Been avoiding prosecco because you think it’ll be too sweet? Well, fret no more, because here’s a crisp, citrus-laced spritz-fest in a bottle. This tangy example from Treviso shows lovely tension in the glass with a subtle lick of green apple and honey. At a positively demure 11% alcohol, it definitely won’t send you sideways … Read More
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Moet & Chandon Ice Imperial Champagne $69.99 (4 stars)
Here’s the opposite of what Moet used to be all about. Lean, dry and minerally, this is not. Fat, tropical tones, peach and sweet, musky layers that cry out to be poured over ice and sprinkled with mint or flecks of dried berries. Apricot, caramelised characters and a rich, luxurious sweetness wash across the palate … Read More
Yvonne Lorkin Wine Column for week beginning Sat 9th Dec 2017
As I write this, a clutch of businesses on the street where my office is located, are preparing for our annual street Christmas party. Five bucks and BYO nibbles is all we needed to bring apparently. Due to this column deadline, I have not had time to go out and get ‘nibbly-fied’ – so to … Read More
The Family Company ‘Cosmos’ Methode Traditionelle $25 (3.5 stars)
“All life begins with a bang” says winemaker John Thorpe of his fun, Gisborne-grown sparkler. Cosmos is made from 100% Chardonnay aged for just over two years in bottle before being released, it’s scented with lemon, breadcrust and yellow plum, and also boasts tangy citrus pith, nutty notes and creamy complexity on the finish. www.gisbornegourmet.com
Veuve Laperrière Brut Rose NV $17 (4 stars)
If you prefer your rosé to froth and fizz, then this is going to seriously float your boat. Created in France’s Loire (“loo-aah”) Valley, this is a super-smooth, berries-and-cream-crammed wine that has really seductive mouthfeel. There’s a squeak of sweetness and spice, alongside a rich, slightly nutty finish. Richly structured, it’s a real crowd-pleaser and … Read More
Hunter’s MiruMiru Methode Traditionelle Brut NV $28.90 (5 stars)
From the first sniff and sip, you’ll completely understand why this is one of the most highly awarded sparkling wines in the country and a much-loved favourite of mine. Generous and lush, with rising dough and smoky aromatics, stonefruit and citrus wash across the palate leaving a rich creamy, textural finish. It’s fresh, stylish and … Read More
Hunter’s MiruMiru Reserve 2013 $49.90 (5 stars)
I adore the biscuit-like aromas of this absolute aristocrat. The almond meal, rising dough notes and serious mid-palate richness in every sip make this a hugely satisfying wine that’s not only long and flavoursome, but also shows real finesse and delicacy. There’s a creamy cashew and lemon-like complexity in this 60% pinot noir 40% chardonnay … Read More
Yvonne Lorkin wine column for week beginning Sat 23 Sept 2017
Hunter’s of bubbles… If you stopped someone random in the street and asked them to name New Zealand’s top sparkling wine brands in ten seconds flat –I reckon they’d be able to rattle off the big commercial names, the Lindauer’s, Morton’s, Daniel Le Brun’s, maybe Deutz and Cloudy Bay and then they’d probably begin to … Read More
Leveret IQ Premium Brut NV $20 (4 stars)
This méthode traditionelle (the same method of making Champagne) is a regional blend of Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier that’s been disgorged after a minimum of 18 months on its yeast lees (the residue leftover from the ferment). These guys have been making high-end sparkling wine since aeons ago, and … Read More
Sileni Estates Sparkling Cuvée Pinot Gris NV $19 (2.5 stars)
I know packaging shouldn’t matter, but I really loathe those plastic ‘zork’ corks. The colour blue works on very few bottles and my eyes ache trying to digest more than 2 fonts on a label – but if you go beyond all the ‘busyness’ there’s actually an OK wine inside. Aromas of caramel apple brioche … Read More