ★★★½
Ryan O’Connell did a very clever-cookie thing naming his wines after the Tolkien-inspired locale because now they’re a firm favourite with hobbit fans. The 50-year-old family dairy farm was converted to grape growing some years back and the O’Connells were contract growers for big brands until deciding to hold the best fruit and have a … Read More
Sacred Hill Orange Label Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2015 $19 ★★★½
It might be fresh off the block but as far as rockin good red blends go, clearly 2015’s got talent! Already this wine is super-sippable, with smoke, spice and dark fruits on the nose which lead to a full-bodied, chocolate, plum and peppery palate. One more year in the bottle will do wonders for this … Read More