Here’s a lean, minerally pinot grigio with a hint of salinity, dried pear and nashi notes. There’s a creaminess on the finish which mellows out some of the heat of the alcohol and allows some fruit notes to sneak through. Good value grigio. www.glengarrywines.co.nz
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Bodega Tamari Mendoza Chardonnay 2015 $17.99
‘Tamari’ means ‘to be passionate in Huarpe, the native language of the Mendoza region in Argentina. This chardonnay is on the leaner side, mineral-driven, nutty and has a squeak of crushed seashell and salt about it. There’s a creamy element adding some complexity. www.glengarrywines.co.nz
Passage Rock Waiheke Island Matuku 2017 $65
David and Veronika Evans-Gander have combined chardonnay, pinot gris, viognier and sauvignon blanc and hands down, it’s absolutely one of my favourite things. Ever. An absolute tsunami of flavour, grilled grapefruit, apricot stone, passionfruit and musky florals crash across the tastebuds and smash your palate to pieces in a beautiful collision of complexity. Sip with: … Read More
Whistling Buoy
I’ve sipped my way through the new Whistling Buoy releases from Canterbury and they’re rather snazzy… Whistling Buoy Kokolo Vineyard Canterbury Pinot Noir 2016 $36 (5 stars) Wow. Here’s one ultra-juicy, exotically-scented, super-charged pinot noir from under the southern sun. Kokolo is a vineyard on a sheltered site at the head of Lyttleton and clearly … Read More
Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $35
If someone held a gun to your head and demanded you name one of New Zealand’s most highly awarded sauvignon blanc’s or it’s curtains – then best you whip out Wairau Reserve. The current release is a cracker. Lemongrass, passionfruit, zesty citrus, sugarsnap pea, white pepper and capsicum characters lead to a luscious, lime-induced glass … Read More
Tamellini Soave DOC Costeggiola 2016 $25 (4 stars)
100% garganega (gar-gar-nay-gah) grapes have been used to tizzy together this stunningly fresh, medium bodied, citrus-saturated white wine from the appellation of Soave (soh-ah-vay). I love the luscious lemongrassy layers, white pepper, rich, chalky characters and it’s marathon-like finish. I also love that every sip is like hanging on to the last of summer. Great … Read More
Summerhouse Marlborough Pinot Gris 2016 $19.99
Summerhouse is a family-owned company that harnesses the talents of legendary Master of Wine, Sam Harrop to create wines that were until recently only available overseas. Sourced from the Taylor Pass in Marlborough’s Awatere Valley, this gris has punchy pear and juicy peach flavours, smashed together with crunchy apple and spicy quince characters to create … Read More
Eradus Single Vineyard Awatere Valley Pinot Gris 2016 $18.00
Marlborough’s Awatere Valley injects its own distinctly floral element into all the wines which come from it. This rich, spicy, super-succulent pinot gris has quince, baked apple and banging acidity on the palate. It’s a gris that’ll hit that honeyed, citrus spot and brings in a classic edge of pear, white peach and pepper, which … Read More
Grove Mill Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2013 $18.00
Gewurz-hounds ahoy! If you go gaga for classic lychee-soaked, ginger-kissed, peach-packed gewürztraminer, then this little gem will have you swooning. Especially when you find out it’s almost all gone and we’ve managed to nab a sneaky stash just for us. The perfume is exotic, the fruit sweet and tangy, and it feels mouthwatering and silky … Read More
Three Miner’s Herringbone Earnscleugh Riesling 2016 $23.00
Earnscleugh Valley sits half way between Alexandra and Clyde and it’s like a riesling nirvana. The label is a tad old school (but we hear a new design is in the works) but don’t let that stop you from appreciating its lovely pale colour and sneakily subtle, lemon and lime aromas. Yet it’s the juicy … Read More